| Etosha
The place of dry water
 This
22 270 square km’s National Park is not only one
of Africa’s largest, but certainly one of the
most unique. The centre of the National Park is covered
by the great salt flats of Etosha Pan, covering around
5000 square km’s. The Pan together with open plains
and dense bush create a habitat for a great diversity
in flora and fauna, including White and Black Rhino,
Cheetah, Lion, Elephant, Giraffe and a number of other
small predators and plains game.
For packaging purposes, Etosha can be
divided into three sections.
Etosha East which includes Mushara Lodge, Mushara Outpost,
Onguma Plains and Onguma Tented Camp.
Etosha South which includes Taleni
Etosha Village, Andersson’s Camp and Ongava Lodge
& Tented Camp.
Both of these areas can be accessed by 2 x 4 vehicle
and also have the option of flying in using either scheduled
or chartered air transfers.
Damaraland
Namibia’s open-air art gallery,
 Home
to some of the world’s most impressive natural
rock phenomena, rock art, as well as the elusive and
but unique Desert Elephant.
Damaraland has some of the oldest
natural attractions in the country: Petrified Forest,
where a cataclysmic event millions of years ago deposited
giant tree trunks which have subsequently turned to
stone; Burt Mountain, a panorama of desolation with
coloured rocks contrasting vividly against the grey-black
background; Organ Pipes, a mass of basalt slabs in a
ravine gouged out by a river; The famous Welwitschia
mirabilis plant which grows in the area and are on average
500-600 years old! Damaraland is nature’s history
museum.
Swakopmund
The adventure centre
 Wedged
between the ancient Namib Desert and the Atlantic Ocean
lies Namibia’s premier seaside resort town and
adventure centre.
The palm-lined beachfront and quaint
German architecture are in complete contrast to the
desolation of the Dunes in Swakopmund’s back yard.
Founded in 1892 during the period of German Colonial
rule, it served as the territory’s main harbour
for many years.
Swakopmund has a wide choice of hotels,
restaurants and coffee shops selling traditional German
cakes and pastries. The old South African territory
of Walvis Bay is a mere 30 kms away.
Quad biking and Sandboarding in the dunes is the most
popular pastime, while for the more tranquil at heart
a Dolphin & Seal cruise in Walvis Bay is a must.
Accommodation is available at Brigadoon
Cottages, Atlantic Villas and The Swakopmund Hotel,
to name a few.
Sossusvlei
The worlds highest dunes
 The
Namib Naukluft Park is one of Africa’s oldest
and certainly one of the most spectacular National Parks
on the continent. A combination of the rocky Naukluft
Mountains and wide open plains that gives rise the huge
towering red dunes that reach more than 1000 feet, astound
the visitor with the stark beauty and makes Sossusvlei
one of Africa’s most photographed destinations.
The “vlei” itself is a clay
pan surrounded by these dunes and on rare occasions
following heavy rainfall, the floodwaters find their
way to the pan to create a large body of water surrounded
by extreme desolation. Most of the time the pan remains
dry and is riddled with maze-like cracks caused by the
baking sun.
Most of the lodges in this area are
set on the plains between the Naukluft Mountains and
the dunes. When selecting your lodge please take into
consideration that none of them are actually right among
the dunes. Kulala Desert Lodge is the closest with spectacular
views, while the rest of the lodges are within a short
drive. This allows for diversity in activities ranging
from walking trails through the mountains, to exploring
and climbing the “red giants”.
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