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Namibia > Places |
This is a list of places to visit in southern Namibia, if you're looking for another region of Namibia. If you need accommodation anywhere please visit our lodges in Namibia section. For safaris that visit these places visit our safaris in Namibia section. For any questions regarding please do not hesitate to email us
Places listed on this page are as follows:
Ai-Ais / Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
The Ai-Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Conservation Park spans some of the most spectacular scenery of the arid and desert environments in southern Africa. Bisected by the Orange River, which forms the border between South Africa and Namibia, it comprises the Ai-Ais Hot Springs Game Park in Namibia and the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa.
Aus
The small town of Aus is situated on the main road between Keetmanshoop and Luderitz. It is a good place to see the Namib Desert Feral Horses
Bethanie
The historic town of Bethanie is home to the house of Schmelen, the oldest existing settlement in Namibia. It is also the site where the first deed was signed between local Namibian people and the Germans.
Fish River Canyon
The Fish River Canyon is one of the largest canyons in the world; think of it as the Grand Canyon of Southern Africa and you're not far off (apart from the fact that it is much smaller). It's situated on the lower parts of the Fish River near the southern border of Namibia. Not only is it visually spectacular, but it also obliges with one or two non visual extremes. Temperatures in the (African) summer can reach some 50° Centigrade, resulting in the canyon being closed to the public during that time (map)
Gondwana Cañon Park
The idea of founding the Gondwana Cañon Park was born in 1996 when a small group of dedicated Namibians decided to try to preserve a small area bordering the eastern side of the Fish River Canyon National Park in Namibia's south.
The Kalahari Desert
Although Namibia is more famous for being the home of the Namib Desert it must be remembered that much of eastern Namibia is covered by the Kalahari Desert.
Keetmanshoop
Keetmanshoop is the main town in southern Namibia. It is home to the Keetmanshoop museum and serves as an economic and transportation hub for the entire south of the country.
Kolmanskop
The ghost town of Kolmanskop, near Lüderitz, is gradually being devoured by the inexorable advance of the sand. Initially it was little more than a train stop, but when hundreds of carats of diamonds were discovered littering the ground nearby Kolmanskop became a thriving and prosperous town. Same story as any other ghost town: when the diamonds ran out in the area, people saw no reason to remain, and the last families departed in the 'fifties. Nevertheless it is said that Kolmanskop had electricity before London...
Mariental
The small Namibian town of Mariental once thrived of the Karakul sheep market, farmers now earn a living from ostrich and other indigenous game species.
Namib-Naukluft Park
Namib-Naukluft Park is one of the largest and most varied national parks in Africa, covering much of the central Namib Desert and the Naukluft Mountains. It is home to some of the rarest and weirdest plant and animal species in the world, including the Welwitschia Mirabilis, large lichen fields and Hartmann's Mountain Zebra. The park's main attractions are Sossusvlei and the Naukluft Mountains. (map)
NamibRand Nature Reserve
The idea behind the NamibRand Nature reserve was to integrate a number of sheep farms into one game sanctuary. The NamibRand is free of fences and allows the wildlife to roam in their natural habitat.
The Naukluft section of the Namib-Naukluft park was initially created as a sanctuary for the Hartmann's mountain zebra. The mountainous area is extremely beautiful as well as having an interesting history and geography. The Naukluft mountains are very popular for hiking, four wheel drive trails and even offer something for the more sedentary, as the beautiful rock pools near the Kudusrus campsite are the ideal place to spend a day lazing in the sun.
Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is a rather inhospitable clay pan surrounded by some of the highest sand dunes in the world (about 400 metres from base to tip) presents the natural spectacle that is the Sossusvlei. It's situated in the deep desert in the Namib-Naukluft Park, and accessed via Sesriem Camp. It's accessible with a 2WD car, but the last 5 kilometres are either on foot or with a 4x4.