The Namibia Issue

The surprising beauty of Namibia.

A couple of friends recently spent their Easter weekend in Nambia and, as we were discussing their holiday, I was reminded of Nambia’s intense beauty. My friend, a Lithuanian, said she found it a surprising country and I think this a good way to describe it.

A few weeks after my husband and I met in 2012, we took out first holiday together to Namibia. It was entirely improvised and since we only had a few days, we decided to visit Sossusvlei and Swakopmund. I had visited Etosha and Swakopmund before, but this was my first time in Sossusvlei, a place I had long desired to visit. In this strange and beautiful place, I was excited to discover that this Frenchman, then still almost a stranger, had the same sense of adventure as me. We were so absorbed with taking photographs of the dead trees framed by soaring red sand dunes that we were the last ones to leave Dead Vlei in the evening. The next morning, we woke up at 4 AM to climb Dune 45 in time to see the sun rise over an empty landscape. It was a challenging hike up the dune but we were rewarded with the most incredible views stretching out in all directions. After sunrise and more photographs we ran down the side of the dune quickly, laughing as our legs sank into the soft sand. We left the desert with an abiding sense of well-being.

Nambia’s other highlights are: Etosha, one of the region’s top game parks; Swakopmund, a tiny German influenced seaside town; the rugged Skeleton Coast; and the Cape Cross Seal reserve. The people of Namibia also deserve a mention. They are as beautiful as their country, and as diverse. Three of the most famous tribes are the exotic Himba who paint their bodies with ochre paste making their hair and skin red. The Herero from central Namibia wear a distinctive Victorian style dress. The San are an ancient, peaceful people from whom we have so much to learn.

May to October is the best time to visit Namibia, so book your holiday with Leopard today! We know all the places, all the lodges, all the logistics and all the experiences to make your trip a memorable one.

Happy travelling!
Diana

P.S. The photo at the top of this email is of the lodge we stayed in, Sossus Dune lodge. It is an incredible place, and only people staying here and at the campsite are able to access Dune 45 early enough to catch sunrise.