Cape Cross
Situated 130km north of Swakopmund, Cape Cross is home to the biggest Cape fur seal colony in Southern Africa. During the breeding season in November and December there can be as many as 210,000 seals at Cape Cross. During other months of the year the population drops to around 80,000 to 100,000 seals.

Caprivi Game Park
The Caprivi Strip sits between Botswana and Angola in the far east of Namibia. There are a number of rivers flowing through the Caprivi including the Okavango, Linyanti, and Kwando Rivers that feed into the Okavango Delta. In contrast to the rest of Namibia these rivers never run dry, creating a lush paradise for many species of game and birdlife, some of which are not found in the more arid parts of the country. Along the river banks and within the game parks animal sightings include elephant, hippo, crocodile, buffalo, and birding is a highlight with up to 339 species. The Caprivi is popular for boat safaris, fishing and 4x4 game drives.

Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park is the best known game park in Namibia, covering 22,270 Sq km, of this the expansive Etosha Pan itself covers approximately 5,000 Sq km. Etosha means 'great white place of dry water', an apt description of the Pan with it's vast cracked white mud and calcrete stretching as far as the eye can see. Surrounding the Pan are natural springs and man made waterholes, the prime water source for Etosha's game particularly in the dry winter months.

The Park consists of grassland, woodland, and savannah interspersed with these numerous springs and waterholes where game congregate and several species can often be seen at one time. There are 114 mammal and over 340 bird species residing in Etosha, and when there is water in the Pan during the rains it becomes one of the most important breeding grounds for southern Africa's flamingo population. Wildlife that one can expect to see includes lion, rhino, elephant, giraffe, eland, kudu, gemsbok, the Damara dik-dik, zebra, cheetah, leopard, hyena, honey badger and warthog as well as the endemic black faced impala.

Fish River Canyon
In the far south of Namibia, the Fish River Canyon is one of the largest natural gorges in the world. Stretching for 160km's, with a depth of up to 550m, the Fish River Canyon was formed along the Fish River's original path when the river cut its way into the flat upper plains over hundreds of millions of years to create the spectacular canyon we see today.

Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is a vegetated clay pan set among towering 'apricot' coloured sand dunes in the southern Namib Desert. The Pan is at the end of the Tsauchab River catchment area, where the Great Sand Sea begins and stretches for 75km to the coast. The flooding of Sossusvlei is a rare and exciting event which occurs only after heavy rains in the nearby Naukluft Mountains cause the usually dry Tsauchab River to flow. The immense sand dunes in the Sossusvlei area, some around 300m in height, are a highlight of many Namibian Safaris and the focal point of many photographs. The light playing on the dunes at various times of the day change their colour from apricot to orange to red, a strong contrast to the white clay pans and blue sky. The neighbouring pan of Deadvlei is also visually stunning. The large camel thorn trees that stand in Deadvlei have long since perished when the encroaching dunes blocked the flooding river, but they still stand as monuments to a less arid past.

Sesriem Canyon
While exploring Sossusvlei it is also worth while visiting Sesriem Canyon, located near the Namib National Park entry gates at Sesriem. Sesriem Canyon is a small narrow gorge, eroded to about 1km in length and about 20 to 30 metres deep. The pools of water that stand at the bottom of the canyon are replenished only after good rains in the area.

Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast Park spans over 16,400 Sq km, running 500km's north from the Ugab River to the Kunene River on the Angolan border. This barren and unforgiving landscape is characterised by thick coastal fog, caused by the cold Benguela Current, scarce vegetation, and the remains of many skeletons including those of ships and whales. Surprisingly though, there is life on the coast. Gemsbok, springbok, ostrich, jackal and brown hyena are seen on the gravel plains, and along the dry river beds of the ephemeral rivers such as the Huab and Ugab you may see desert adapted elephant, rhino and lion. Crocodiles are found at the Kunene River mouth, the only permanently flowing river in the Park. Over one hundred species of lichen grow on the plains, absorbing the inland coastal fog for moisture. Due to restricted access into the tourism concession area in the northern section of the Skeleton Coast Park, the best way to see the Skeleton Coast is by air, so a scenic flight or fly-in safari is recommended for those wanting to experience the most dramatic parts of the coastline. There are remote tented camps within the Skeleton Coast Park, which can be reached by light aircraft. The awe-inspiring scenery and tranquillity of such places are a memorable inclusion into any safari itinerary.

Namib Rand Nature Reserve
The Namib Rand Nature Reserve occupies close to 180,000ha of varied and breathtaking landscapes just south of Sossusvlei. It is difficult to take in the scale of the vistas that are encountered around each corner and over every dune. Endless sand and gravel plains, grass savannahs, imposing mountain ranges, and vegetated red sand dunes are just part of what makes this nature reserve one of the most beautiful in Namibia.

Damaraland and Twyfelfontein
Damaraland is a photographers and geologists wonderland, amongst the stunning scenery of granite koppies, vividly coloured mountains, and open grass savannahs lie a number of attractions.

The most famous is Twyfelfontein, an extensive open air "rock art" gallery of petroglyphs known to be one of the largest and most impressive in Africa. The sandstone engravings carved many years ago by San Bushmen depict animals such as lion, kudu, elephant, ostrich and giraffe.

Near to Twyfelfontein are the Organ Pipes, Burnt Mountain and Petrified Forest, further visually appealing sites of geological interest. Burnt Mountain shows the effects of metamorphised shale that was literally burnt millions of years ago, leaving behind a fascinating formation of coloured rock. The Organ Pipes are aptly named as the dolerite columns exposed in a river bed do resemble their namesake. Fossilised trees at the Petrified Forest were transported in flood over 260 million years ago to where they lie now in their original state, complete with petrified bark, growth rings and wood grain.

Damaraland is also home of the elusive desert adapted elephant who roam the dry river beds of the Hoanib, Huab, Aba Huab and Ugab rivers. Searching for desert elephant and other specialist adapted game in 4WD safari vehicles is an exciting inclusion in any safari.

Swakopmund
Swakopmund is a seaside town located in the centre of Namibia's coastline. Founded in 1892, Swakopmund retains much of it's German influence from this period of German colonial rule. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and desert landscapes, Swakopmund is a desert town often shrouded in fog created by the cold Benguela Current reacting with the arid desert climate. The temperature along the coast is generally cooler than inland, making Swakopmund a welcome interruption to the summer heat and a popular seaside resort for locals. Swakopmund is also popular for it's shops, sidewalk café's, museums, craft stores, seafood restaurants, waterfront, aquarium and adventure activities. For the adventurous there is quad biking in the dunes, sand boarding, sky diving, camel riding and much more. More relaxing activities are also popular such as scenic flights, dolphin cruises on the Walvis Bay lagoon, deep sea and surf cast fishing, and 4WD trails to Sandwich Harbour.

Brandberg
The highest mountain in Namibia, the Brandberg stands at 2,574m above sea level, with Königstein as its highest peak. It is the largest open-air gallery of rock art in Africa, with some 44,000 paintings including the famous "White Lady" who, as it later transpired, is neither white nor a lady. However, that is just detail.

Epupa Falls
In the far north of Namibia, the Kunene River cascades over a 60m drop over a width of 1,500m, known as the Epupa Falls. The scenically impressive falls flow over numerous channels and form many rock pools. Vegetation surrounding the falls includes baobabs, makalani palms and wild figs. Birdlife within this lush environment is excellent. Other attractions in the area include the Kunene River itself, and surrounding Himba settlements, whose inhabitants can often be seen taking advantage of the rock pools to wash their clothes and themselves.

Lüderitz and Surroundings
A quaint coastal town in Southern Namibia, Lüderitz's charm comes from its stark isolation, craggy cliffs, desert landscapes, and colourful colonial style houses overlooking the bay. To appreciate the coastline you can explore by vehicle to Diaz Point, or by boat to the penguin colony on Halifax Island. Much of the desert surrounding Lüderitz is off limits as a restricted diamond area called Sperrgebiet, however permits do allow visitors into some areas of Sperrgebiet such as Elizabeth Bay, Bogenfels and Kolmanskop Ghost town. Once a wealthy diamond mining settlement, Kolmanskop is now a ghost town of skeletal buildings filled with sand, relics and stories of picking diamonds out of the sand. Tours and a small museum give you an insight into this fascinating history. Sperrgebiet is also known for its feral desert horses which can occasionally be seen from the road between Lüderitz and Aus (125km's inland). The small town of Aus is nestled in a backdrop of mountains, beautiful views and stunning sunsets. A memorable place to stay in Aus is at Klein Aus Vista, from here you can join a guided excursion into the private concession in the southern Namib Desert which boasts stunning dunes and rock art.

Waterberg
Elevated to 1,885m, the Waterberg Plateau sits above the rolling plains which lead to the Kalahari Desert in the east. The red sandstone cliffs exhibit a fascinating myriad of colours, which can be seen up close when hiking in the area. The top surface area of the plateau is a protected conservation area for endangered and protected species such as rhino, buffalo, sable and roan antelope and tsessebe. Game drives in this protected area are restricted, and can only be booked with the local game wardens on arrival.

Walvis Bay Lagoon
Walvis Bay forms Namibia's main harbour town, and only deep water port. Surrounded by a desert of barchan dunes, the town constantly battles the steadily encroaching sand of the Namib Desert. The Walvis Bay lagoon and surrounding area are recognised as wetlands of international importance, supporting large numbers of flamingos, pelicans, waders and shore birds.

Kalahari
Spreading over much of eastern Namibia, the Kalahari Desert with its rolling red sand dunes is home to many of the San Bushmen. A scenically stunning area, the Kalahari is the largest single area of sand in the world, spreading over nine countries from the Orange River to the equator. A safari which includes a combination of the Namib and Kalahari Desert offers tremendous variety and the opportunity to see for yourself the difference that is made by the impact of the coastal fog in the Namib. There is a good reason why the latter is known as "the world's oldest living desert".