AFRICA Namibia
Namibia is a country of contrasts. Its famous red sand dunes are unique and absolutely stunning, it has excellent wildlife if you are looking for a safari, the coastline is home to a vast array of mammals and birds, and the opportunities to explore endless.
If you have the time, you can combine Namibia with Botswana or South Africa (or even other African countries) but we personally recommend that you give yourself a really good amount of time just to enjoy Namibia. Of course you can whizz round in 2 weeks, but we think this will only serve to whet your appetite and you will long to return for another visit!
Namibia is a destination which suits most people - with something to offer for adventurous independent travellers, families with children of all ages, those who expect the ultimate in service and accommodation, etc. etc. The best way to find out exactly what is on offer is to contact us, have a chat about your expectations, and let us create something which is perfect just for you. We do also have some fixed date itineraries, which work well - and are ideal for single travellers. Because of the personal nature of our holidays, travelling alone need never be a lonely experience!
Alternatively, let us put together an itinerary which includes an activity - Namibia is somewhere you can go on a walking, cycling or riding holiday. If you prefer to be truly independent, we can arrange car rental, routings and accommodation to your specification.
We have wonderful partners in Namibia who will ensure that you have the best holiday to their country – you will be an honoured guest and not just a tourist.
If you are looking for luxury lodges, fly-in safaris, visiting conservation projects, game parks or a combination of any of these - just call us!
Be the exception - travel independently and see and do things you would never be able to experience out of a brochure.
A REASON FOR EVERY SEASON - the guide below was provided to Namibia Tourism by Maruske Adye from Expert Africa and is very useful when choosing the perfect time to visit this fascinating country. Our thanks to them both for allowing us to reproduce the information.
January – March
Be assured that the sun will shine on you whenever you visit Namibia as the country has an average of 300 sunny days a year. For those willing to put up with some rain, these months are a great time to visit and offer the visitor a chance to explore the country when there are not many tourists. Most rain showers only tend to last a short while before the clouds dissipate and sun shines once again bringing on a renewed vigour to the land.
The abundance of grass throughout the country means that herds of wildlife can be seen. Serious photographers seek out the contrast of green grass growing on the red sand dunes - with the dramatic backdrop of thunderous skies.
After particularly good rains there are phenomenas to see - such as the lilies at Mariental, and flamingos in the Etosha Pans. Migrating birds from Europe and elsewhere arrive and dramatically increasing the numbers of birds to be seen. For keen "birders" the Caprivi is a fantastic area to visit during these months.
The coastal towns are particularly stunning due to the lack of winds and fog at this time of year. February is the best month for shark fishing, especially for the most sought after bronze whaler - this is all done on a catch and release basis!
April and May
A great time for photographers as the recent rain has cleared all the dust particles from the air making the atmosphere much clearer. The contrasts and colours in the landscapes are brought out to perfection. These months probably offer the best temperatures of the year with pleasant days and warm evenings. From April there is the chance of seeing the leatherback turtle in the coastal waters. Apart from Easter, there are not many visitors making this an ideal time to travel to Namibia..
June – September
The first two weeks of June are a fantastic time to make the most of flight deals and some economical accommodation prices before the high season begins, giving visitors excellent value for money.
May and early June are great times for hiking before the busy season begins, whether it is in the Fish River Canyon, the Naukluft Mountains, the Waterberg Plateau or the Tok Tokkie Trail. The daytime temperatures are not too hot and the night temperatures not yet too cold when sleeping out. The rock pools in the Fish River Canyon and on the Naukluft trails still contain enough water for a nice dip.
This is a great time in terms of wildlife viewing. The longer grass will have been grazed making it much easier to spot wildlife on the open plains in Etosha. You can often see up to 7 different species at one of the waterholes at any one time.
August and early September are a particularly good time to travel down to the Fish River and Aus areas as the winter rains transform the landscape into a carpet of colourful flowers in bloom. This area is sometimes known as the Namibian Namaqualand. It is always hard to pinpoint exactly when this is going to happen but it is a spectacular sight for anyone who manages to time it right.
September is a great time to head into Damaraland as the elephant and other desert-adapted wildlife become easier to find as their water recourses begin to dry out. This area is famous for the largest free-roaming black rhino and desert elephant populations in the world.
October – December
If you are after animals in large numbers, visit Etosha in October. With scarce supplies of water during this season, the game is drawn to the permanent waterholes on the edge of the pan or at the main camps.
In October and November whales frequent the waters along the cost of Namibia, with possible sightings of humpback, southern right, Minke and even killer whales. Dolphins – both the bottlenose and the endemic Benguela (heavysides) – are present all year round, as are Cape fur seals.
During the second half of November and into December there is plenty of baby life to be seen. This is also the busiest time of year for the colony of breeding Cape Fur seals at Cape Cross, the largest of its kind in Southern Africa, when the sheer volume of seals is at its highest in December.
Definitely head down to Swakopmund on the coast to cool down in the Benguela Ocean before exploring the town’s array of adventure sports, German architecture and cuisine.
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