|
The Namib Desert
Sitting
astride the Tropic of Capricorn, the coastal desert of the Namib is a
seeming desolation of towering red dunes and lunar landscapes. Yet the
Namib embraces some of the rarest plants in the world, like the
underground tree Welwitschia and the quiver tree aloe. Even in its most
desolate barrenness ostrich, oryx and springbok thrive in its torrid
mid-day heat. Once described as the sheltering desert, it has a soft
beauty all its own.
 The
Skeleton Coast
The great
gravel plains of the northern Namib are fog laden and seemingly
inhospitable. Many ships wrecked in the Atlantic swell have added to its
mystery, including the famous Dunedin Star and the Eduard Bohlen. But its
starkness is mellowed by its large colonies of Cape fur seals, and by its
bird life, especially flamingos and pelicans.
Damaraland
The
russet-tinted table mountains of the Etendeka rise in chromatic contrast
with the verdure of mopane woodland where herds of Damara elephant browse.
In the upper Uniab valley, around Palmwag, kudu, mountain zebra, black
rhino and klipspringer inhabit a landscape of stark yet breathtaking
splendour. Nearby are ancient rock engravings, a prehistoric mural record
of this wealth of wildlife in such a isolated spot.
 Kaokoland
Mighty
rivers have gouged ravines out of the upturned edge of the African massif
leaving deep valleys with seasonal springs, a startling contrast of sheer
cliffs and fertile flood tracks. Here, in the hidden valleys of the Huab,
Hoanib and the Hoarusib are found the rare desert elephant and desert
giraffe of the Kaokoveld, almost separate species from their plains
relatives and specially adapted to life with minimal water. Stately oryx
and delicate springbok abound. This is timeless Africa, without roads,
fences or people.
 Himbaland
Among the
Giraffenberg and the Hartmann Mountains of the north west live the Himba,
nomadic pastoralists who continue a life style unchanged for many
centuries. The elegant Himba women adorn themselves with red ochre and
beadwork and are fiercely independent of the modern world. Their domain
stretches as far the Kunene River and Epupa Falls.
The Caprivi and Okavango
A curiosity
of 19th century cartography has given Namibia its own wetlands of the
Okavango and its delta offshoots, the Linyanti and the Chobe Rivers. With
the Khaudum, Mahango, Mamili and Mudumu National Parks all in the same
area, the river banks and lagoons are rich in wildlife - elephant,
buffalo, hippo, lechwe, puku and a host of others - and a short drive away
is Victoria Falls which can be combined with the Caprivi.
Etosha Pan
The great
ancient salt lake of Etosha is one of the finest game viewing
opportunities in Africa. Mighty herds from the interior gather at its
water holes, especially giraffe, elephant, zebra, kudu and the rarer black
faced impala and red hartebeest. Etosha is also renowned for its lions, as
well as leopard and cheetah. For sheer numbers and ease of access, Etosha
is a must, especially the western portion which is not open to the general
public.
|
About Namibia
Namibia is a country
unique in Africa. From the eerie silence of the Namib Desert and the
Skeleton Coast, through the rugged mountainous ranges of the Escarpment to
the airy high plateau of the interior, Namibia is a photographer's dream,
for the most part an untouched wilderness replete with rare flowers and
trees, outstanding vistas and specially adapted wildlife.
