The desert landscape of Etosha National Park makes it unique as far as safari destinations go. It is a barren, harsh land and was formerly an ancient volcanic lake which dried up millions of years ago. As well as giving the safari experience here an indescribable atmosphere, this lunar landscape is bursting with life, and as this life congregates at water sources amidst the barren desert backdrop, otherworldly scenes are born and Etosha really comes into its own.
Due to the surrounding dry, harsh environment which is quintessentially Namibia, you can often find extraordinary scenes of elephant, zebra and all varieties of antelope congregating side-by-side at a small waterhole at any one time. Nowhere else in Africa do you get quite such distinct waterhole microcosms, in contrast to barren landscapes and so the sheer variety and wealth of species which can be seen on a single Etosha game drive (especially in the dry season) is astonishing.
You can tick off pretty much everything in Etosha: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, giraffe, wildebeest, cheetah, hyena, mountain and plains zebra, springbok, kudu, gemsbok and eland. Among the smaller species you will find jackal, bat-eared fox, warthog, honey badger and ground squirrel. You will see more vehicles here than in other parks in Africa, but this can be avoided by staying in one of the private concessions on the outer rim of the national park.
Namibia certainly does not do anything in halves. The skies are starrier, animals’ stranger and the landscapes more dramatic than anywhere else in Africa. An arid and never-ending land of sand dune horizons, pink sunsets and desert adapted animals sets Namibia apart as a one of a kind African adventure destination and certainly not the safari “norm”.
Namibia certainly does not do anything by halves. The skies are starrier, animals' stranger and the landscapes more dramatic than anywhere else in Africa.
The Skeleton Coast is wild, desolate and has definitely earned its name. It has everything from roaring sand dunes and windswept plains, to towering canyons and salt-pans.
Sossusvlei is a world apart and a truly inspiring place to be. The bold red sand dunes are what characterise this widely photographed and much-loved patch of Africa.