Most visitors come to Namibia for its wide open spaces, its magnificent landscapes and its abundant wildlife. But on your way across this vast country, it's always worth spending a morning taking a tour of quite a different kind - in a township. 1. See the Real Namibia Soweto Market, Katutura Namibia's emptiness is breathtaking - but of course, the majority of Namibians are not found in the vast desert expanses. If you really want to discover wh
In this weekly EXTREME NAMIBIA blog series we explore some of our country's extremes, and share with you practical information on how you can come and discover them for yourself. San hunter The San people – also known as bushmen – are southern Africa’s only truly indigenous people. But more than that – genetic testing has proved that they are one of the groups from which all known modern humans evolved. Today, around 35,000 San li
Visiting Etosha National Park is one of Namibia's most exceptional adventures. This wildlife sanctuary of over 27,000 square kilometers has a protected status that stretches back over a hundred years. Etosha provides a new experience even for seasoned wildlife viewers, and unlike many other African parks, you can explore the vast expanses and numerous waterholes in your own vehicle at your own pace, enjoying a more personal experience with nature
Discover contemporary Namibian culture during your stay in Windhoek! This week, an exhibition by Namibian photographer Christian Goltz opened at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC). "Simply the Same" is Goltz's first solo show, and he explains his images in this way: "I try to see and then make simple photographs of what cannot be explained. Normally, it must be beautiful and Namibian. Women, leopards, a milk bush in the Namib..." The exhi
In this weekly EXTREME NAMIBIA blog series we explore some of our country's extremes, and share with you practical information on how you can come and discover them for yourself. Something once abundant across the globe is becoming rarer and rarer. Once common enough to be revered as deities, guides or spirits by our ancestors, these things are now disappearing so fast that many city-dwellers will likely see only one or two in a night. Even in ru
Safari (noun) /səˈfɑː.ri/: a journey or expedition, for hunting, exploration, or investigation, especially in Africa. Namibia's landscapes and wildlife are like none other in Africa, and a Namibian safari reflects this. The classic image of driving round an East African game park in search of the Big Five doesn't apply here; instead visitors can track rhino on foot, ride horseback past herds of giraffes, take a hot air balloon safari abo
In this weekly EXTREME NAMIBIA blog series we explore some of our country's extremes, and share with you practical information on how you can come and discover them for yourself. The black rhino is one of the world's most endangered species. Between 1960 and 1995, numbers dropped by a horrifying 96.7%, mainly as a result of poaching for their horns. Black rhinos are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN's Red List Today, Namibia is ho
Imagine a school without desks and chairs, without walls or a blackboard. Imagine learning skills that have been learned over thousands of years, passed down through the world’s most ancient culture. Imagine being able to identify dozens of species – from an ant to elephant – without ever seeing a single one. The real-world San classroom. Photo: Friedrich Alpers of IRDNC To those of us unfamiliar with life in the bush, this seems like
In this weekly EXTREME NAMIBIA blog series we explore some of our country's extremes, and share with you practical information on how you can come and discover them for yourself. "Namib" is the Nama word for "vast" - and this desert, stretching for 1,600km along Namibia's coast, is certainly the embodiment of vastness. The most arid parts of this sandy expanse receive an average of just 2-5mm of rainfall a year, which would manke you think t
Last week, AFAR Magazine listed Namibia as one of it's top travel destinations for 2013: "In October, Namibia proudly displays its diverse landscape--as well as its deep commitment to conservation and environmental management--when the country welcomes the 2013 Adventure Travel World Summit. Situated on southern Africa's wild Atlantic coast, the country often surprises first-time visitors with its dramatic white salt plains and spectacular
