Safari in Namibia

Page sponsored by Unique Tours and Safaris

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Namibia is far more than the classic African safari destination and a must for any holiday traveller who loves diversity – not just in fauna and flora but in cultures, landscapes, historic and natural sightseeing attractions as well as activity options. There are vast dune deserts and wetlands, rugged mountain ranges and seemingly endless ocean shores to explore, and of course the typical African bush lands and savannah plains where a myriad of wildlife may be encountered. Although Namibia is almost equal in size to Western Europe, the safari traveller appreciates its frequently changing appearances, during any roundtrip. The freedom and solitude to be found in its wilderness areas and on the open road make Namibia a soulful and liberating travel experience. 

With close to 20% of Namibia’s surface area proclaimed national parks, and in addition to them, a multitude of nature reserves and millions of hectares of communal and private farmlands dedicated to conservancies, nature conservation in general and wildlife in particular play a vital role. Who has not yet heard of the Etosha National Park that counts amongst the premier sanctuaries for almost all Southern African animal species? And about the four national parks that protect the fragile eco systems as well as the unique animal and plant life of the Namib Desert along Namibia’s entire western seaboard, namely the Skeleton, Dorob, Namib Naukluft and Benguela Parks?

In recent years, border-spanning Peace or Trans-Frontier Parks have significantly increased the space available to wildlife such as elephants, zebras, various plains game species and predators. Two of the main purposes of these large-scale parks are to create safe corridors along ancient game migration routes between seasonal feeding grounds and to create a framework in which community development through sustainable tourism involvement can take place in rural areas.

When visiting any part of Namibia, the traveller is assured of wildlife encounters not only in protected areas but also of seeing free-roaming game nearly everywhere outside the few isolated villages and small towns. Antelope species like kudu, springbok and oryx are a common sight throughout the country, as are many smaller mammals and reptiles.    

Towards the water-rich far north-eastern regions, the number of bird species to be seen rapidly increases to more than the roughly 400 species recorded in parts of the arid interior. Keen birders also appreciate the great numbers of pelagic birds inhabiting the central coast around Walvis Bay, which increase during the Southern African summer due to migratory species from Europe paying a visit to Namibian shores.

Thanks to the nutrient-rich arctic Benguela Current of the South Atlantic, Namibia’s marine life is another focal point for nature enthusiasts. Cape fur-seals, two dolphin species, the disc-shaped mola mola fish and sea turtles are amongst the species commonly seen.  

In between those nature sanctuaries, the traveller finds countless places of interest worthwhile visiting for their significance to local ethnic and European cultures and for their rugged natural beauty. Especially the Fish River Canyon, the huge Namib Desert dunes surrounding Sossusvlei, the World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein with its ancient rock art galleries, the Waterberg Plateau, the Kalahari, the plains of the Welwitschia mirabilis plant and historic buildings in Swakopmund, Luderitz and the capital city, Windhoek,  should not be missing from the first-time visitor’s itinerary either.

Namibia is unique amongst Southern African safari destinations also in as far as individual overland travels are concerned. Covered by a large network of gravel and tar roads and with small guest farms, game lodges and guest houses found in all the right places, as well as being peaceful and safe to travel, Namibia has rightfully earned the reputation of being the best choice for self-drive safari holidays. Travelling from Namibia across borders to wildlife and nature hot spots in Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe is just as easy to do.