I just wanted to let you all know about my trip to Namibia in the hopes that it might inspire some of you to visit this beautiful country!
My 10 day adventure began as I landed at the Hosea Kutako International Airport. Stepping out into the hot African it really hit me that I was in Namibia and that my dream holiday was just beginning! We were met by our guide and taken to our accommodation (the Roof of Africa Lodge) so that we could freshen up after our long flight. Later that day we were treated to a city tour of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. It was great to learn more about the history of Namibia and to see the quaint old fashioned town of Windhoek. By the time my head hit the pillow that evening all I could think about was exploring the famous red dunes of Sossusvlei that I had heard so much about, even though we were only going to visit them at the end of the safari…
The next morning after a delicious breakfast we headed north to Okonjima. The drive took us about 2.5 hours, but the gorgeous scenery was so breathtaking that the time just flew by. The highlight of my day was our visit to the AfriCat Centre, an organisation which is involved in the conservation of Namibia’s big cats. We got to see rehabilitated cheetahs, but unfortunately I didn’t see any leopards. It’s a great organization and it was a nice touch to visit them on safari – shows what responsible tourism really should be all about!
The following day we departed for Etosha National Park where we spent two days soaking up the sun while viewing the most amazing African wildlife! On our many game drives we saw zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, springbok, impala, eland, lion, jackals, elephants, and even glimpsed one endangered black rhino! The most thrilling experience was definitely our close encounter with a huge herd of elephants, they came so close to our vehicle that I didn’t even need to use ‘zoom’ on my camera! As you can imagine there were some superb photo opportunities and I captured some amazing memories on camera…
The next part of my journey took us through the harsh and rugged terrain of Damaraland – one of the most scenic parts of Namibia. On our way to Twyfelfontein (famous for its Bushman paintings and rock art – and I could see why!) we visited the Petrified Forest where we saw fossilized trees that are thought to be over 280 million years old! The following day my adventurous spirit came out and I went quad biking and sand boarding in Swakopmund. After such an energetic day it was wonderful to reach Sossusvlei. We spent the day relaxing and taking in the majestic red dunes of Sossusvlei. The most incredible experience was climbing up the dunes and taking in the spectacular view of the ‘dune sea’. But thank goodness we climbed those dues early in the morning when it was relatively cool – apparently these dunes (with its rich red colour) attract the sun & its heat at midday. An experience not to be missed! The contrast between the deep red and ochre sand dunes and the clear blue sky will stay with me forever.
I can say without a doubt that this was a holiday I will never forget, and I would recommend visiting Namibia to anyone who wants an incredible mix of wildlife, scenery and culture! Since I had such a great time in Namibia I have decided maybe to try a camping option next.
Definitely going to go with Jenman Safaris again but cant decide between Kenya and Botswana – I really want to see stunningly beautiful landscapes and a great selection of animals. Both countries offer this, but which is better? Any ideas?
Source: Chloe Russel – past client of Jenman Safaris
