This lengthy stretch made the Nama people give it the name “Namib” meaning, “vast place.” According to the broadest definition, the Namib stretches for more than 2,000 kilometres along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, extending southward from the Carunjamba River in Angola, through Namibia and to the Olifants River in Western Cape, South Africa. 10 Interesting Facts About Namibia: Namibia is a little-known country in the southern part of Africa. Why Arco Should be Your Favorite Rock Climbing Destination. The central plateau is over 2,000 metres/2,650 ft. high and borders the Skeleton Coast with the Namib Desert in the West, the Orange River in the South and the Kalahari Desert in the East. Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa. So powerful are the sand dunes that their relentless march has reclaimed land from the sea. And setbacks still occur. All the information about the best Via Ferrata adventures in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Welcome to Mountain Aquarius! This is thanks to cold air from the offshore Benguela Current crashing up against the hot air from arid inland. The 5 most Adventurous Via Ferrata in Bernese Oberland. The hike can be done from may until september. Learn how your comment data is processed. I'm Daphne, and ever since I moved from the Netherlands to the Swiss Alps, every day became an adventure. to $3,066 pp (SGD), Namibia: A Transfrontier park, is an ecological protected area that spans boundaries of more than one country. By continuing to browse through this website you agree to our use of cookies. Brian is an award winning travel writer, author of safari books and regular contributor to magazines such as BBC Wildlife and Travel Africa. And all the information you need to know about Desert Knights: http://www.desertknights-mtb.com/ While it may not be the world’s largest desert, it is almost certainly the oldest. Here are ten lesser-known facts… It consists mostly of extremely mountainous terrain with large altitudinal changes over very short distances. The driest places only receive about 2 millimeters (0.079 in) of annual precipitation, while the “wetter” places receive 200 millimeters (7.9 in). Or the Otavi, a cargo ship that ran aground further south in 1945. What you didn't know about last minute tickets and offers on travels. And therefore it’s perfect to relax in after an active outdoor-day. Poachers nearly wiped out the population during the 1990s, and it remains imperilled. Most that you’ll see are a mere 1,000 years old. … Safaris, DR Congo And the serene environment of this campsite forms the perfect base for a recovery day. We keep your data private! Some more Namib Desert Facts: In April and September the desert offers the perfect home for the MTB event Desert Knights. Set within the coastal desert of Namibia are the biggest sand dunes in the world. It’s a dry and remote area, with a harsh and spectacular landscape. The Namib occupies an area of around 80,950 square kilometers (31,200 square miles). More About Us. Get ready to sleep under the starts with this ultimate Bivouac Packing List. It is 80,000km2/30,888mi2, stretching over 2,000km/1,242mi from top (Angola) to bottom (South Africa). In 5 days of mountainbiking through the harsh desert terrain, you explore the Ai-Ais park in three days, and the Richtersveld in two days. For tourists and photographers this canyon forms a highlight when visiting the park. Namib - Namib - People and economy: A few San roamed the Namib until early in the 20th century, gathering whatever was edible along the shore, hunting in the Inner Namib, and often depending on the bitter juices of the tsama (tsamma) melon for water. SafariBookings is the largest online marketplace for African safari tours. Poaching remains a concern, but for now the population survives. Safaris. The park is remote and inhospitable. One of the most spectaculair facts about the Namib desert is that Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in Arizona. This desert runs from south west Angola, northern South Africa and into much of the western part of Namibia, forming part of Namib-Naukluft National Park, the largest Game reserve in Africa.. Namib desert Facts. pp (SGD), $975 It is probably the only feral herd of horses residing in Africa, with a population ranging between 90 and 150. There are many other deserts in Africa; … Botswana But consider this: Some dunes here are 300m/328yd high and stretch more than 32km/20mi long! Cookie settings. Accurate figures are difficult to come by but as many as 600, and as few as 100, are thought to remain. The first day of the Desert Knights will send you alongside the canyons edge and will make you forget the difficult stony terrain you had to lead your bike through in order to get here. The only longer sand dunes recorded on earth are in China’s Badain Jaran Desert… But these are mere grains of sand when compared to the overall size of the Namib. The Namib has been dry for at least 55 million years, and possibly as many as 80 million. pp (SGD), Namibia: But most of all rock climbing. These days, it’s still only for the adventurous. The ocean and constantly moving sand dunes have conspired to make many of them disappear. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By trapping and storing water in their pores on the rare occasions that it rains, the rather unlovely welwitschias are able to survive…for up to 2,000 years. This artwork includes six solar-powered speakers attached to an MP3 player, also powered by the sun. The Namib Desert Viper, a 20 cm, commonly built viper, reside in this biome. As for lions and elephants, so, too, for rhinos. The Namib is the world’s oldest desert The Namib desert stretches along the Namibian coast all the way up to Angola. Namibia is home to one of the two populations of desert-adapted elephants in the world. It’s one of the driest places on the planet. Of the five males featured in the recent National Geographic film Vanishing Kings: Lions of the Namib, four have since been killed. There is a total number of 197 species that can be spotted in the park. Anthony is a photographer and writer for travel magazines and Lonely Planet, including the guides to Kenya and Botswana & Namibia. On this event, you will cross the border where normally no one can, you will camp where normally no one is allowed to. The event also includes one day of canoeing, the trip starts on the shore of the Orange river on the Namibian side, and ends at a campsite on the shore of the South African side. Although your chances of spotting the nocturnal hyaena’s and leopards are extremely rare, you can often find leopard prints along the district gravel roads. New plant species are discoverd even up until today. Few first-time visitors to Namibia know that elephants survive in the Namib Desert. It’s easy to imagine that the world has always been just as we found it. Make decisions like a pro by using our 59,544 reviews and 200 destination guides.More About Us, $9,193 Not that long ago, it wasn’t just the swirling fog that concealed much of the desert from view. Because the trail follows the course of the spectaculair canyon for 90 km from Hobas to the hot water spa of Ai/Ais. The Namib Desert experiences around 180 days of fog every year. Easily compare offers from 3,476 specialized tour operators. The confines of this arid wonderland lie within the boundaries of the countries of South Africa, Angola, and Namibia, from which its name derives. The Namib Desert is often referred to as the world’s oldest desert and it is from it that Namibia gets its name. The Namib is a desert on the west coast of southern Africa. Ancient Art, Looking Glass Rock and Root Canal. Namib is a desert found in the coastal parts of South Africa. The greatest threat to an organism in this ecosystem is that of the Desert Lion. No one knows how many ships foundered along Namibia’s arid shore. More information about flights/Air Namibia: http://airnamibia.com/, […] For more information about the mountain desert in Ai/Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier park, read my blog on the Namibian Desert […]. But they put you into an unparalleled position to experience, first hand, this lunar landscape. The name Namib is of Nama origin and means "vast place". Interesting facts about Namibia 1. Namib Desert Facts 12.04.2014 - 20.05.2014 35 °C If you need to do research for a high school project (as I often feel I am doing when I write blog posts on things I previously knew nothing about) on dunes than look no further. Some parts average just 2mm/0.08in of rain a year. Safaris, Madagascar One of the most fascinating facts about the Namib Desert is that some areas of it are among the driest places on the planet. Namib Desert, photo courtesy of TravelNewsNamibia.com The Namib is a largely unpopulated and inaccessible desert in Namibia and southwest Angola which forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. to $10,792 pp (SGD), $9,193 Tours, South Africa Tours, Malawi How to get the best discount offers on your travel. OK, so the Namib Desert Horse isn’t found in the northwest but makes the list due to its intriguing history. SafariBookings is the largest online marketplace for African safari tours. It now sits atop a sand dune at one of the highest points anywhere along this coast. But the population has made a remarkable recovery, with 180 to 200 lions thought to survive. The name Namib is of Khoekhoegowab origin and means "vast place". The Namibian Ai/Ais and South African Richtersveld side, are devided by the Orange River. 8. Facts, figures and a video about the Namib Desert in Namibia that is considered the world's oldest desert. On a surface area of one square kilometer, more than 360 flowering plant species are found at a site. The 5 day hiking trail also starts from here. Even fewer can explain how that can possibly be. Sand consumes shipwreck skeletons more than a kilometre from the ocean. Baboons often wait for a chance to steal your food at one of the campsites, and during our canoetrip on the Orange River we also spotted Vervet Monkeys. Take the Sahara, for example, which just 12,000 years ago, was a mixture of green savannah grasslands and forests. The area has an amazing... Making a quick climbing road trip in Utah. Just be cautious about baboons. Some parts average just 2mm/0.08in of rain a year. This park has the richest flora of the other two Transfrontier parks in Namibia. Parts of the Namib rival South America’s Atacama Desert as the driest place on Earth. During this trail you hike within the scenic mountain terrain of the southern wilderness area which receives the highest precipitation within the park. It occupies a rocky platform between the Atlantic Ocean [1] and the escarpment of the interior plateau. Namib Desert in Africa is a rare place on earth where desert meets the sea. The organisms in the Namib Desert have a fairly stable population, and since little to no people live in this ecosystem, the greatest threat of human interference is essentially non-existent. The name “Namib” is of Nama origin and means “vast place“. It stretches more than 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) between the city of Namibe in Angola and the Olifants River in South Africa. The site also holds another surprise. Safaris, Rwanda Despite its horizons being filled with sand seemingly to eternity, the park has been recognized as one of 25 outstanding global ‘hotspots’ of unique biodiversity. Enter your email address to be updated on new adventures! However, its secrets are coming to light, including the discovery of ghostly former mining towns previously swallowed by the sands. The Namib Desert is a coastal desert in Southern Africa and is considered to be the world’s oldest desert. It catches travellers every time. The Namib, which believed to be the world's oldest desert, stretches from the Orange River in the south to the Angolan border in the north stretches for 2,080km (1,300mi) It is … It is a fascinating country and definitely qualifies as one of the countries you should visit at least once in your lifetime. And the only true mountain desert in Southern Africa. The resort also offers a sortiment of massages. Covering an area of 31,274 sq. Take the Namibian–German artist Max Siedentopf who, in 2019, installed an art installation in a secret Namib location. Multi Pitch Climbing km), the Namib is a coastal desert, situated along the south-western coast of the African continent. While it may not be the world’s largest desert, it is almost certainly the oldest. But how much do you know about the Namib sand dunes? Namibian activist and former politician Mburumba Kerina named the country ‘Republic of Namib’ which then became Namibia or … Or take some rest in the camp and prepare for the afternoon ride. Namib, Portuguese Namibe, a cool coastal desert extending for 1,200 miles (1,900 km) along the Atlantic coast of Africa from Namibe (formerly Moçâmedes) in Angola southward across Namibia to the Olifants River in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The Namib Desert Beetle originated in the dry desert of Southern Africa.With such a small percentage of rain per year (1.4cm), this beetle survives by collecting water on its back that has small ridges on it. And appearances can be deceptive. The Namib Desert itself, meanwhile, has existed for around 55 million years. Let me explain to you why in a few facts on why to visit the Namib Desert! The Namib Desert has always attracted not just explorers and adventurers, but also eccentrics and those who would seek to otherwise leave their mark long after they’ve gone. Safaris, Swaziland This trail covers 4 days and 3 overnight stops and is approximately 40 km. It was a secretive place of abandoned diamond mines, treacherous sand seas and all manner of rumours. Namib Desert. They are high venomous snakes use camouflage to trick prey. Namib Desert Facts: Conservation Status, Map, Climate, Wildlife Learn more about the conservation status, plants and animals of the Namib Desert, one of the most fascinating and oldest deserts on earth. The Mountain Desert in Ai/Ais- Richtersveld Transfrontierpark covers more than 6000 square km. There’s everything here from the threatened desert rain frog to one of Africa’s only populations of wild horses. That the world’s largest land mammal can survive in one of the driest places on the planet is indeed a miracle. Take the Eduard Bohlen, which sank off Walvis Bay in 1909 but now lies marooned only 1km/0.6mi away from the sea. Its width varies from 50 to 200 kilometers (30 to 125 miles). The lions somehow eke out an existence along the beaches, sand dunes and barren mountains of the Kunene region of the northern Namib Desert. Characterised by red sand dunes that can reach impressive heights, the Namib is considered to be particularly old, even by geological standards. They have curved phalanges in order to enhance their digging abilities, to burrow. So a thermal outdoor pool next to the hotsprings offers a soothing temperature during winter or evenings. [20] At about 55 million to 80 million years old, the Namib Desert in Namibia is the oldest—and one of the driest―deserts in the world. It is inhospitable due to its extreme weather, yet, a few special animals have managed to adjust to its environment. Do you know if these hikes are accessible all year round? The Orange River, with its 2200 kilometers, starts in South Africa’s Drakensberg, and ends in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. I'm thankful I can find awe and wonder and beauty in a place as cool as the Namib Desert. As you drive from Namibia’s interior to the sand-dune coast, the blast of cold air and rolling mists can be deeply unsettling, even otherworldly. Let me share my passion with you, and inspire you for your next adventure! 3) Namibia is the second least densely populated country in the world. Animals don’t have it all their own way when it comes to unusual ways of thriving. The scenery will take your breath away once you look over the edge. Those that remain serve as reminders of the elemental force that controls everything along this coast. Make decisions like a pro by using our 59,544 reviews and 200 destination guides. And please turn it off. No one knows exactly how old it is but scientists have identified that sand has existed in the desert for over a million years! You cannot miss it, when visiting either Namibia or the west of South Africa. Africa’s Largest Canyon Is Located in Namibia Self-driveMid-rangeCamping & Lodge, You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Kalahari Region, Fish River Canyon (|Ai-|Ais Richtersveld TP), Aus (Town), Namib-Naukluft NP, Swakopmund (City), Damaraland, Etosha NP, Eastern Etosha, Erongo (Mountain Range), Windhoek Airport (End), $2,030 See the Namib Desert for yourself on this tour. All the essentials you need for your next bivvy adventure! By browsing through this site you agree to our use of cookies. The Namib is a coastal desert in southern Africa. The herd of feral horses is very hardy, living in the harsh environment of the desert. The main viewpont is 12 km from Hobas camp. The Richtersveld’s Venstervalle Trail starts and ends at the Hakiesdoring Trail Camp. A few of the easiest and most exciting climbs around Moab, Utah. It reaches inland 80 to 100 miles (130 to 160 km) to the foot of the Great Escarpment. pp (SGD), Namibia: Stretching over 1200mi (2000km), the Namib crosses Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Perfectly formed sand dunes press up against a deserted stretch of coast, and inland for as far as the eye can see. Tours, Kenya Let us know if you find it. © 2019 | Mountain Aquarius | All rights reserved, 8 Reasons to Visit the Namib Mountain Desert, Mountain Biking in the Dark of the Desert, Biking in the dark of the desert – Mountain Aquarius, https://stingynomads.com/fish-river-canyon-hike-namibia/, Follow Mountain Aquarius on WordPress.com. mi (81,000 sq. Tours, Namibia The Meerkats are small, desert creatures which travel in clans. Here are 10 interesting facts about the country, which might just … Safaris, Mozambique The camp is also the end of the Fish river Canyon Hiking trail, and the second camp from the Desert Knights event. The park and its many aspects will surprise and astound you. Welwitschias are especially prevalent in the desert east of Swakopmund in Dorob National Park, where the Khan and Swakop rivers converge. This is due to access to the Orange River and the close proximity to the sea. Safaris, Zimbabwe And it’s spread across Namibia with seventy three percent and South Africa with twenty seven percent. Iseltwald and the Giessbach Falls cannot be missed in any travelguide about Interlaken or the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. The highest point of the park is in the Huns mountains that lies in Namibia and the highest peak is 1652 metres. Wildlife thrives in a land almost completely devoid of water. It was inhabited by the kinds of charismatic African mega-fauna that makes us all want to go on safari. Easily compare offers from 3,476 specialized tour operators. They attract a vast number of travellers each year, many of whom aim to climb up the sands and enjoy a thrilling slide back down. It covers an area of approximately over 2000 km from Angola to Namibia and through South Africa. Crossing the border in the park is possible by an old restored pont. This hotsprings is situated in the Ai/Ais campsite. Learn about he landscape, flora and fauna during one of these trips. These desert-adapted giants are slimmer than their savannah brethren, and their feet are wider – the animal kingdom’s version of soft-sand 4WD tyres. Two challenging hiking trails can be explored in the park. It has a total distance of about 2,000 km and covers parts of Angola, Namibia, and South Africa. The park is not known for its rich wildlife as it is in other parts of Namibia. It sits on the continent of Africa. The Namib has been dry for at least 55 million years, and possibly as many as 80 million. For as long as it works, Toto’s 1982 hit song ‘Africa’ will play from the as-yet-undisclosed location. But on our trip we did spot giraffes, kudu, gemsbok, springbok and mountain zebra’s. The scenery will take your breath away once you look over the edge. You can find a good itinerary here: https://stingynomads.com/fish-river-canyon-hike-namibia/. It’s absolutely breathtaking in its immensity. This is remarkable as Damaraland is a barren region of treeless mountains, sand dunes and gravel plains. Arco and the whole Sarca valley area is a paradise for anyone into multi pitch rock climbing. I love travelling to remote places, to see nature and wildlife. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. Tours, Ethiopia The most parts of the country lie on a high plateau. During the hours before the rides there are optional tours. Copyright © 2021 SafariBookings. The elephants have larger feet, longer legs, and are capable of going without water for longer than regular elephants. Some shipwrecks once washed by waves are, less than a century later, almost a mile inland. It’s a strange sensation, peering out to sea through the fog from high on a sand dune and feeling suddenly cold. Then there are the Naukluft Mountains, the southern part of which form the easternmost part of the park. Especially the Orange River is perfect for birdwatching. Safaris, Uganda Interesting fact about the Namib Desert The Famous Namib Desert Beetle. Not so the Namib Desert. Both trails are physically challenging. pp (SGD), $2,030 Not only is the Namib Desert one of the world’s most beautiful deserts, it’s also a place of mystery which conceals its secrets well. Ai Ais, means ‘burning water’. The Namib rarely extends more than 200km/124mi inland from the coast. Until 2009, the Sperrgebiet region, now a 16,000km2/6,177mi2 national park known as Tsau Khaeb, was off-limits. Because the park has is conserved by two countries, it has many unique qualities. I have a passion for everything outdoorsy, like mountain biking, hiking, trailrunning and mountaineering. Tours, Zambia But also away from the river you can spot many birds, among them the Jackal Buzzard and Black Eagle. Namib Desert Horse Image credit: Wild Horses of Namibia Foundation. The Namib is a coastal desert in southern Africa. All Rights Reserved. The Namib Desert, one of the most inhospitable places in the world, lies in the southwest corner of Africa. It has a unique plant life such as the quiver tree, maiden’s quiver tree, and the rare giant quiver tree. The Namib Desert formed in a region of the world known for its natural wonders. And there is no desert flora on our planet, possessing similar species of flora. The Namib Desert – from which the country takes its name – is the world’s oldest desert. Not so the Namib Desert. Groups must consist of three people. Mountain Aquarius inspires outdoor enthusiasts for their next outdoor adventure! It is thought to have existed for at least 55 million years. One of the most spectaculair facts about the Namib desert is that Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Booking in advance is mandatory. The biking starts in the afternoon, and during your ride you enjoy a spectaculair scenic sunset. I will definitely put these hikes on the map as I would love to explore this part of South Africa (the only one I haven’t yet) and Namibia. There are also indoor pools, with different temperatures. Almost there! The 5 most Adventurous Via Ferrata in the Bernese Oberland. Better still, a small number of high-end Damaraland lodges offer the chance to go rhino tracking as part of their conservation-meets-tourism programs. It stretches some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Namibia, and South Africa. Fish River Canyon drops vertically from the surrounding plains by half a kilometer and the distant Fish River struggles through the base of the canyon. Safaris, Tanzania It’s absolutely breathtaking in its immensity. One up-close look at the sand dunes of the Namib Desert is enough to make most travellers understand that these sand dunes are really big. On a canoetrip along the river you will have no trouble spotting the famous African Fish Eagle, different kinds of Kingfisher, lots of Cormorants and Spoonbills. Self-driveMid-rangeLodge & Tented Camp, You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Etosha NP, Okavango River, Zambezi Region, Chobe River, Windhoek (End). Self-driveMid-rangeLodge & Hotel, You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Namib-Naukluft NP, Swakopmund (City), Damaraland, Etosha NP, Windhoek Airport (End), $2,905 Thanks for this highly informative post. The Namib is a coastal desert in southern Africa. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Im glad you liked it! On the hike there are campsites, but no further facilities. Experienced hikers will find the Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail, that takes 4-5 days very rewarding. The lions of the Namib nearly fell extinct during the 1980s. Namibia Facts: Namibia Geography. Save the Rhino Trust claims that Damaraland is home to Africa’s largest population of free-ranging black rhino. Especially on this tour you will truly access the unaccessable. The sandy desert environment makes this a perfect home for many snakes, spiders and scorpions aswell. Namib (nä´mĬb), desert, c.800 mi (1,290 km) long and from 30 to 100 mi (50–160 km) wide, SW Africa, along the coast of Namibia. The dystopic plane comes from the ethnic Nama word namib, which also inspired the country's name, which means "vast dry plain." And yet, against all odds, a small population of desert lions exist in the Namib Desert. Not only gives this wildlife a chance to migrate beyond borders, but it also means that two countries are working together in conservating the parks flora and fauna. Interesting Name Facts about Namibia The country’s name Namibia originates from the desert which is known as the Namib desert - the oldest desert in the world. Even when there were more than a million lions in Africa, they never managed to survive in the Sahara Desert. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Namib Desert Horse is a breed of rare wild horses native to the barren Garub plains of the Namib Desert in Africa. The largest part of the Namib is in the country of Namibia. I feel bad for people who visit the Namib Desert and write things like, "If you expect something special driving from Walvis Bay towards Sossusvlei, you will be dissatisfied." Stephen is a travel writer and avid conservationist whose work appears in prestigious magazines such as Africa Geographic and Travel Africa. The western part of the Namib borders the Atlantic Ocean. Its dark-colored coat along with its athletic appearance is similar to that of the European riding horses. Read about my mountain bike adventure through the Namibian Desert in my blog about Desert Knights, Source: SANparks official information guide /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, For more information about Namibia: http://www.namibiatourism.com.na/ Parts of the Namib rival South America’s Atacama Desert as the driest place on Earth. It is estimated that the area has been dry for at least 55 million years, making it the oldest desert in the world. By continuing you agree to our use of cookies. So after this, the full moon will help you show you the way to camp. The Namib Desert is one of the oldest deserts in the world. The Namib mountain desert is unique for many reasons.