Sights and scapes of Namibia

Situated in the central north, is one of the largest parks in Africa, Etosha National Park covering some 22,270km². It owes its unique landscape to the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow depression of approximately 5 000km². A series of waterholes along the southern edge of the pan guarantee rewarding and often spectacular game viewing. In […]

Situated in the central north, is one of the largest parks in Africa, Etosha National Park covering some 22,270km². It owes its unique landscape to the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow depression of approximately 5 000km². A series of waterholes along the southern edge of the pan guarantee rewarding and often spectacular game viewing. In exceptionally good rain years the floodwaters reach the plains and watercourses in central Ovamboland and even reach the Etosha pan.
The Skeleton Coast Park, Namibia: The attraction of this remote area lies in the colours, changing moods and untouched profiles of the landscape. The aura of mystery and mightiness is largely due to the dense coastal fog and cold sea breezes caused by the cold Benguela ocean current from the Arctic, and bones scattered along the beaches from which the coast derives its name.
The landscape in the park ranges from sweeping vistas of wind swept dunes to rugged canyons with walls of richly coloured volcanic rock and extensive mountain ranges. Its level coastline characterises the park, only occasionally broken by scattered rocky outcrops. The southern section consists of the gravel plains, but north of Terrace Bay high dunes occur in the immediate vicinity of the coast. The remains of shipwrecks scattered along the coast bear witness to the many ships, which have come to grief along these desolate shores.
The Ugab river is its southern boundary, and the park stretches north to the Kunene river. The park covers over 1.6 million hectare and its divided into two zones; the southern section between Ugab and Hoanib rivers, and the northern section, between the Hoanib and Kunene rivers.
The southern section of the park is accessible to the general public and attracts anglers from far and wide to its superb fishing grounds. The vegetation between the Ugab and Huab rivers is of the Central Namib type, while that north of the Huab is classified as Northern Namib. The vegetation is relatively spare, the most common species being dollar bush, brakspekbos and the occasional stands of ganna. Mammals along the coast are mainly limited to black-backed jackal, brown hyena and the Cape fur seals. Adjoining the northern section of the Skeleton Coats Park is Kaokoland inhabited by the Himba people who still live according to ancient customs and traditions. To the south of the park is Damaraland, inhabited by the Damara people, who have adopted western lifestyles.
Damaraland and Kaokoland
Dominated by rugged mountain ranges and steep escarpments, ancient highlands and barren valleys, scorched by a relentless desert sun and inhabited almost exclusively by the unique semi-nomadic Himba tribe, Kaokoland is probably Namibia’s least visited and accessible, but certainly most fascinating region. Reaching from the Brandberg in the central Namib Desert up to the Kunene River and bordering Angola, Kaokoland covers an area of approximately 50 000km². Even though the areas south and Southwest of Sesfontein down to the Brandberg and Uis are regarded as Damaraland, this delimitation is of political origin while geographically it is part of Kaokoland. The cattle breeding Himba still freely roam over the wide pastures of the highlands.
Wildlife is abundant and varied, offering encounters with the famous desert elephant that roam the riverbeds and adjacent Mopane woodlands in continuous search for food, or numerous herds of mountain zebra and springbok.
Forests of Makalani palms skirt the course of the Kunene River and give shadow at the multitudinous fountains amongst the soft rolling hills of the central plateau. After some good rains, the Marienfluß valley becomes a refuge for immense herds of Oryx, Hartman Zebra and elusive desert elephants. The Kunene River, cut its course through to the Atlantic Ocean leaving behind spectacular waterfalls such as Ruacana and Epupa.
Caprivi Strip
The 450 km long Caprivi Strip, in northeastern Namibia, is a typical example of colonial Realpolitik. Named after Chancellor Prince Bismarck’s successor Count Von Caprivi, the English Crown in 1890 ceded this narrow corridor to the German Empire, in exchange for Zanzibar and Uganda, which had been occupied by Germany. Caprivi is Namibia’s most tropical region and four of the countries six permanent rivers flow along and through this corridor: The Okavango, the Kwando the Chobe and the Zambezi.
Kavango
The Okavango River is most certainly one of Africa’s last remaining natural paradises. Before disappearing under the sand masses of the Kalahari, the river branches out into an immense delta covering ca. 15,000km². The Okavango and the delta are home to some rare species such as the Sitatunga antelope or the Cape Hunting Dogs. The slow flowing and permanent waters promote the formation of intricate Papyrus labyrinths, the growth of extensive covers of water Hyacinths, and the countless Palm groves indicate the ancient roads of elephants.
Bushmanland
In the northeast lies one of the country’s least known regions: Bushmanland, with Tsumkwe as its capital. Presently, it is home to more than 15 000 Bushmen; the San people once roamed much vaster African spaces. Many traditional skills are still alive in the hunter-gatherer culture in this area, and a visit to the nearby Khaudum Game Reserve gives additional insight into the life of the hunter-gatherer. This is a densely wooded wilderness that can mainly be explored in 4×4 vehicles.
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