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Wedged between the Kalahari
and the chilly South Atlantic, Namibia has deserts,
seascapes, bushwalking and boundlessness. Blessed with
rich natural resources, a solid modern infrastructure
and diverse traditional cultures, it is a beautiful
country of vast potential.
Most people come to Namibia to
go to the game parks and wildlife reserves
to view African animals in their habitat.
The wide-open spaces and
variable landscapes present great opportunities for
walking and hiking.
Permits to do multi-day walks
at the Waterberg Plateau, Naukluft Mountains, the Ugab
River and the Fish River Canyon are strictly limited and
you should book as far in advance as possible; you'll
need a party of at least three and a Windhoek doctor's
certificate stating that you're fit and able. Within the
parks and reserves travelers enjoy camping and
the great outdoors.
There are opportunities to go
river rafting and canoeing along some of
the mighty inland waterways, including the Orange River.
Horse riding is popular and multi-day horse treks
are offered from various places.
It's hard to imagine how the
German colonizers of Namibia coped with the unlimited
elbow room, vast deserts and annual quota of 300 days of
sunshine, but that's exactly what now draws travelers to
one of Africa's most intriguing destinations.
UNIQUE ASPECTS OF NAMIBIA
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Cities - from the contrasts of the
historic and modern of the capital Windhoek to
the ghost towns of the southern Namib where the
desert is reclaiming its ground from once
vibrant mining towns. |
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People - from
the colorful Herero people and stylish city
dwellers to the nomadic Himba and elusive
Bushmen. Namibia is home to many different
ethnic groups and the people of Namibia are not
averse to being photographed provided permission
is asked. Varying lifestyles and dwellings in
urban and remote settings create interesting
backdrops. |
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Plant life - from tiny succulent species
to towering acacia and the ancient Welwitschia
Mirabilis, moringa, pachypodium, euphorbia and
lichen are but a few of those worthy of mention.
An unexpected plethora of species abounds in
this harsh land. |
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Wildlife - from the desert dwelling
elephants of Damaraland to the rare black
rhinoceros of Etosha National Park and the
desert adapted gemsbok (oryx gazella) of the
Namib to the thousands of Cape Fur Seals of the
Atlantic Coast, Namibia is home to unrivalled
abundance and variety. |
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Bird life - from the regal fish eagle to
the comical hornbill and the small but plentiful
sociable weaver over 660 species have been
recorded in this country. Fourteen endemic
species are resident and a multitude of seasonal
migrants visit the rivers and coastlines. |
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Landscapes - from mountains to plains and
sand dunes to canyons the ever-changing
landscapes have been shaped over millions of
years by seismic and climatic conditions. |
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