The Namib-Naukluft Park, covering over 49 768 square km is not only the largest nature conservation area in Namibia, but is rated as the fourth largest in the world, as well as being the most unusual. Landscapes range from an impressive mountain massif to desert plains and high dunes, from deep gorges to an estuarine lagoon. Extensive hiking options are available.
Namib area
For the connoisseur of scenery, atmosphere and the unusual, there is nothing quite like the Namib. It has an essence of timelessness, and, depending on the time of day there is a shift of moods, a play of light and shadow, giving desert landscapes entirely new tints and textures. The Welwitchia Nature Drive ranges from vast plains where herds of oryx, springbok and zebra roam, to the eerie landscape of the badlands, known as the "valley of the moon" in the Swakop River valley. Also in the valley is the small oasis of Goanikontes, its vivid green vegetation in startling contrast to the harsh desert landscape. Examples of that hardy survivor of the desert, the Welwitschia mirabilis, can be seen along this route. One very large specimen which is specially protected is estimated to be 1500 years old..
Naukluft area
Situated north-west of Maltahohe on the road to the coastal town of Swakopmund, this area includes the mountainous escarpment as well as the edge of the Namib desert. It is a sanctuary for mountain zebra and other species of game. The camping site is a shady spot next to a perennial mountain stream. There are day hikes in the area, as well as a more arduous round trip of 120 km which takes 8 days to complete.
Sesriem area.
West of the Naukluft Mountains, the Tsauchab River disappears dramatically down a gorge in the plain. Pools of water on its gravelly bed in an otherwise arid region, attract many birds and animals.
Sossusvlei area
This is a dune wonderland, with towering dunes up to 300 m high surrounding a huge, dried-up pan. Dunes extend as far as the eye can see and their rich tints vary from pale apricot to vivid reds and oranges. During a good rainy season the Tsauchab River flows into the pan which creates a haven for water birds. Even during the dry season, oryx, springbok and ostriches can be seen feeding off the sparse vegetation along the water courses.
Sandwich area
Near Sandwich Harbour, 42 km south of the port of Walvis Bay, this large, reed-lined marine lagoon is home to many coastal and freshwater birds. It is also a major breeding ground for numerous species of fish. Accessible only in four-wheel-drive vehicles, no overnight camping is allowed.
Lüderitz Bay
The harbour town of Lüderitz, set between the Namib desert dunes and the wild Atlantic seaboard, was founded by the Bremen tobacco merchant, Adolf Lüderitz in 1884. It was the first German settlement in the then Sudwestafrika. The town has a fine collection of graceful buildings from the German era. Set against a background of black rock and the sparkling blue waters of the bay, this architectural heritage gives Lüderitz its special charm. Exploring the coast around the bay is rewarding, with its unspoilt beaches, caves, lagoons and reefs. There are boat trips around the bay and to a nearby seal colony, bird life is abundant, and there are numerous species of rare succulents in the surrounding desert. There is a museum and, at Dias Point, a replica of the stone cross originally erected there by Bartholomew Dias in 1488.With Lüderitz being the centre of the country's rock lobster industry, these delectable crustaceans are prepared in various ways at hotels and restaurants in the town. The old ghost town of Kolmanskop a few kilometers south-east of Lüderitz dates back from the days of the diamond rush, and can be visited on weekdays. The crumbling grandeur of these magnificent old " diamond " houses create an unforgettable atmosphere.
Swakopmund
Swakopmund, Namibia's seaside resort on the west coast is a place of singular charm, and resembles a small Bavarian village nestling between the desert and the sea. It has a restful and relaxing atmosphere with promenades, palm trees and beautifully tended public gardens. The particular attraction of the town lies in the fact that one can enjoy the wild beauty of the desert and the sea and yet be within easy reach of the solid comfort of Swakopmund's hotels, pensions and restaurants. The source of Swakopmund's continental atmosphere is the graceful art nouveau buildings dating back to the turn of the century. The local jail, for example, resembles a country mansion, and the railway station is a magnificently ornate building. Eleven of these charming old buildings are national monuments. There is excellent rock and surf fishing along the stretch of beach which extends northwards. This area, a 200 km by 25 km strip along the beach from Swakopmund to the Ugab River is known as the National West Coast Tourist Recreation Area. Favourite angling and camping spots are Mile 4, Mile 14, Mile 72, Mile 108 and Jakkalsputz. Henties Bay, a resort village named after Major Hentie van der Merwe who started recreational fishing there in 1929, still attracts keen fishermen from far and wide. The Cape Cross Seal Reserve is situated north of Henties Bay. Here a prodigious number of Cape Fur seals flourish in the cold waters of the Benguela Current. Along the coast are numerous islets and isolated parts of the shore which they use as nurseries for their young. This area is also of historical significance as the Portuguese navigator, Diogo Cao, planted a cross at this point in the year 1486.
Skeleton Coast Park
The Skeleton Coast Park, which covers more than a million and a half hectares, is a strange landscape of fog-bound coast, gravel plains and mirages. Its singular, eerie atmosphere is compounded by shipwrecks and abandoned mines. This vast area extends from the Ugab River in the south to the Kunene on the Angolan border. Its relentlessly stark beauty is highlighted by unexpected waterholes where a surprising number and variety of hardy desert animals gather.
The southern section of the park is more accessible to visitors than the northern area or wilderness section of the park. Terrace Bay and Torra Bay are two fishing resorts in the area. The Skeleton Coast Park Wilderness Area stretches from north of the Hoanib River up to the Kunene River. Fly-in safaris are the only means of visiting this section of the Skeleton Coast Park.
