last edited Aug 19, 2020
Geography and Environment of Namibia
Country Overview
Natural Zones
Nature is omnipresent in Namibia. Beyond its sparse population, the country has around twenty public parks and reserves (plus a few private ones) covering nearly 20% of its territory, including its entire 1,500 km coastline. Additionally, it is home to two deserts: the Namib, the world’s oldest desert bordering the ocean, and the legendary Kalahari inland. It’s no surprise that discovering this environment is the primary reason tourists visit.
Among the most popular parks and natural sites for visitors:
- Cape Cross: North of Swakopmund, Cape Cross is home to a colony of tens of thousands of seals.
- Caprivi Strip: This "panhandle" extends into Botswanan territory. The largely marshy area is rich in minerals and wildlife (elephants, hippopotamuses, birds), which can be observed in several parks, including Caprivi Game Park, Mamili, Mahango, and Mudumu National Park.
- Damaraland: A desert region in north-central Namibia where herds of elephants and rhinoceroses can be seen.
- Kalahari Desert: This legendary desert spans South Africa, Namibia, and largely Botswana. In its arid landscape, you’ll find stunning scenery, diverse wildlife (across several national parks), and the indigenous San people who live there.
- Namib Desert: The world’s oldest desert stretches along Namibia’s entire coastline, with a maximum width of 160 km. It includes several natural parks (Namib-Naukluft, Cape Cross, Skeleton Coast) and towering dunes, some of the highest in the world (Sossusvlei, Deadvlei), which are UNESCO-listed.
- Epupa Falls: A series of waterfalls on the border between Angola and Namibia. Similar falls further east include Ruacana Falls.
- Etosha National Park: Near the Angolan border, this is one of the country’s most visited spots. It boasts abundant wildlife, including lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, and birds.
- Fish River Canyon: The second-largest canyon in the world and Namibia’s second-most visited site, thanks to its trekking opportunities. The southern part of the park features the hot springs of Ai-Aïs.
- Khaudom Reserve: Located on the Botswana border in the Kalahari, this hard-to-reach park is rich in wildlife, including lions, elephants, and giraffes. It is also home to the San people.
- Namib-Naukluft National Park: The largest park in Africa and the fourth-largest in the world. It is internationally renowned for the orange dunes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, Namibia’s top tourist attraction, as well as the Sesriem Canyon, located a few kilometers away. Local hiking is available.
- Waterberg National Park: In northern Namibia, this small, somewhat inaccessible park is home to numerous bird species, as well as rhinoceroses and antelopes. Trekking is possible here.