Let's imagine after a year of work and after years of restrictions from Pandemic that we want to take a vacation to Africa in search of uncontaminated places and not altered by the passage of time, but ... the question arises, where to go?
The answer can come first of all from how we want to live this journey. If we are looking for an intimate experience, where what matters is not the destination but us as the protagonists of the holiday Africa has a huge offer for experiential tourism which is the trend of recent years.
Namibia for example is one of the most beautiful countries to travel especially if you love desolate places but also because it is the place where many of us have descent, it's like to go in search of our roots, incredible but true! The latest research on the genetic code, the DNA of various populations of the world, has established that the San represent the most ancient human type, the one that comes closest to the ancestors.
San or Bushmen are the oldest people in the world and they live in Kalahari that is the largest desert in South Africa and of course include also Namibia!!
If you like to travel in a deeper connection to the place you visit and live like a local speaking the language, explore and enjoy an authentic experience Namibia has a lot to offer.
Embarking on a journey in this unique land made of harmonious contrasts means immersing yourself in a kaleidoscope of peoples and cultures, together with the beauty of indigenous nature, which make this land a pearl of Africa, from the sea of sand to the Soussusvlei valleys, from the Namib desert. to Damaraland, from the Skeleton Coast to the Himba and Etosha Park.
Sunsets as fiery as sand dunes and women's skin, Namibia will conquer your soul.
In Namibia there are lot of fashinating places to visit, most famous are:
1) Kalahari desert where the time was frozen; it's the oldest desert in the world and everything is like 10.000 years ago, but we cannot be confused with the Angolan, Namibian, and South African Namib coastal desert, whose name is of Khoekhoegowab origin and means "vast place" and where you can visit the Namib Naukluft Park
In this last desert you can reach the famous Sossusvlei dunes, the highest in the world, reaching 300 mt.! These dunes were generated over millions of years, and their wavy shape is constantly changing, as it is subject to the presence or absence of the wind. A peculiarity of the Namibian desert is that here the water falls very rarely, every two or three years: the layers of solid clay, however, retain the water for a long time, thus creating the ideal habitat for many birds, white oryx, ostrich and springbok.
2) Etosha national Park could be a nice experience for family; this was the first park to become a nature reserve; you can enjoy this extraordinary wildlife in game drive sessions accompanied by a guide or independently.
One of carachteristics of Etosha is that the park is very affordable in comparison to other parks in Africa; children under 16 are free! Adults pay around N$80 (5,30 €).
Low growing vegetation creates the best conditions to observe the wildlife along many miles!
You can book campsites with swimming pools that's perfect for kids.
3) Twyfelfontein or Ui-aesse is located in the Kunene region of Namibia. In 2007 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is known for its archaeological remains which date back more than 3000 years. It contains more than 2000 rock art figures representing the largest concentrations of petroglyphs in the entire African continent. Most of them are in good condition and represent rhinos, elephants, ostriches and giraffes. It is a World Heritage Site.
4) Walvis bay is another interesting location to visit; it's situated along the Namibia's coastline just south of Skakopmund.
It is known for its natural lagoon, striking orange sand dunes and wealth of outdoor activities, including fishing, bird-watching, sailing, sandboarding, swimming, surfing and golf. Located just outside town is Dune 7, one of the largest sand dunes in the world, offering fantastic views from the crest for those with the energy to climb it. Visitors can look forward to a number of activities including: visiting the expansive green and pink salt pans dotted with flocks of flamingoes, and jumping on a boat trip to view seals colonies, dolphins and friendly pelicans, while enjoying champagne and oysters.
5) North of Walvis bay we find Skeleton coast
Stretching from the Swakop River to southern Angola, the Skeleton Coast is known as the 'Land God Made in Anger' and is remoteness at its best. Thousands of miles of sandy desert dotted with shipwrecks meet with the cold waters of the Atlantic and somehow an amazing array of wildlife and flora manages to survive in this harsh but beautiful environment. Ocean fog creeps over the shoreline caused by the warm dry air of the Namib Desert colliding with the cold Benguela current. This otherworldly area is home to a diversity of wildlife including seabird colonies, Cape fur seals, zebra, gemsbok, desert-adapted elephant, lion and much more. Surfing enthusiasts are drawn to these powerful waves and photographers flock from around the globe to snap a shot of this eerie shipwreck graveyard and for the unrivalled maritime photographic opportunities. This coast is desolate but breathtakingly beautiful.
6) Damaraland
This vast desert landscape is known as one of the most beautiful regions in Namibia. Huge, untamed and ruggedly beautiful, Damaraland is an exceptionally scenic landscape featuring open plains, ancient valleys and spectacular rock formations.
The major attractions are the sacred Spitzkoppe, the Brandberg, Twyfelfontein, Vingerklip and the otherworldly Petrified Forest. Visitors can take in the dramatic vistas, catch a glimpse of the rare desert-adapted elephant, and enjoy spectacular stargazing in crystal-clear night skies from one of the many safari camps dotting Damaraland. Other popular activities include: guided drives, nature walks and visiting the local communities. Don’t miss the opportunity to view the Damaraland's world-famous ancient rock art.
7) Namib desert and the coast
The Namib Desert, which from the coast of western Namibia also reaches Angola and the Republic of South Africa, is one of the oldest in the world, the largest national park in Africa (Namib-Naukluft National Park), characterized by a belt of dunes among the most spectacular in the world, thanks to their very intense colors, ranging from pink to orange.
Here the conditions are extreme and the life of plants and animals is not easy. The millenary “pan” (salt lakes) and the silhouettes of now dry trees testify to this. Yet, in this inhospitable environment lives the "immortal" plant, the Welwitschia mirabilis that in Afrikaans language it is called "tweeblaarkanniedood", which means "two leaves cannot die", some bigger specimens are 3.000 years old; it does mean that are growing since iron age!!
Concluding this deliberately short list, it's not easy to show and describe all beautifull places that this country offers and in a way we will spoil your taste for discovering new things you have never seen before but we can say that Namibia is for people that like freedom, infinite spaces, to be in touch with an incredible nature and an African soul that will overwhelm you.
