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Our final stop on this exploration of Namibia is Etosha, an iconic wildlife and safari destination in the north of the country. Etosha is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking a deeper connection with nature. The incredible landscapes, the rich biodiversity, and the chance to witness the raw power of wildlife in their otherwordly natural habitat make this a place like no other. Desert-adapted elephants that appear seemingly out of nowhere, strutting to a waterhole across a shimmering salt pan, parched, their skin encrusted with mud to help remove ticks and parasites. This is one of the images that will stay with us forever. Along with spectacular sightings of giraffe coming for a sip, oryx, springbok "pronking" in high arched jumps, scores of zebras, lion, wildebeest, the list goes on…. September marks the end of the dry season ahead of the summer rains, and is an excellent time to visit. Not only are the temperatures mild during the spring of the southern hemisphere, but a general lack of water ahead of the summer rains mean the animals congregate in breathtaking numbers around waterholes. It’s a truly special experience to sit there and watch all kinds of wildlife come and go in their natural rhythm. Our safari field guide shared some fascinating insights that left us in awe of nature’s wonders. For example, did you know that oryx (one of the mot famous antelope species of Namibia) are brown colour instead of grey like adults? This helps them blend into the winter vegetation which is primarily brown at the time they are born, protecting them from predators. As they grow older, they develop the characteristic striking black-and-white coloring we know oryx for. Also, oryx can survive up to 8 years without drinking water, getting all the moisture they need from the plants they eat. Nature is truly amazing! 🐘🦓🐾 🏞️ For more info about Etosha and to start planning YOUR very own Namibia adventure, visit us here

The breathtaking mountain regions of Namibia. ⛰️🌞 As we continue our journey northwards through Namibia, our next stop was Spitzkoppe where the remarkable monolithic granite peak rises a staggering 1,728m into the air. Also known as the ‘Matterhorn of Namibia’, it is a truly impressive view to behold. Here we took the afternoon doing a walk to a rock arch, admired some ancient rock paintings and watched the sunset sitting atop these ancient rock. 🌄🌵🥾 As you leave Spitzkoppe you’ll find many small markets stalls next to the road selling shimmering gemstones from quartz and amethyst to garnet and fluoride. This is a great option to find some souvenirs and support the locals in the area. 🤩 From Spitzkoppe we continued to Damaraland, where we learned more about the rock engravings (also known as petroglyphs) from hunter-gatherers who once called this area home. We then did a 10km mountain biking trail on electric bikes, the perfect way to explore the rocky area. Up next is Etosha National Park, 325km away for spectacular safaris in an otherworldly location. 🦓🌱🐾🦒 Explore more about Damaraland here

It was a big drop in temperatures as we arrived compared to Sossusvlei, due to the proximity of the icy cold Atlantic Ocean.🌊 Walvis Bay means “Whales Bay” as hundreds of whales 🐳 can be found here every year. There’s plenty to do and to see in this leisure town as it is home to many animals like seals, 🦭 whales 🐋 and pink flamingos.🦩 Our 4x4 driver took us on an exhilarating drive of the famous “Sandwich Harbour” in the Namib Naukluft National Park, which is bigger than Switzerland, boasting kilometres of desert 🏜️ sand dunes that fall into the ocean. We also had the privilege to be taken in the desert early morning by another knowledgeable guide to look for living animals like chameleons, lizards 🦎, snakes, 🐍 and many other cute animals. Our favourite was definitely the web-footed gecko, 🦎 which can only be found in this part of Namibia. Can you believe it manages to survive in the desert by licking water that condenses on its eyes from its eyes, when fog rolls in from the ocean? Nature is just so incredibly clever! For more information about Swakopmund, visit us here .

A sea of sand, and soaring over rusty red dunes in a hot air balloon. 🎈 🏜️☀️🌵 The world’s oldest desert is spectacular. A landscape that could easily be from another planet. Some parts are so dry, they get less than 10mm of rain per YEAR! Here, we visited the iconic Dead Vlei. 🤩 This used to be a marsh with an acacia tree forest. Then the river got cut off, the marsh dried and the trees died. This happened 1,000+ years ago, but the tree skeletons still stand. So dry is this desert the trees couldn’t even decompose, burnt black they stand forever more, frozen in time and place. The Namib Desert is also where you will find some of the tallest dunes in the world. Like Big Daddy, topping out at 325m and dwarfing the other dunes in the desert.🌵 A certain highlight, in more ways than one, was gliding silently over the desertscsape, weightless, in a hot air balloon. 🎈 There is something truly poetic about using the oldest form of manned flight to admire the world’s oldest desert from above. For more info about Sossusvlei, visit us here .

Destination 3: Kolmanskop. Ghost towns, fields of diamonds and Champagne by the gallon. Driving through the vast desert landscapes from Fish River Canyon to Lüderitz is an experience like no other! 🏜️ After spending the night at the Shark Island Light House in Luderitz on the Atlantic coast, where the views were incredible, we visited Kolmanskop Ghost Town. At one point home to 300 miners during the diamond rush in the early 1900s, the town was abandoned when mining moved elsewhere. Now, the old house are buried by sand, as Mother Nature slowly reclaims the area. At its heyday, when diamond fever reached its peak, Kolmanskoppe was buzzing with life, opulence and decadence. Our guide shared stories of what was at its time one of the most advanced towns in the world. Electric lights and telephones were installed in all buildings long before that was common elsewhere in the world. Shop ledger entries tell of caviar, Champagne and exotic meats. The miners certainly knew how to live it up! Walking through this ghost town, we saw how time has frozen the area, leaving behind stories of its diamond-rich past. The mix of history and sand was unforgettable For more information about Namibia visit us here .

We've arrived at Fish River Canyon, our second stop in Namibia. The Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world and the size is jaw-dropping. We visited the canyon during golden hour around sunset and what an incredible sight it was! 🌅😍 During our visit to the canyon we enjoyed a few minutes of silence to take in the vast openness and beauty this area beholds as the sun set over the canyon walls. While we drove home from the canyon we saw dassies sunbathing on the rocks and a few Oryx (large antelope species) next to the road - which the meat-eaters among us tried for dinner that night.🐾🌵 🎂🤩 To celebrate Francois' birthday today, we enjoyed an 8km morning hike before the desert heat kicks in. What a magical place to celebrate a birthday on The Travel Café team! Up next is the coastal town of Luderitz, 420km North East and the ghost town of Kolmanskop. Explore more information about Fish River Canyon here .

Just across the border from SA, is the Orange River, which actually forms the natural border between South Africa & Namibia. The Orange River starts high up in the Drakensberg Mountains in SA and ends in the Atlantic Ocean. As soon as you cross the border, everything slows down including the staff at the border 🙂 We took our team on a half day rafting 🚣 excursion on the Orange River which flows all year long and feeds hundreds of table grape 🍇& tomato 🍅 plantations for export. The 16 km journey on a canoe 🛶 was a good, but not too intense exercise after eating big portions of meat, which is very popular in Namibia. 🥘 While we paddled our way down the Orange River, we saw plenty of bird life 🐦 - from fish eagles, cormorans and darters to weavers, egyptian geese and more. Our Next stop will be Fish River Canyon, a 250km drive from Orange River. Explore more about Namibia here .

The Travel Cafe team has set off on an epic two week educational tour of Namibia. We are beyond excited to showcase this spectacular country to our team members Hanjia and Ovayo, and discovering unique and authentic experiences, ahead of launching our own new Namibia minigroup tour in 2025. Keep an eye on our social media channels and join us on the adventure. Our first stop was the Cederberg Wilderness Area about 4hrs north-east of Cape Town. It is an awe-inspiring landscape of otherworldly rock formations, vast vistas and Khoi-San rock paintings 5,000+ years old. Find more details about the Cedeberg here :

VOYAGE EN AFRIQUE DU SUD 🇿🇦 ORGANISÉ PAR FRANÇOIS DU TRAVEL CAFÉ CAPE TOWN (groupe de 8 personnes + 1 guide francophone)