samedi 17 janvier 2015

Enjoy An African Adventure With Namibia Safari Packages

By Enid Hinton


Southern Africa has some excellent destinations for wildlife viewing but few can beat the country of Namibia. This large country is sparsely populated so if you love wide open spaces, this is the place for you. Once upon a time it was a German colony and the German influence is still strong in the historic architecture, German bakeries and local brews. With Namibia safari packages you can enjoy the magic of Africa and it's surprisingly affordable too.

Namibia is a large country in the western part of Southern Africa. Its western border is formed by the Atlantic Ocean. To the south is the Orange River that separates the country from South Africa while up north, crossing the Kunene River will put you in Angola. To the east lies Botswana. The capital city is centrally located Windhoek.

Namibia was named for the Namib Desert, which makes up much of its western part. However, most of the country is arid and hot and it's best to visit in the winter months. The weather is cooler then and because vegetation is sparse when it doesn't rain, it's easier to spot the vast variety of local wildlife. Apart from wildlife safaris, things to see include the colonial town of Swakopmund, the ghost town of Kolmanskop, ancient rock art and the majestic Fish River Canyon.

The Namib Desert stretches all along the Namibian coast. In the south, Sossusvlei is a popular destination because of its proximity to some very high sand dunes, among them the famous Dune 45. Towards the north you'll find the area known as the Skeleton Coast with its many shipwrecks. Animals in this desolate desert include oryx, springbok, jackal, desert elephants and, along the coast, seals. Parts of the desert are off-limits because of diamond mining, though.

The Namib-Naukluft National Park is the largest in Africa. However, Etosha National Park is not far behind in terms of size. It's located in the north and is a prime wildlife-viewing destination. This is mainly because the vast Etosha Salt Pan attracts animals looking for water, especially in winter. You may spot zebra, oryx, springbok, giraffe, elephant, rhino, warthogs and lions, among others.

Damaraland has a spectacular landscape that would not look out of place on Mars. Here you'll find rock formations such as Vingerklip, a petrified forest and the San rock art of Brandberg and Twyfelfontein. The region, which is located in the central north, is the perfect place to go on community-driven elephant and rhino safaris.

Two other fascinating northern regions are Kaokoland and the Caprivi Strip. The former is near the Kunene River, which forms the border with Angola, and is home to the fascinating Himba people. Game is plentiful here too and you might even see cheetah. The Caprivi Strip is lush and greener than the rest of the country due to the Kavango and Kwando Rivers. From here the Okavango Delta in neighboring Botswana is within easy reach too.

To make your African dream a reality, no matter what your budget, you only need to contact your local travel agent. Otherwise, book a package deal online. Many of these deals are all-inclusive and you only have to worry about getting to Windhoek and remembering to pack your camera.




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