Namibie

Country on the edge of the world, you only need to pronounce its name and immediately precise images surge in your mind. They accompany its echo: Namibia! Ochre lands, dried trees, creeping dunes and barren coasts! You are almost there… Moreover, these evocations may awaken in you the sudden urge to seize a camera. We, too, are the first to admit it: Namibia is a land of changing light and photography. Sandy granite formations, arid canyons, burnt mountains, salt deserts, ghost villages, petrified forests, shipwrecks, and rectilinear roads. Over there, the landscape is a permanent wonder. However, such a synthesis would be too brief. If Namibia feels like it is on another planet, it is a inhabited planet: the millennial heart of the Himbas, Damascus, Owambos, Namas and other peoples descended from the first nomads. To meet them, an adventure in itself, will undoubtedly remain a unique moment in your journey.

Namibia seduces you and you want…

… see where huge sand dunes seem to drown in the Altantic? Bumping into a colony of seals, lying by hundreds on the beach? Reaching the rusty wrecks of abandoned ships? Dare to adventure inland and meet the Himbas, inhabitants of the desert? The Skeleton Coast is renowned for its desolate landscapes and its perilous access.

… at long last see the elephants or the black rhinoceros of the desert? To grasp the finesse and the mysteries of the cave paintings of the San? Drive through the plains shaped by ancient volcanoes? Understand the origin of the petrified forest? Do not miss spending time in Damaraland, an essential step on a Namibian journey.

Désert du Namib en Namibie avec Mungo Park

… live an unusual experience? Put on your hiking boots walk on the sand dunes? Jump into a canoe and float down a river? Take the time to contemplate majestic landscapes? If you like adventure, the Fish River Canyon or the Namib-Naukluft National Park are excellent destinations for the outdoors.

Capital | Windhoek

Population | 2.1 million

Size | 825 418 km2

Currency | Namibian Dollar (NAD)

Good to know

Culture and heritage

With fewer than three inhabitants per square kilometre, Namibia is foremost a wilderness territory not conducive to any human presence. Moreover, the few towns are located mainly on the high plateau. However, before the arrival of settlers (mainly German), many tribes inhabited remote areas of the country. To a somewhat lesser extent, they are still there, despite the persecutions they faced throughout the 20th century. You will therefore hear about the ethnic groups Nama, Damara, Ovambo, Herero and Himba amongst others… These are populations of character. The members of these communities were able to combine generation after generation knowledge and a unique know-how to survive in these hostile environments. Did you know? To protect themselves from the sun, dry air and insects, the Himbas cover the skin with an ochre paste made from a mixture of rock powder and animal fat. The cultural and artistic heritage of Namibia is mainly done through meeting representatives of these tribes. They offer, depending on the regions, different aspects. At Mungo Park, we strongly encourage such meetings: they are unique and unforgettable. However, we want this exchange between tourists and locals to take place in an ideal way, respecting all parties. As such, we would like to share with you more specifically the ethical values that we have adopted and wish to convey. Like our local partners, we do not wish to perturb the younger generations of these communities. If their future is probably strongly linked to tourism, we firmly believe that other employment opportunites are also necessary.

Seasons and travel conditions

Namibia can be visited all year round, even during the summer provided you avoid the heart of desert regions where temperatures can exceed forty degrees Celsius. However, the seasons greatly influence the vegetation and the types of activities in certain parts of the country:

From December to March, count on thunderstorms located in the center and the northeast of the country. In the desert, rainfall is rare or non-existent.
From April to May, the weather is ideal, the scenery is green and the sky constantly clear.
In June, July and August, night temperatures are sometimes close to zero degrees. Water is scarce and animals congregate around waterholes.
September and October are the hottest and driest months.
November is unpredictable. The weather can remain dry and warm, it can also bring the first rains.

Security and health

Namibia is a safe country. Apart from the usual precautions that every traveler should keep. On a health level, compulsory vaccines from tropical countries (yellow fever, etc.) are not necessary. On the other hand, consider taking a malaria prophylaxie if you go in the north-east of the country. Ideally, consult your doctor before you leave. Alternatively, check out Safetravel or the Confederation (DFAE) website for travellers.