Notizie e curiosità
I hope you have an experience that alters the course of your life because, after Africa, nothing has ever been the same.
Suzanne Evans
Namibia is a country in Southern Africa and the land of the great deserts: the Namib Desert and the Kalahari Basin that characterize its territory.
The coast of Namibia, that overlooks the icy Atlantic Ocean, is dominated by a sandy and inhospitable desert with rock formations and high sand dunes in warm colors; it is the Namib Desert, that also gives its name to the country; while the hinterland is located on a plateau.
Namibia is a fascinating and remote country, the landscapes are varied and all wonderful, also here there are some natural areas where you can go on safaris to spot the Big 5 and other numerous animals, finally it is possible to meet closely the people who inhabit these lands, among them the San, the Himba, the Herero and the Nama.
The Namib-Naukluft National Park, located in the Namib Desert, allows you to explore some desert areas such as the high orange dunes of Sossusvlei, a sort of wide valley that makes its way through the dunes that is passable by car and allows to go into the desert; the Sesriem canyon and the Naukluft Mountains.
A little further North is the Skeleton Coast, one of the most inhospitable places on earth; the Skeleton Coast has spooky charm, here you can see shipwrecks, that have run aground over the centuries, and buildings and structures that have been abandoned and now devoured by sand and rust.
Along the coast of Namibia there are areas where some animals are found such as the colony of Cape fur seals at Cape Cross, flamingos and pelicans at the Walvis Bay lagoon, lions and other mammals that have adapted to live in the desert, the wild horses of Aus.
For those who love safaris, the unmissable destination is the Etosha National Park: an area that protects a great salty depression, that in the past was a huge lake, and part of the surrounding territory.
At the Etosha it is possible to spot many species of animals including elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards, various species of antelope, giraffes, jackals and many others; during the dry season the park is semi-arid and the animals gather at the few pools of water present, while during the rains the park becomes green and luxuriant.
In addition to the Etosha National Park in Namibia there are also some reserves that offer unforgettable photo safaris.
The Kalahari Desert Basin includes both the Etosha National Park area and the Eastern territories of Namibia, here the terrain is arid and rainfall is practically non-existent, the landscapes are boundless and indescribable and sunsets are breathtaking: white and dusty salty depressions, orange and red dunes, apparently lifeless plains.
In the South of Namibia there is a jewel from a landscape and geological point of view: the Fish River Canyon; a huge canyon, second only to the Grand Canyon in size, where it is possible to go trekking and hiking or simply enjoy the views from the various observation points.
The far North of Namibia, on the other hand, is greener and more luxuriant, thanks to the presence of rivers and more abundant rainfall; here are the Epupa Falls on the border with Angola and the Caprivi Strip, a strip of territory that is wedged between Botswana, Angola and Zambia and reaches not far from the Victoria Falls.
Along the Caprivi Strip much of the territory is protected by the Bwabwata National Park and other nature reserves; taking the only road, that cuts it lengthwise for 450 km, is very interesting: you are immersed in the nature of Bwabwata and pass through traditional villages and towns, these are the lands of the Owambo.
Namibia is also very interesting from an anthropological point of view; here there are several local populations, many of whom live following tradition; you can meet them simply by traveling around the country or visiting traditional villages.
The Himba are found in the North-Western territories, the beautiful Himba women look like terracotta statues as they cover their body and hair with a mixture of butter and red earth, their clothing is leather and they use accessories made of leather, metal and shells; this people live according to tradition and it is an unforgettable experience to visit their villages.
The San, or Bushmen, are a nomadic population of hunter-gatherers and are the first inhabitants of Southern Africa; in Namibia they are found in the driest areas to the East.
Traditional San villages are usually found in remote areas that are hard to reach, some accept visitors, but many prefer not to have guests; alternatively there are live museums, San villages recreated to make visitors discover the lifestyle of the Bushmen, a good compromise to discover this wonderful people.
In Namibia you can visit some archaeological sites that preserve the rock carvings and prehistoric paintings of the San, located in the Damaraland region and the main ones are: Twyfelfontein and the White Lady.
Furthermore, traveling to Namibia it is possible to meet the Herero and the Nama, two local tribes who, despite having been partially distorted by the German colonizers, are still interesting to meet.
Namibia conquers all travelers for its landscapes, its wild animals, its inhabitants and the sense of freedom that one feels when traveling through this wonderful African country… are you ready to be conquered?
Namibia is crossed by the Tropic of Capricorn and has a sub-tropical and desert climate in the Southern areas and along the Atlantic coast, while the central areas of the hinterland and the North of the country have a semi-arid climate, finally the extreme North, that borders Angola and Zambia has a wetter climate than the rest of the country.
The dry season is in the months from June to October and it is characterized by the total absence of rain, the sky is clear, the temperatures are mild during the day and low at night; on the coast there is humidity as a result of the encounter between the warmer air, coming from the hinterland, and the very low temperature of the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Wet or green season is in the months from November to April, in this period showers can occur in the hinterland of the country and along the border with Angola to the North, temperatures are higher both during the day and in the evening; while in the Namib Desert, that is located along the Atlantic coast, rainfall is sporadic and of short duration while temperatures are mild.
The best time to visit Namibia coincides with the dry season when the dirt roads are more practicable, the vegetation is scarce, and therefore it is easier to spot the animals, that gather at the few sources of water, and rainfall is absent.
But Namibia is also very beautiful to visit during the green season, when, following rainfall, the desert and savannah bloom and the vegetation becomes luxuriant, even if for a short time; moreover, in this season the births of the cubs of the antelopes occur.
No vaccinations or malaria prophylaxis are required to enter Namibia.
In the suitcase you can not miss: comfortable clothing and different weights to face the temperature range, sunscreen with a high protection factor, sunglasses, camera, sports shoes better if closed, a moisturizer since the air is very dry, a navigator or an application for the streets if you self-drive, basic necessities as it is not easy to find them on the spot, cash, Euros or American Dollars, ATMs are not present everywhere and it is often not possible to withdraw anywhere, credit cards are accepted but it is always better to have cash, too.
Namibia is a fascinating country where large spaces leave you speechless and where the sense of freedom is contagious; the immensity of the Namib Desert, the animals and safaris in the Etosha National Park, the …
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