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NAMIBIA TRAVEL GUIDE
Namibia, a sparsely populated country with just 2 million inhabitants, is situated in the southwest of the African continent (just above South Africa) and boasts incredible landscapes of ancient red dunes and a Germanic feel in its bustling cities.
Most people come here to take a safari and see the animals and birds of the stunning Etosha National Park, and to explore the vast and remote Namib Desert. The capital, Windhoek, features interesting German architecture (Namibia used to be a former German colony), markets and bars, while the coastal town of Swakopmund, with its fine beaches, water sports and quality resorts, is also worth a visit.
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NAMIBIA WEATHER - When To Go
Namibia is a hot country and boasts 300 days of sun per year. The best time to visit is between April and June (autumn) when temperatures average at 25°C. Blue skies and cool nights are common in autumn, although this is when hordes of tourists come.
June to August is winter in Namibia and is somewhat of a shoulder season, with dry days seeing averages in the low 20s (°C), although nights in the Namib Desert get bitterly cold. November to February is summer and the hottest, muggiest and rainiest time to be in Namibia.
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NAMIBIA HIGHLIGHTS - Places to Visit
- Windhoek: is the capital and main city of Namibia, located right in the centre of the country and at altitude, meaning generally cool weather at night. Many people base themselves here before heading for a safari and it is worth spending at least a couple of days eyeing up the town. Colonial architecture lies side by side with modernity, and the city has a distinctly German feel with its German street names, German beer and German food; head for the Blitzkrieg Bunker Bar for live rock. The Windhoek Street Market is a great place to pick up wood carvings and other handicrafts.
- Etosha National Park: is also known as the ‘Great White Place’, in reference to the massive Etosha salt pan. It is one of the world’s largest reserves and contains an impressive variety of wildlife. There are over 100 different kinds of reptiles in the park and a staggering 340 species of birds. In addition, the park contains over 20,000 springboks, the small antelope indigenous to neighbouring South Africa. Get here between May and September when the weather is at its best and spend a few nights in the park’s resident lodges, or kick back in a luxury lodge just outside the park.
- Swakopmund: if the seaside is your game, then head for Namibia’s premier seaside resort. Despite its unappealing title, Swakopmund has many fine attributes, including fine beaches and dunes which offer opportunities to partake in a variety of water sports and dune surfing, while the town has a distinctly German colonial look and feel. You could easily spend a week here taking in the sun’s rays, swimming in the cool Atlantic Ocean and tasting good German food and beer.
- Walvis Bay: is located just south of Swakopmund on the coast and is most celebrated for its important wetlands and bird watching, as well as the wealth of adventure sports on offer. Bird lovers head for the lagoon to the southwest of town where numerous flamingos and damara tern reside. The lagoon also plays host to kite surfers, while fishing is a popular pastime here as well. Dolphin watching cruises and inland dune boarding at Dune 7 are also lots of fun.
- Namib Desert: is another of Namibia’s remarkable natural attractions. It is a huge desert representing the perfect image of a desert landscape, with its golden shifting dunes and totally barren feel. Despite the remoteness and lack of water, a range of wildlife calls the Namib Desert home, including the oryx antelope in the Namib Naukluft Park. It is worth spending a few days checking out the desert from a town like Sossuvlei.
- Sossuvlei: is a popular tourist destination in the southern part of the Namib Desert and is worth at least two days of exploration. It is especially famed for its bright red sand dunes which turn white with snow on winter nights. The dunes are among the oldest in the world and range from between 300 and 1,300-feet high. They are an attraction that many travellers to Namibia seek out especially. Main sights in the park include the Sesriem Canyon, which is perfect for watching a sunset; Dune 45, which is ideal for watching a sunrise; and the beautiful spiralled-horned gemsbok (oryx, African antelope). You will need a permit to enter the park.
- Skeleton Coast: lies on the northern coastal part of the Namib Desert to the north of Swakopmund and was so named due to the many ships that have beached here. The main appeal of this region of Namibia is its remoteness and treacherous nature, devoid of human habitation and featuring an unforgiving coastline. The Skeleton Coast National Park stretches from the Ugab River to the Angola border, and many people find the unchanging scenery extremely appealing.
- Fish River Canyon Park: one of the world’s largest canyons can be explored by car or air in a day.
- Luederitz: spend a day soaking up colonial charm in this German coastal town.
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NAMIBIA HOSPITALITY - Eat, Drink, Sleep
- Food and Eating Out: The larger cities have many cafés and restaurants with a choice of local and international foods. Namibian cuisine is on the meaty side, combining German and African tastes. Biltong is a favoured local dish consisting of thin strips of sun-dried oryx antelope, while rauchfleisch is smoked antelope and potjiekos a bush meat stew. Seafood is enjoyed all along the coast with rock lobster a well-priced delicacy.
- Entertainment and Nightlife: Windhoek, Swakopmund and Oshakati have the best nightlife in the country, where small numbers of bars cater well to tourists by offering decent beers (Windhoek Lager is a German-tasting lager and the staple beer here) and some venues feature live music.
- Accommodation: Namibia has a good range of hotels and lodges catering to those with deep pockets as well as those with holes in their pockets. Outside the urban centres, the cheapest digs are generally found within the national parks while luxury private lodges usually skirt the entrances. Windhoek and Swakopmund both have a good range of hotels and bed and breakfasts.
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NAMIBIA FLIGHTS - Flying from the UK
Direct flights to Windhoek in Namibia from London are available via Air Namibia. Alternatively, you could fly to South Africa first and take a connecting flight from Cape Town or Johannesburg, or travel overland. Try Expedia.co.uk or Netflights for flight options to Windhoek from the UK.
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