Namibia Ecotourism

First of all, tourists go to Namibia in order to travel to numerous national parks and reserves, where you can observe a wide variety of animals, even predatory ones, in close proximity.

The most popular is the world-famous Etosha National Park, which is located 500 km north of Windhoek.. The park was created in 1907 and now covers an area of 22 thousand square meters. km. The natural complexes of saltwort semi-deserts, thorny thickets of acacia, forests of the mopan tree, swamps, grassy plains and the water area of the largest salt marsh in Africa, Etosha, are protected here. During the rainy season, the salt marsh is filled with water, forming dozens of small lakes. In the Etosha National Park you can see the whole diversity of the animal world of Namibia: 114 species of mammals (oryx, wildebeest, springbok, dikdik, impala, black rhinoceros, elephant, giraffe, zebra, lion, cheetah, leopard), 340 species of birds (ostrich, pink flamingo, pelican, marabou) and 50 species of snakes. Moreover, the best places for observing animals are the banks of small reservoirs, where thirsty animals come to drink.

Also in the immediate vicinity of the country’s capital are Waterberg Plateau Park (Namibia ‘s only mountain park) and Dun Vilhun Park.

According to The Country Tutor, the Namib Desert is famous for its protected areas. Basically , travel along it begins with the coastal resort city of Swakopmund. In the northern part of the coast from the Cunene River to Torra Bay lies the Skeleton Coast National Park.. The territory of the park is divided by Move Bay into two zones: southern and northern. You can enter the northern part of the park only with special permission and only as part of groups of tourists organized by licensed travel agencies. Access to the southern part of the park is free. Further south in the West Coast Recreational Area is Cape Cross Conservation Area. One of the largest Cape seal colonies in Africa lives here. During the breeding period in November-December, about 150,000 individuals of this species accumulate on the cape. In the southern part of the Namib Desert, on an area of ​​50 thousand square meters. km stretches Namib-Naukluft National Park. It is the largest national park in Africa and the fourth largest in the world. The park was opened in 1979. The local landscapes, which are commonly called “lunar”, vary from majestic mountain ranges to desert plains and sand dunes, from canyons to lagoons. Here, oddly enough for such a harsh climate, you can see antelopes, zebras, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, hyenas, jackals and lions, as well as the national symbol of Namibia – the velvichia. At the eastern entrance to the Namib- Naukluft National Park near the city of Sesriem, there is a canyon of the same name with a length of about 1 km and a depth of up to 30 m.basin. The main attraction of Sossusvlei is the chain of the highest sand dunes in the world. Their heights reach 300 m. The dunes are most beautiful in the morning and late in the evening.

In the southern part of Namibia, one of the main natural attractions of Namibia is located – Fish River Canyon, which is located on the territory of the park of the same name. The Fish River is a right tributary of the Orange River. This is a seasonal river, the bed of which dries up during the dry season. Fish River Canyon is 160 km long, 127 km wide and 550 m deep. It is the deepest canyon in the Southern Hemisphere. Only 80 km of the canyon are accessible to tourists: the part between the Ai-Ais resort and the city of Hobas.

The protected areas of the northeastern part of the country differ significantly, especially in the Caprivi Strip region. There is a significant amount of precipitation here, and there are many rivers here. The natural boundaries of the Caprivi Strip are four rivers: Okavango, Kwando, Chobe and Zambezi. During the rainy season, most of the area is flooded. The Caprivi Strip is a land of swamps, lakes and dense forests. Here are the reserves of Mahango and Caprivi and two national parks – Mudumu and Mamili.

It is worth remembering that in Namibia there are a lot of predatory animals, so most of the excursions to national parks are carried out in jeeps. If you got on a walking tour in safe areas, you should still not leave the guide and you should strictly listen to his recommendations on the rules of conduct. Visiting national parks is possible only with tickets and during the daytime. In some national parks you can stay around the clock, but the night hours must be spent in the camp under the supervision of guides.

Namibia Ecotourism

You may also like...