NAMIBIA

NAMIBIA is a land of vast contrast and beauty. Animals are but a part of it. All land is privately owned apart from a few “parks” the government own. To see wild animals in “regular” life, you should book accommodation with a game farm. There is plenty guest, game and hunting farms all over the country. That means they are registered to cater to a certain level for tourists. Mostly not camping but ask is for free. One of the main activities (attractions) offered normally, is a game drive. The farmer knows best what game he has on his property and where to find them. These animals are in natural habitat and are wild. As such you will also be involved in regular farming. However, on game farms, which have a game fence around, meaning the animals can not leave the property, you have a greater chance to see a lot of regular and imported game. If the area is too small, one get to see the animals but in a zoo-like atmosphere. The next problem to keep in mind wherever you go is the natural vegetation, high bush. Even though the animals are present, it is not always easy to spot them due to the bush-cover they have.
In Etosha National Game Park, you will definitely have a fine and unique experience. Up North, in the Caprivi, you should camp at Bumhill campsite. It will certainly give you a wonderful “African safari” feeling with the hippo’s in the background.
Have to: Sossosvlei close to Sesriem in the Namib Naukloof Park. It is a nature reserve of mainly the sand dunes. The camp is just in front of the gate. You have to go into the park the moment the gate open (it will still be dark) in order to experience day break and sunrise in the dunes. The magic of God’s paintbrush is unreal. There are desert animals, oryx, springbuck, ostrich etc around. You have to be out of the park by sunset. If I had 3 months I would definitely spend 5 –7 days here. Going through the Namib Desert to the coast via the Spreetshoogte pass is very interesting and give different views of the country. If you pass one car in the day, you may be lucky. If you encounter five cars it is very busy. Roads are mainly gravel and more than often going slow is extremely wise.
The Namib Desert is unique. Don’t miss the moonscape just outside of Swakopmund. Try to do all the roads in the park. The road over the Boshua pass back to Windhoek is very steep. Better maybe to do it from Windhoek to the coast.
Everywhere it is relatively safe. Thieving (which is a common and group practice) is mostly confined to the big towns. Tourists are definitely a soft target; try not to look like one. Cover all valuables and put it out of sight, where ever in the country you are, like under the seat or in the boot of the car. And  ALWAYS lock your car.
Sleeping next to the road has a 50% change of turning into a disaster.
Snakes and scorpions and bees and some creatures are poisonous, therefore dangerous. Fact is, 50% is poisonous but 99,9% they will disappear when you approach. It is good to wear boots when you walk in the dark; most of the bad stuff comes from the bottom and moves with the cover of night. Do not encourage ‘familiarization’ with the wild animals (like baboons, jackals, mongooses,) even if they so cutely come to you, especially in the parks. They are dangerous and could damage your camp, steel all your food, or hurt yourselves – they are carriers of diseases.
A reliable four wheel drive is the only thing that will open the most of the country to you. Kaokoland with the Ovahimba’s in the north-west is a very big, desolate, forlorn, no-road, beautiful area. I qualify it as dangerous - travel wise - and would advise not to do it. If you want to do it, do it with a local outfitter or with some other local travelers. The pros’ do not outweigh the cons’ if I should choose for you. Similar beauty you will experience on the Namib Desert roads. You can try to include Twyfelfontein – Ais – on the way to or from Hentiesbay and Cape cross - Etosha. It is representative of Kaokoland.
Our trip driving from South Africa, one month, 4 persons, Cost in 2005: N$ 30000-00 low budget (camping and no luxuries).:
International SE Border : Rietfontein - Kalahari dessert: – aroab – Koes – Gochas
South : – Mariental – Hardap dam – Maltahohe Sossosvlei: – Sesriem
Namib border and highlands: – Solitaire – Spreetshoogte pass to Windhoek but at the Gamsberg road crossing you go to Walvisbay over the Gamsberg pass and through the Namib dessert.
Coast: Walvisbay - Swakopmund – to Windhoek via the Dessert. – Bloedkoppie etc – Boshua pass
Windhoek - Otjiwarongo – Outjo –
Etosha National Park: Okakuejo – Halali – Namutoni - Tsumeb – Grootfontein – Okavango: Rundu – Popa falls
Caprivi: – Bumhill – Lianshulu – Katima Mulilo – Border: Ngoma through Botswana back to South Africa.
Fenata is an umbrella association for tourism association in the private sector. They will give info of whom to contact:
e-m: fenata@mweb.com.na (car rentals, accommodation etc)
The website: www.holidaytravel.com.na will give extreme good info with regard to Namibia.
In the event you can stop in Luderits, see Kolmanskop (a diamond mining town taken in by the sand) and the wild horses of the Namib. From there one can go up to Aus where it occasionally snow in Aug – Sept and then on to Sesriem. It is fascinating, desolate country.
The islands off the coast are small and rocky.
Looking forward to hear from you with more questions: mysaillady@yahoo.com