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Mysterious and Enigmatic Namibia

Mysterious and enigmatic, Namibia possesses a unique beauty. From the harshly inhospitable Skeleton Coast with its shipwrecks to the vast salt pans of Etosha National Park, Namibia is one of the most amazing countries in Africa. There are massive, shifting sand dunes, said to be the highest in the world. And nothing beats the Namibia Desert sun at Sossusvlei. This area is a must for photographers. Not only are the dramatic shapes of the sands wonderfully photogenic but here you can get a picture of the magnificent desert oryx.

Photo Credit: Alain Martineau

Botanists and zoologists are often keen to observe the adaptation of both animal and plant species to the apparently hostile environment. Namibia offers a rare chance to see fascinating animals such as the oryx, known as ”master of the desert”, and the endangered desert elephant, both of which are very specialised. The Huab Valley also has rare specimens of Welwitschia mirabilis, a strange tree that has been overcome by the desert climate and is a supreme example of evolutionary adaptation.

In Etosha National Park you will see more wildlife. All of the ‘big five’ (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant) may be found here. Springbok, wildebeest, eland and zebra range the park and congregate at the water holes in far larger numbers during the dry months of June to December. There are good numbers of lion and leopard and black rhino. Ongava Game Reserve, next to the Park, even has white rhino.

Photo Credit: dconvertini

Swakopmund is a quiet seaside town with considerable charm. An extremely comfortable base from which to explore the desert and the coast, this is a wonderful place to have a ride on a quad bike, to a board at speeds of up to eighty kilometres per hour or Cross seal colony. There is one of the four desert golf courses in the world here as well.

The desert is a wonderful place for those seeking solitude and the time in which to reflect, yet Namibia also offers so much more. Fascinating animals, a strange and interesting plant world, the heart-pounding thrill of adrenaline and some of the most strangely haunting landscapes in the world. Namibia has a unique beauty. From the inhospitable Skeleton Coast with shipwrecks to the vast salt marshes of Etosha National Park, Namibia is one of the most amazing countries in Africa.

The massive moving sand dunes, said to be the highest in the world, form an ever-changing play of light and shade under the hot sun of the Namib Desert at Sossusvlei. This area is a must for photographers. Not only are the spectacular forms of red sands marvellously photogenic, but you will also be able to obtain magnificent images of the desert oryx.

Photo Credit: Renaud CHODKOWSKI 

The desert is a wonderful place for those seeking solitude and time to think. But, Namibia is not just desert. It offers so much more. Fascinating animals, a strange and interesting plant world, thrilling sports, thrills, adrenaline and beating heart as well as some of the most curious and captivating landscapes in the world.

By Sébastien Charrieras

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Strange, Beautiful Namibia

It might be a mirage or a ghost ship. Laid down on the sand, where the desert meets the ocean, is a cargo boat that ended up on Namibia’s shore a few years ago. It has started its long disintegration by oxidation, like hundreds of others along the Atlantic coast. Half immersed, or eaten by sand, run-aground shipwrecks lie strewn along the Namibian coastline.

This region is charmingly called ‘Skeleton Coast’ (it is, in fact, a National Park since 1971), although it wasn’t originally named for its shipwrecks, but for the whale and seal bones that once littered the shore as a result of the whaling industry. The Bushmen called it ‘The land God made in anger’ while Portuguese sailors one referred to it as ‘The Gates of Hell’. Unless you are cut out for adventure and decide to join an expedition, the northern part of Skeleton Coast is very difficult to access and can only be visited by plane.

Further South, in the Damaraland, you can go through the desert with a four-wheel-drive vehicle to discover the fascinating wildlife. In this country of extremes, strangeness is also in animal life. At first there are safaris. They take on a new dimension in this region because all the animals we are used to seeing in the bush live here in the desert: elephants, black rhino, lions, cheetah, giraffe, brown hyena, etc. Besides these mammals, there are also all these curious beings that need to be approached gently. Small, camouflaged, furtive; yet they are incredibly captivating!

For example, take a look at the Palmato Gecko, the endemic gecko of the Namib Desert: with its cute face, pastel colours and habit to lick its eyes with its long tongue in order to keep them moist (they have no eyelids), they are adorable. Or the Namaqua Chameleon, who certainly hasn’t got the nicest physique, but possesses very interesting characteristics: they are lightning fast with extraordinary mobile eyes, skin that changes its colour according to mood or temperature, and a tongue that reaches a length of up 30 centimetres! Anyway, this is just an overview of the peculiar fauna living in this land. But to find and approach them, you’ll need a guide.

Photo Source: Manfred W

Definitely the land of strangeness, Damaraland also houses a very rare plant: the Welwitschia Mirabilis, with remarkable longevity and constitution. It lives for up to 600 years on average, but 2,000-year-old specimens have been found. Concerning its appearance and its impressive size (the biggest Welwitschia is 1.40 metres in height and 4 metres diameter), it hides a disconcerting simplicity: it only possesses two leaves which grow constantly, making it look like a giant squid.

Finally, when we talk about Damaraland, we can’t forget to mention the Spitzkoppe, the huge rock standing in the middle of the desert which offers an astonishing landscape. The 700 million-year-old group of bald granite peaks with a highest outcrop of 1,784 metres, extends as far as the eye can see.

Photo Source: Maurits Vermeulen

The list of uncommon and weird things you can find in Namibia doesn’t stop there. This is just an introduction for curious people. From there, it is time for you to discover this country and its hidden treasures by yourselves. We’ll be delighted to create a peculiar adventure for you.

Photo Source: ka.hi

By Muriel Romero

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