More Namibia Accommodation below

Namibia Tourism Board

021 4193190 Cape Town
011 3271006 Johannesburg
www.namibiatourism.com.na

Namibia lodges- after staying at Auob Lodge I would not recommend staying at any affilliated lodges unless you personally talk to someone who has stayed there. Fantastic potential, lots of capital spent but shocking management and most things in the room were broken and breakfast is best eaten elsewhere.
Namibia wildlife resorts- get up to date information, every park we stayed at had disinterested staff, appalling facilities and were last maintained about 10 years ago. It would appear that whoever runs the show is away on holiday and has been for some years. The capital infrastructure is here but the interest is not.
In general at  the indigenous people working at the private lodges, camps, restaurants are incredibly friendly and professional. eg Canyon Hotel. The people running their own shows seem to have missed the point and many were only interested in charging for accommodation in which they had no interest eg Quiver tree forest lodge.
The bigger touristy towns would not fall in the above eg Luderitz,  Swakopmund, Windhoek.
Please note the above are my views and if you disagree I would love to hear from you as I don't enjoy being negative and the country is stunning.

Namibia  Population = According to the latest population census (2001) Namibia has 1,826 million people. The population density is one of the lowest in the world at less than 2 people per km².
 

The Owambo is the largest population group, and live in the central North of Namibia in the four O-regions: Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto. The Kwanyama group is the largest, followed by Ndonga, Kwambi, Ngandyela, Kwaluudhi and Mbalanhu. They practice a mixed economy of agriculture and animal husbandry, dressmaking, woodcarving, pottery and basketry.
 

Weather
Summer (October-April) Average interior temperatures range from 20C-34C during the day. Temperatures above 40C are often recorded in the extreme north and south of the country.

The coast influenced by the cold Benguela current, boasts a relatively stable range of 15C-25C. Heavy fog is fairly common at night. Humidity is generally very low in most parts of Namibia, but can reach as high as 80% in the extreme north during summer.

The rainy season is from October - April. The average annual rainfall varies from less than 50mm along the coast to 350mm in the central interior and 700mm in the Caprivi. The sporadic rains do not affect road travel significantly, however, tourists should exercise caution when crossing or camping in riverbeds during the rainy season, as flash foods are a common occurrence. Winter (May-September) Temperatures in the interior range from 18C-25C during the day. Below freezing temperatures and ground frost are common at night

Central Namibia
The Central Region has  Windhoek as its capital. Windhoek is a sophisticated city with a high standard of hotels, shops and bistros. There are stately buildings representing the hallowed ideas of German architecture, as well as castles, forts and museums. Driving in Namibia is easiest in this region as the network of roads is well maintained and the driving distance between the major attractions is easy. 24kms outside Windhoek is the Daan Viljoen Game Reserve with its island of green reeds, picnic spots and campsites. 90km from Windhoek is the Gross Barmen Hot Springs Resort where one can languish in steaming spring water.

Those looking for a Namibia travel adventure should definitely visit Spitzkoppe (the Matterhorn of Namibia). This rock climber's paradise is situated between Windhoek and Swakopmund.

While driving in Namibia, travelling southwest from Windhoek will expose you to several dramatic and scenic drives which link the central region to the coast. The Gamsberg pass provides a scenic drive down the escarpment and through the Namib Desert.

The Namib
The jewel of Namibia travel! The heat and vast distances of Namibia may convince you, at times, that you are seeing things. When water seems to shimmer across a dry saltpan and you start seeing animals that are not there -you are experiencing a mirage, which is an illusory image most common to this desert area. Driving in Namibia doesn't get any better than this and the region is a must visit for any intrepid traveller.

The Namib is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west. The cold Benguela current with its rich nutrients forms a fog over the desert: this is the essential ingredient that ensures the survival of the myriad animals and plants, which thrive in this desert.

While driving in Namibia a visit to the town of Swakopmund is not to be missed. A small seaside town and a highlight of Namibia travel; Swakopmund has uniquely retained all its turn-of-the-century German colonial charm. Immaculate palm-lined streets, manicured gardens and gracious colonial buildings typify this pretty town. The town's secret  is the fresh sea air that blows in from the coast. While the rest of the country scorches, this town remains cool. Bartolomeu Dias discovered Walvis Bay in 1487. This town's harbour was used by whalers and guano collectors and grew to become a major fishing port. You will find South Africa's pink flamingos as well as other sea-bird species such as pelicans and cormorants. It is surrounded by desert and a start point for tours into the desert and trips up and down the coast. A real oasis and the holiday seaside resort of Namibia.

Northern Namibia
The Etosha National Park is a must visit during your Namibia travel experience. Lying in the far north of Namibia it owes its original landscape to the Etosha Pan - the remains of a prehistoric inland sea.

Driving in Namibia is at its most rewarding here, a series of waterholes along the southern edge of the pan guarantee rewarding and often spectacular game viewing. Grass seems almost the only ground cover in many parts of Etosha but there is a large variety of trees and shrubs. West of Okaukuejo there's an area known as the Haunted Forest, named for the dense growth of squat moringa trees. The San tribe believe these trees were thrown from Paradise, and landing upside down, grew that way. Ovamboland lies between the Okavango in the northeast and the Kunene in the Northwest. Geographically and geologically, this region is part of the immense Kalahari system that extends from the northern part of South Africa to the Congo Basin. Kaokoland is the extreme north west part of Namibia and is undeveloped. This is for the explorer travellor with at least 2 4x4's and lot's of provisions. You won't find shops or fuel and you must be self sufficient. Caprivi is the strip of land in the extreme North East and is a wonderful game spotting area with many lodges and camping sites.

Southern Namibia
While driving in Namibia a must visit is the country's Southern Region which is bordered by the Kalahari in the east and the Namib Desert in the west. Namibia travel experiences in this area are marked by some of the most magical sunsets you will ever see. The Fish River Canyon is one of the world's most admired natural wonders. The canyon is a geological panorama of the earth's convulsions over the last 1 800 years as the lava and sandstone heated, cooled and changed shape. As you stand, overlooking the Fish River Canyon the stony dune-coloured plain appears to have cracked open. The main observation point, which overlooks the dramatic Hell Bend, marks the start of the 86-km long Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail, which follows the course of the riverbed. You need to be physically fit to undertake this 4-5 day hiking trail.