Why Go?A journey through Southern Africa reveals its otherworldly nature when you cross the border into the vast reaches of Namibia. The combination of space and landscape ensures that a trip through this country is one of the great road ad-ventures of the region. Natural wonders such as the mighty gash in the earth at Fish River Canyon and Etosha National Park enthrall, but it’s the lonely roads cutting through swirl-ing desert sands that will stay with you. Here, sand dunes in the world’s oldest desert, the Namib, meet the crashing rollers along the wild Atlantic Coast and among this is a German legacy evident in the cuisine, art nouveau architec-ture and festivals.

Namibia is also the headquarters of adventure activities in Southern Africa, so whether you’re a dreamer or love hearing the crunch of earth under your boots, travel in the country will sear itself in your mind long after the desert vistas fade.

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Best Wildlife Watching¨¨ Etosha National Park

(p890)

¨¨ Waterberg Plateau (p893)

¨¨ Namib-Naukluft Park (p887)

¨¨ Khaudum National Park (p895)

¨¨ Dorob National Park (p888)

Best of the Outdoors¨¨ Swakopmund (p883)

¨¨ Fish River Canyon (p883)

¨¨ Damaraland (p889)

¨¨ Kaokoveld (p890)

¨¨ The Skeleton Coast (p888)

When to Go

May–Oct Best time for wildlife viewing; animals congregate around remaining waterholes.

Jun–Aug Coastal town such as Swakopmund are subject to miser-able sandstorm conditions.

Nov–Apr The off-season as the wet gets into full swing – down-pours from Janu-ary to April.

F DNOSAJJMAMJ

Windhoek°C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm

0

4/100

6/150

8/200

2/50

10/50

0/32

-10/14

30/86

40/104

20/68

Windhoek .................. 878Skeleton Coast ..........888Etosha National Park ............................. 890Fish River Canyon .....896Lüderitz ..................... 897Understand Namibia .....................900Survival Guide ...........903

Namibia%264 / POP 2.2 MILLION

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

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Spencer Bay

Chamais Bay

Lüderitz Bay

Rock Bay

Sandwich Harbour

Conception Bay

A T L A N T I C

Walvis Bay

Cape Cross Bay

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DAMARALAND

Helmeringhausen

Oranjemund

Alexander Bay

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KolmanskopElizabeth Bay

Lüderitz

Witputs

Neisip

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Okahandja

Rehoboth

Maltahöhe

Büllsport

NaukluftSesriem

Walvis Bay

Solitaire

Ugabmund

Torra Bay

Terrace Bay

Henties Bay

Uis

UsakosKaribib

Omaruru

Khorixas

Kamanjab

Otjiwarongo

Outjo

Otavi

Ruacana

Purros

Sesfontein

Opuwo

Otjinungwa UutapiOshakati(Ombalantu)

Okahao

Ongandjera Ondangwa

Calueque Namacunde

Oshikango

Palmwag

RoshPinah

Seal ReserveCape Cross

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Skeleton Coast Park

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DorobNP

Sperrgebeit NP(RESTRICTED ACCESS)

Namib-Naukluft

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(1973m)Naukluft

Burnt

(1728m)Spitzkoppe

Brandberg(2573m)

Mountain

(1869m)Schwarze Kuppen

Ehomba(1868m)

(1339m)

Tropic of Capricorn

OpononoLake

EtoshaPan

Possession Island

Dolphin Head

North Point

HollandsbirdIsland

PlainsWelwitschia

Rocky PointN

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PetrifiedForest

DuwisibCastle

Twyfelfontein

Sossusvlei

Swakopmund

Kaokoveld

Etosha NP

Skeleton Coast

Namibia Highlights1 Get off the beaten track (and the tarred road) in the true African wilderness of the Skeleton Coast (p888) and Kaokoveld (p890).

2 Hike through one of Africa’s greatest natural wonders at the Fish River Canyon (p896).

3 Crouch by a waterhole in one of the world’s premier wildlife venues in Etosha National Park (p890).

4 Hike to the top of Waterberg Plateau (p893) for breathtaking views, while keeping an eye out for rare sable and roan.

5 Watch the sun rise from the top of the fiery coloured dunes of Sossusvlei (p887).

6 Get your adrenaline fix at Namibia’s extreme-sports capital of Swakopmund (p883).