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SOUTHERN NAMIBIA
  
Swakopmund
- A charming coastal town sandwiched between the dunes of the Namib Desert, the ocean and Walvis Bay.
- Characterized by a wealth of well-preserved German Colonial buildings.
- German is still widely spoken and street names serve as reminders of former Colonial rulers and administrators. Typical German cakes and confectionary can be enjoyed in the town's cafes, whilst shops are stocked with a mouth water selection of cold meats.
- An adventure hub - coastal dunes offer a variety of adventure activities from sand boarding, parasailing to quad biking. Take a dolphin cruise from nearby Walvis Bay and you'll have seals trying to clamber on board your boat for a free ride! Feast on oysters and champagne on the dunes as the sun sets. Alternatively, take a hot air balloon ride over the dunes!
- Also worth a visit is the Cape Fur Seal colony at Cape Cross, a few hours north of Swakopmund.
Sossusvlei
- The south's main attraction, Sossusvlei, a clay pan formed when the shifting dunes of the Namib smothered the course of the Tsauchab River.
- Surrounded by majestic star-shaped dunes with curvaceous lines, the pan and the surrounding dunes are especially breathtaking in the early morning hours.
- The Dead Vlei with its pure white clay floor and dead camel thorn tree trunks reaching skywards, surrounded by the tall red dunes of the Sossusvlei is a place like no other. The pan can be dry for up to a decade, but after heavy floods, it can hold water for almost a year.
- Sesriem, the gateway to Sossusvlei is named after a 30m deep canyon.
- Those who explore the towering dunes of the Sossusvlei soon discover that deserts are anything but lifeless.
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 | Fish River Canyon & Kolmanskop
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- The desolate Fish River Canyon in the south is second only to the Grand Canyon in size and grandeur.
- The canyon is a spectacular 65km long and reaches a depth of 549m and ranks as one of the most popular hiking destinations in Namibia.
- The Fish River Canyon and the adjoining Richtersveld National Park in South Africa have been designated as Namibia's first transfrontier conservation area.
- From the canyon it is a short hop to Luderitz where the 'ghost town' of Kolmanskop (which was previously a mining settlement) holds much fascination for visitors. The town boomed during a gold rush, but today has been reclaimed by the surrounding desert.
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CENTRAL NAMIBIA
  
Windhoek
- Namibia's capital city and the 'point of entry' for visitors into the country.
- The city's main street is lined with well-preserved German Colonial buildings, which rub shoulders with modern architectural styles, whilst Herero woman in traditional Victorian dresses mingle with modern city executives - an exciting mix of cultures and heritage.
- Thompsons Africa offer a wide choice of accommodation options, transfers, day tours as well as car hire for clients who need to overnight in Windhoek. With offices in Windhoek, our Meet & Greet staff are on hand to welcome you to the country and assist you with any queries you may have concerning your holiday arrangements in Namibia.
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Damaraland & Twyfeltontein
- Damaraland is the name still referred to in tourism circles for the region south of Kaokoland and north of the main road to Swakopmund. The southern section of Damaraland now lies within the Erongo region and the northern section within the Kunene region.
- The name Damaraland is taken from the Damara people that populate this area. The Damara, along with the Bushmen are the oldest inhabitants of Namibia. The Darama and the Bushmen share a common 'thread' in that their languages were both derived from the Khoisan group.
- Damaraland is an incredibly scenic region, with pre-historic water courses, open rocky plains and grasslands, massive granite koppie's (small granite hill/outcrop) and rugged mountains.
- Game in this area include the desert elephant, desert black rhino, ostrich and springbuck, oryx and a whole host of other desert adapted species of reptile and bird.
- The area offers a number of scenic attractions -
- Twyelfontein boasts one of the most extensive rock art galleries in the world. These are not rock paintings, but rock engravings - the ancient artists cut through the hard surface layer of sandstone. More than 2000 petroglyphes have been counted here and the area is declared a National Monument. The estimated age of the engravings are said to be between 1000 and 10 000 years old!
- Tall basalt columns called the "Organ Pipes" are another marvel of nature as is "Burnt Mountain", natural dolerite sculptures exposed in a dry river bed.
- The "Petrified Forest" is where one can view 300-million-year-old tree trunks.
- In the distance view Namibia's highest mountain, the Brandberg.
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NORTHERN NAMIBIA
  
Etosha National Park
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- Etosha is an oasis in the middle of a semi-desert, providing one of the most extraordinary game viewing experiences in the region and is one of the 'must-see' highlights on any Namibian holiday itinerary.
- Also known as the 'great white plains', stretching for more than 350km from east to west and covering an area of 22 270 square kilometers.
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- This great white expanse at certain times of the year is one of Namibia's most important wetland areas and is the breeding ground for thousands upon thousands of flamingoes.
- The park boasts 114 mammal species, many of which are rare and endangered, from black rhino, white rhino, herds of elephant, the striking black-faced impala, lions to a profusion of other animals and birds (380 bird species and 110 reptile species).
- The park has achieved a great deal in terms of international conservation, some of the most threatened species, such as the black rhino and elephant were extinct in Etosha when the park was first proclaimed. 100 Years later, good populations of these animals exist.
- It is believed that the Etosha Pan originated over 12 million years ago as an inland lake fed by the Kunene River. The pan now however is almost always dry. Only some areas in the southern part of the Pan will one find scattered water holes. These water holes form the basis for life for countless numbers of game.
- Despite the massive size of Etosha only the southern edge of the pan is accessible to the casual visitor.
- There are three rest camps within the park namely Okaukuejo (southern entrance), Halali (situated midway between Namutoni and Okaukuejo) and Namutoni (eastern entrance). All of the camps offer flood lit water holes which provide excellent opportunities to view wildlife.
Skeleton Coast
- For surreal desolation, the Skeleton Coast is hard to beat. Imagine a deserted coastline, littered with huge, rusting shipwrecks, the area is often described as the world's largest shipping graveyard!
- The Skeleton Coast is an isolated stretch of coastline, dominated by sand dunes, gravel plains, salt pans and hills.
- What attracts visitors to the Skeleton Coast is its surreal beauty, space and solitude. The wilderness of the Skeleton Coast is fascinating - certain plants and wildlife do eek out an existence in this harsh environment.
- The coastline also attracts anglers as the waters are nutrient rich and support a variety of marine life.
Popa Falls
- This is an area that is often visited in conjunction with the Caprivi, although the start of the Caprivi and the Popa Falls are still a relative distance apart.
- The Falls are accessible by sedan car (Caprivi is 4x4 territory only).
- The Falls are a series of rapids in the Kavango River.
- Nearby Magango Game Park is also accessible via sedan car and is a well known park for outstanding birding, large numbers of elephant, red lechwe, sable, roan, buffalo, wildebeest and gemsbok.
Caprivi Strip
- North eastern Namibia is a mosaic of woodlands, riverine forests, swamps and rivers.
- This area is 4x4 country, where game parks are attractive purely because of their remoteness.
- Game and birding is also abundant, from elephant, roan, eland, kudu and oryx to blue wildebeest, wild dog and lion.
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- The Caprivi is a narrow stretch of land in the far north east of Namibia which ends at the confluence of the Chobe River and is the meeting point of four countries (Botswana, Namibia, Zambia & Zimbabwe). Impalila Island which is Namibian territory, is within close proximity to Chobe in Botswana and is most often and more easily accessed from Chobe.
- Victoria Falls is a mere two hour drive (at most) from Chobe. Combining a few nights in Victoria Falls and two nights on Impalila Island is a fabulous combination of adrenaline (with all the activities at The Falls and two nights of relaxation enjoying the birdlife and wildlife of the Chobe River on Impalila Island.
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