Popular regions in Namibia
Best time to travel:
The Kalahari can be visited year-round for great game viewing. However it is generally thought that the rainy season is the best time to view wildlife, as the herds concentrate in the valleys to feed on the lush grasses that have come up after the rains. Hot summer season from round about October until April.
The Kalahari is an integral part of the larger 1,5² million km Kalahari Basin which includes the Okavango Delta and other wetland regions. It is a semi-desert region stretching for 500 000² kms across parts of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Its rainfall is between 125 and 250mm annually – this gets rapidly absorbed by the sand acting like a huge filter leaving hardly any surface water.
Most of Botswana and large parts of Namibia are part of the Kalahari basin. The Kalahari sand dunes compose the largest continuous expanse of sand on earth of which some stretch westward into the Namib desert. Although the Sahara Desert is larger overall, sand dunes make up only about 15% of its area.
The dunes are covered with a variety of vegetation, including grass tussocks, shrubs, and deciduous trees that have evolved to make use of the area’s infrequent precipitation and often severe swings in temperature. In summer, the heat can exceed 45°C (115²F) but during winter nights temperatures drop as low as -15°C (7²F).
The best known of all Acacia tree species in the north and east is the camelthorn tree. It is endemic to the Kalahari and a crucial part of the desert ecosystem, manufacturing nutrients that encourage other plants to grow around its base and providing shade for animals. The weaver birds love it to built their egg-shape grass-woven nests.
Some of the other trees in this area are the shepherd’s tree, blackthorn, and silver cluster-leaf. In the drier southwest, vegetation and wildlife are much more sparse, but Hoodia cactus – used for thousands of years by the San people to ease hunger and thirst during long hunting trips – still maintains a foothold there. Hoodia in modern times has also become a source of certain medicines.
Luxury Safari Packages in Namibia
We specialise in building tailor-made luxury safaris that suit every clients individual requirements, however, our expert consultants can help you with inspiration and suggested experiences:
Namibia
12 Nights – Best of Namibia – 4 Star
12 Nights / 5 Star Luxury Safari
12 Nights / 13 days Best of Namibia Trip. Starts and ends in Windhoek. The very best Namibia has to offer with plenty of excellent safari experiences and beautiful landscapes. Olive Grove Guesthouse, Onguma Game reserve, Epako Game Lodge, The Delight Swakopmund
Malaria free, Tailor Made, Family
Namibia
12 Nights – Best of Namibia – 5 Star
12 Nights / 5 Star Luxury Safari
12 Nights / 13 days Best of Namibia Trip. Starts and ends in Windhoek. The very best Namibia has to offer with plenty of excellent safari experiences and beautiful landscapes. Olive Grove Guesthouse, Onguma Game reserve, Epako Game Lodge, The Delight Swakopmund.
Malaria free, Tailor Made, Family
Namibia
8 Nights – Fly in Namibia Safari – 5 Star
8 Nights / 5 Star Luxury Safari
8 Nights / 9 days Best of NamibiaTrip. Starts and ends in Windhoek. Enjoy the beauty of Onguma Private Game Reserve and Etosha National Park and enjoy the beauty of the Sossusvlei Dunes at Kulala Desert Lodge. The Olive Exclusive, Onguma Game reserve, Little Kulala, Sossusvlei.