Traveling the World in Search
of Truly Enchanting Places
Namibia
Overview
From Andrew Harper
More than twice the size of California, Namibia is an arid, sparsely populated country (with just over 2 million inhabitants) where savagely beautiful deserts extend to the breaking surf of the Skeleton Coast (so named for the many shipwrecks caused by a combination of powerful currents and unremitting onshore winds). For 70 years, it was a German colony, but at the end of World War I, authority was transferred to South Africa by the League of Nations. The country gained its independence in 1990 and today is one of the most hospitable nations in Africa, with an excellent modern infrastructure.
The Namib Desert is an otherworldly place, dominated by forbidding mountains, monumental rock formations and towering red sand dunes. Namibia offers remarkable game-viewing in a number of highly unusual and disparate locations. At the center of the country, the vast Namib-Naukluft National Park and adjoining NamibRand Nature Reserve (a total area of 19,495 square miles) are famous for their heroic scenery and immense shifting dunes of orange sand. Etosha National Park is one of southern Africa’s major wildlife areas, with a full range of large species. Damaraland is home to the extraordinary desert elephant, which have adapted to life among the sand dunes. And on the so-called Skeleton Coast, the shoreline is dotted with huge colonies of Cape fur seals. Namibia is also the last great bastion of the endangered cheetah, the population of which has been tragically diminished elsewhere in Africa.
The country is also the final redoubt of the San Bushmen, the traditional inhabitants of the Kalahari, who have been grotesquely persecuted over the past three centuries. And in the far north of Namibia, close to the border with Angola, the Himba remain a colorful and strikingly traditional tribal people.
Although Namibia is warm and sunny year-round, the best time for a visit is May through October. From November to March, daytime temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees, and there are occasional light afternoon showers. To discover the country at a leisurely pace, we recommend a visit of at least eight days, including a night in Windhoek.
WHEN TO GO: Rain is rare and skies are invariably clear, hence a rewarding visit is possible at virtually any time of year.
CURRENCY: Namibian dollar (NAD). Fluctuating rate valued at NAD8 = US$1.00 as of January 2012. Wilderness Safaris quotes rates in rand (R). R8 = US$1.00 as of January 2012.
U.S. EMBASSY: Windhoek, Tel. 61-295-8500.
DIRECT DIAL CODES: To phone hotels in Namibia, dial 011 (international access) + 264 (Namibia code) + city code and local numbers in listings.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passport (valid for six months beyond end of stay) and visa. Visit travel.state.gov, and for travelers’ health information, cdc.gov
Hotels
All recommended hotels in Namibia
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Damaraland CampComfortable camp comprising 10 large adobe-style thatched lodgings in the Huab River Valley, facing majestic Brandberg Mountain. |
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Little KulalaLuxury camp of 11 air-conditioned villas, ideally located close to the immense red sand dunes of Sossusvlei and affording unforgettable desert views. |
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Ongava Lodge and Little OngavaSet on a 125,000- square-mile private reserve adjoining Etosha National Park, Ongava Lodge comprises 12 comfortable air-conditioned chalets constructed from rock and thatch. |
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Serra CafemaSerra Cafema camp occupies a unique setting in a narrow band of lush vegetation lining the banks of the Kunene River. |
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Wolwedans Dunes LodgeDramatic and elegantly appointed lodge set atop a 750-foot sand dune in a private reserve, close to Sossusvlei. |
Itineraries
From the Member Community
Related Namibia Itineraries
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Has anyone stayed at the Skeleton Coast Camp or the Desert Rhino Camp (both Wilderness Safaris) recently? We are thinking of a visit in April.
Any comments would be appreciated (including any other advice re a trip to Namibia - I know that Serra Cafema is very highly regarded). Thanks.
Hello,
We checked into our records, and we have had some members stay at the Desert Rhino Camp within the last year. They thoughtfully provided some feedback about their experience:
"We really liked Rhino Camp. We were there in the rainy season, in February, so it was relatively green but the scenery was and would be spectacular no matter when you visited. It is quite new because the old camp had been destroyed by high winds and water two years earlier. The tented camp was very comfortable but not as luxurious as Serra Cafema. The dining area was informal but attractive and the food was excellent. The camp had a real Namibian feel. The staff was interesting and happy to talk with the guests. One of the staff spoke the "click" language and often announced the menus first in "click" and then in regular English. The woman who ran it was a real dynamo. Both she and her husband ate with us and willingly talked about the country's politics, problems, and future. I found it fascinating. And of course, there were the rhinos! They were hard to spot and skittish but the guides were really good and we had several sightings--in the rainy season it's more challenging because they are more widely dispersed. In the dry season it would be much easier to spot them and the Land Rover rides would be shorter."
For more information about Namibia and assistance with making travel arrangements, feel free to contact the Travel Office at (800) 375-4685, (630) 734-4610 or reservations@andrewharper.com.
Best Regards,
The Travel Office
We visited Namibia one year ago last Sept - how time flies. We loved it. The scenery is out of this world - almost like moonscapes. Some of the trip was done with Skeleton Coast Tours, mode of transport is by small plan and we were extremely pleased with them. One of the owners was our pilot and guide - he was great and what a pilot he was. He said that each of the 3 brothers/owners has different areas of interest and if you are espcially interested in something in particular you might let them know. Their camps are quite rustic but mostly quite remote with spectacular settings. We had luxury camps at either end of the Skeleton Coast Tours so we were very happy with the more rustic accommodations - very clean, good food and very comfortable just not luxury type. We also stayed at Wolvedans Dunes location and loved, loved the experience. Only thing we didn't expect at a couple locations was to be served 'game' for dinner which I couldn't eat after taking pics of these beautiful creatures all day.
If you have been on safari before, then I would skip Etosha as it really doesn't compare at all to some other countries wildlife. But the lodging is really nice - but I can't remember the name and info is up north right now. We stayed in the so called 'tented' lodge which was really lovely but really, really hot in Sept - next time if it was going to be so hot I would stay in the air con lodge.
Hope this is helpful.
PS just reread your message and see that you are going with Wilderness Tours so this won't be that helpful. PPS the desert area around Wolvedans Dunes was really cold at night and actually a light winter jacket would have served me well