TRICIA STEVENS
PERSPECTIVES
NAMIBIA
Namibia has some of the world's highest sand dunes and is one of only two countries in the world that has desert elephants (the other being Mali, North Africa). Desert elephants have adapted over time to the extreme environment by learning new behaviors, and not through genetics. The Northern Namib desert only sees roughly 150mm of rainfall a year. It also has the world’s largest population of free-roaming black rhinos.
ABSOLUTE MUSTS
Dune 45
This dry lake bed (‘pan’) surrounded by towering red sand dunes is not to be missed while in Namibia. Climb to the top of Dune 45 (the most famous dune in Namibia sitting at a height of 170m) for sunrise and watch the colours change to hues of reds and oranges from the top. This dune is composed of 5-million-year-old sand that has blown here and accumulated from the Kalahari Desert. It is named Dune 45 due to its proximity to Sesriem gate. It is at the 45th kilometre of the road that connects the Sesriam Gate and Sossusvlei.
Etosha
National Park
Get ready for several safari’s! Famous for its wildlife, Etosha mean’s ‘Great White Place’ and is sure to have your head turning in all directions as you witness a variety of wildlife. A highly recommended spot to spend some time is near a waterhole, where you will be almost guaranteed (with patience) to spot wildlife in their natural habitat. Waterholes such as Okaukuejo, Halali, Okondeka (to name a few) are a peaceful way to enjoy the sounds of hooves galloping into the area, and it is also a much needed escape from your safari vehicle. Certain waterholes offer benches and viewing platforms where you may stretch out in your sleeping bag well into the night as you keep on the lookout for visitors enjoying a much needed drink. Just don’t fall asleep!
Skydiving in Swakopmund
New adventures are exciting right?! Why not push yourself out of your comfort zone even further and jump out of a plane?! Take to the skies while soaking in the views of the Atlantic Ocean meeting the Namib Desert. Attached to a tandem instructor, you will free fall at 200km per hour. When the parachute opens, soak in the views as you float over the desert for roughly seven minutes before landing safely on the ground. Your head might be telling you NO, but in the end, your heart will be thanking you for having the BEST adrenaline rush of your life!
Sossusvlei
Close to dune 45, you will also find Sossusvlei (Sossus means ‘no return’ or ‘dead-end’ and Vlei means Marsh). A river once ended at Dead Vlei providing nourishment for the desert life however as the climate changed (approximately 900 years ago), the large dunes cut off the river from flowing here. It is now a salt and clay pan surrounded by dunes. The eerie sun-burnt trees still standing today are a photographer’s dream. The backdrop of a crisp clear blue sky behind a bright orange dune provides a perfect contrast for the darkness of these trees.
Etosha Pan
This salt pan desert measures approximately 130km long and as wide as 50km in some areas. It is so massive, it can even be seen from space! It is normally dry however it does fill with water briefly in the summer months. The pan was created by the shifting of tectonic plates over 10 million years ago! Over 16,000 years ago the ice sheets melted across the northern hemisphere and the water filled Etosha Lake. Today it is mainly dried and cracked clay mud.
Fish River Canyon
Located in southern Namibia, this is the largest canyon in Africa sitting at 160km long and 27km wide. It is the second largest in the world, after the Grand Canyon. Due to it’s remote location, the canyon doesn’t see near as many tourists as the Grand Canyon which makes it a wonderfully peaceful place to enjoy the sounds of silence.
Waterberg Plateau
Rising high above the Kalahari, the Waterberg Plateau is a nature reserve named after the springs that flowed from its foothills. Thanks to this natural water, the area is a lush home for a variety of plants and animals. It features steep and rugged sandstone cliffs along with 200 million year-old dinosaur footprints! The sandstone plateau is also unofficially known as ‘table mountain’.
