Visit The Central Highlands, Northern Namibia
Running down Namibia's spine the Central Highlands separate the Kalahari from the dunes of the Namib. The area is home to plenty of wildlife as well as the 'Africat Foundation'.
The Central Highlands
Northern Namibia, Namibia
Running down Namibia's spine the Central Highlands separate the Kalahari from the dunes of the Namib.
The rolling hills and wide valleys are covered in farms, many of which have turned from cattle to game, and are known as game farms.
Local markets
There are a few small towns with wide streets lined with trees, friendly people and little shops. Just north of Windhoek, the small pleasant town of Okahandja has a superb wood carving community and several markets - it's a good place for buying curios and gifts.
Waterberg Plateau Park
To the east of the main road running though the Central Highlands, the Waterberg Plateau Park is worth a visit. The park centres on a plateau of compacted Etjo sandstone, some 250 metres high. The top of the plateau supports dense vegetation and a wide variety of animals and birds. There are giraffe, kudu, leopard, brown hyena, cheetah, buffalo and more to be seen.
Africat Foundation
Not far from the Waterberg Plateau are a number of large game farms. The most famous of these is Okonjima, home to the Africat Foundation and known for its work in cheetah and leopard rehabilitation. Erongo is situated in the Erongo Mountains, a wild and remote area where many caves have untouched rock art to view.
There is the little farm of Frans Indongo, perfect for an overnight stop and finally a large ranch known as Mundelea. Mundelea is little known, very wild and a superb place for walking safaris.
Other places within Northern Namibia
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- Damaraland has a wild and rugged landscape and is one of Namibia’s least populated areas. As well as rock art dating back 6,000 years, you can also see game such as desert-adapted elephant and black rhino.
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- Etosha is one of Africa’s largest game parks. As well as a vast array of birdlife, it has large populations of lion, leopard and cheetah. Elephant occur in hundred-strong herds, whilst black and white rhino are also present.
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- The Kaokoveld is unexplored and will appeal to the adventurer who likes to get off-the-beaten-track. Getting around isn't easy but it has its rewards when you see sights such as Epupa Falls, or local Himba culture.
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- Khaudum National Park is little known and vastly underrated. In the dry season its permanent water holes are a magnet for large numbers of game. There is no accommodation in the Khaudum, just designated camping spots.
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- The Nyae Nyae Conservancy is most famous for the Ju’hoansi (also classified as Kung, Bushmen or San) people. It's a place of scattered villages, prehistoric dunes, huge baobab trees and nomadic game.
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- Swakopmund's German colonial history is reflected in its architecture. Within a short drive of the town you'll see seals and flamingos in their thousands. Pelican Point is excellent for a gentle kayaking trips.
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- The Skeleton Coast is a barren area and particularly well named; many early explorers’ ships were wrecked here. Surprisingly, there is considerable wildlife further inland. The best way to visit is a fly-in safari.
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- Walvis Bay is a small quirky town, 30 kilometres south of Swakopmund. It's ideal as a base to explore the surrounding area, which is good for marine and birdlife in particular.
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- Although small for a capital city, Windhoek remains the political, economic and cultural centre of the country. The traffic is minimal, the air is clear and skies seem to be permanently blue.
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The Central Highlands
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- Running down Namibia's spine the Central Highlands separate the Kalahari from the dunes of the Namib. The area is home to plenty of wildlife as well as the 'Africat Foundation'.
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