Land Of Plenty

From wilderness to sand dunes, from surfing to surf ‘n’ turf—Namibia caters for every wish and whim.

- Catie Brown

Nicknamed “The Land of the Brave”, Namibia holds definite appeal for thrill seekers. But there’s much more to be found in this desert landscape than an adrenaline rush.

A patchwork of different tribes sit side by side at local markets, from the red-painted topless ladies of the Himbe tribe to the neighbouring Herero women dressed in full colonial Victoriana; the landscape is similarly varied, with salt pans and savannahs in the north, the Namib Desert to the west, and the second largest canyon in the world separating this country from its former ruler, South Africa.

These are the best things to do in Namibia:

CALL OF THE WILD

Etosha National Park

Safaris are found all over Africa, but in the northern plains of Namibia you’ll find one of the few places you can continue exploring after dark: A watering hole with night-vision lighting and a viewing deck offers a glimpse into the real wilderness of Africa. Bring a blanket and cuddle up under the stars to watch endangered rhino bathe, lions pace and roar into the darkness, and antelope flit around unseen predators.

By daylight, the bright white salt flats shroud elephants in a ghostly hue as they traverse this no-man’s land, looking for the last scraps of sustenance.

Okonjima

Located halfway between Etosha and the capital of Windhoek, Okonjima is the home of all things cheetah, and the base for the charitable foundation AfriCat. Stay on the reserve to watch wild cheetahs tear into huge hunks of meat, and get up close and personal with abandoned cheetahs that have been hand-reared with a dominant Jack Russell. This is a phenomenal opportunity to interact with and observe one of Africa’s big cats up close.