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Gobabis

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Damaraland

Brandberg

Brandberg Mountain is located in Damaraland, in the northwestern Namib Desert near the coast, and covers an area of approximately 650 km². With its highest point, the Koenigstein standing at 2573m above sea level and located on the flat Namib gravel plains, on a clear day 'The Brandberg' can be seen from a great distance. There are various routes to the summit, the easiest being up the Ga’aseb river valley, but other routes include the Hungurob and Tsisas river valleys. The nearest settlement is Uis, roughly 30km from the mountain.
The Brandberg Massif or Brandberg Intrusion is a granitic intrusion, which forms a dome-shaped plateau. The geology of the area is typical of Damaraland, which is littered with eroded mountains, hills and koppies (small hills), which are made up of granite boulders. These piles of granite are ancient magma chambers, formed billions of years ago when underground volcanic activity was common in southern Africa. Over the millennia, these massive deposits of magma cooled and have been exposed, as we see them today, by the forces of erosion. One basic ingredient found in granite is the mineral feldspar. Feldspar is often a pinkish color and Damaraland is blessed with mountains and koppies of a most spectacular red/pink color that during sunrise and sunset can sometimes take on an almost blood-red color. The Brandberg is a perfect example of this and is one of the reasons why Damaraland is a main contender for the "most beautiful region in Namibia".

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Twyfelfontein

There is evidence of habitation over 5000 years ago. The Damara who lived here named the valley Uri-Ais or "jumping fountain" after this source of fresh water. However it was renamed Twyfelfontein or "doubtful fountain" in 1947 by the first white farmer to acquire the land; he considered the fountain too weak to support much life. The site was declared a national monument in 1952, but sadly this did not prevent many of the engravings being defaced or stolen, and local Damaras are now employed as guides to protect the rocks and inform the visitors. In 2007 the site was declared world heritage by the UNESCO. Although experts believe that rock painting and engravings featured in the ceremonies intended to imbue the hunters with the power to catch game, the picture of a seal on one of the rocks is particularly interesting considering that this site is over 100 km from the sea.

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Organ Pipes

The site is called the Organ Pipes because the rock columns resemble the pipes on a large church organ. These were thought to have formed about 120 million years ago when the dolerite shrank as it cooled, forming these marvelous angular columns up to 5m high in the process.

 

 

 

 

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Burnt Mountain

The Karoo limestones which formed the mountain were deposited around 200 million years ago. About 120 million years ago, the same period when Organ Pipes were formed, volcanic lava intruded limestones and caused metamorphism giving the mountain its distinctive color.

 

 

 

 

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Petrified Forest

The "forest" lies on a small sandstone rise and covers an area of 800m by 300m in the Aba-Huab River valley. The trees occur in sandstone of the Ecca Group, a subdivision of the Karoo Sequence, and are about 260 million years old. The name "Petrified Forest' is a misnomer the trees did not grow where they are found. It has been suggested that they were carried here by floodwaters, following the onset of warmer climatic conditions after the Dwyka glaciations. Evidence for the assumption that the trees grew somewhere else is the fact thatno roots or branches are present and only trunks are found. The trees were uprooted and transported by rivers to their present site where they were stranded on sandbank or shoals. This is inferred from the position of many stems which are orientated parallel to each other. Subsequently they were embedded in sand also deposited by the rivers. Opal-filled cracks in the logs suggest that many of the trees dried out before being embedded in the sand. The trees were deposited in an oxygen-depleted environment, preventing decay of the organic material and creating ideal conditions for petrifaction. Silica-rich water penetrated the logs, filling the cells, bark and other parts, where silica precipitated. This long process went together with the hardening of the sediments into sandstones. Nearly 200 million years later, after uplift of the whole area, erosion in a warm, often-arid climate removed the overlying rocks and finally exposed the petrified trees. Remnants of at least 50 trees can be seen on the plateau-some only partly exposed, while others reveal their full length. A good indication of the size of these trees is a partially exposed trunk with a length of more than 30m and an estimated circumference of 6m. The growth rings and the texture of the bark are so well preserved that one can easily mistake the petrified trees for logs.

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Living Museum of the Damara

Together with the Bushmen the Damara belong to the oldest nations in Namibia. Their original culture was a mixture of an archaic hunter-gatherer culture and herders of cattle, goats and sheep. Due to their loose social structures the Damara were not able to defend themselves against aggressors. This is one of the reasons why their culture has to a great extent fallen into oblivion.
Within the framework of the Living Museum of the Damara an attempt was made to reconstruct the ‚lost culture’ of the Damara. Here the visitors have the unique opportunity to get to know the fascinating traditional culture of the Damara, thus contributing to the preservation of the culture as well as to a regular income for the Damara community that built the museum.
The Living Museum offers three essential advantages to the project participants. Firstly it is a good source of income for the Damara, who according to western conception live in great poverty. At the moment about 20 Damara have a secure work place in the museum. Through the sale of jewellery and crafts in the craft shop other community members are able to earn some money.
Secondly the Damara occupy themselves with their roots again und thus prevent the loss of cultural values. In this respect the museum also functions as a school for history and culture.
Last but not the least the Living Museum stands for an active intercultural exchange. Within the framework to the museum a lot of people concern themselves with the Damara culture and start to understand what makes these special people unique! The visitors give the Damara self-confidence and also the youngsters develop a feeling of being proud about their ancient culture. Maybe they will in this way be able to help themselves out of the social problems they are so perceptive to.
The Damara are an ethnic group who make up 8.5% of Namibia's population. They speak the Khoekhoe language and the majority live in the northwestern regions of Namibia, however they are also found widely across the rest of the country. They have no known cultural relationship with
any of the other tribes anywhere else in Africa, and very little is known of their origin. It has been proposed that the Damara are descendant from Bantu people originally from Central Africa, and adopted the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and the Khoekhoe language from the Khoisan Nama people.
Their name in their own language is the "Daman". The name "Damaqua" stems from the addition of the Khoekhoe suffix "-qua/khwa" meaning "people".
Prior to 1870 the Damara occupied most of central Namibia, but large numbers were displaced when the Nama and Herero began to occupy this area in search of better grazing. Thereafter dominated by and working for the Nama and the Herero.
In 1960, the South African government forced the Damara into the bantustan of Damaraland, an area of poor soil and irregular rainfall. Half of their numbers still occupy Damaraland.
The Damara consisted of 23 sub tribes/clans. The Darama are very rich in cattle and sheep. The Damara are divided into tribes each governed by a chief but the tribe has only one King, King Justus Garoeb that rules over them. They practiced circumcision until to date. Their traditional colours are green, white and blue. The green and blue identifies the different sub groups, some woman may wear white and blue some white and green, the white representing the peace and unity among all Damara speaking people.
Some Damara women share a similar style of traditional dress to the OvaHerero, with the long, flowing dresses that look almost Victorian in style. However, the traditional hats that the Herero wear have longer 'horns' to resemble cattle.
The woman do house hold chores like cooking, cleaning and gardening. Their Primary objective is milk the cows in the morning and nurturing the young. Man traditional hunt and herd the cattle leaving the village as early as the sun rise patrolling their area to protect their cattle and grazing ground as tradition dictates. Man can be very aggressive towards intruders if not being notified of any other male presence in his grazing area.
Though many Damara people own and live on rural farms, the majority live in the small towns scattered across the Erongo region or in Namibia's capital city of Windhoek. Those that still live on farms tend to stay with extended family so that as many as one hundred stay together, creating a small village of family members.

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Vingerklip

Vingerklip, a tall monolithic rock - resembling a finger - that dominates the landscape of the Ugab Terraces between Outjo and Khorixas. It can be accessed conveniently from the road D2743 towards the Vingerklip Lodge. In fact the rock is on the premises of the lodge, but you may visit the rock even without being a guest of the lodge. In case you wonder, the rock is about 35 meters high.

 

 

 

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Ovahimba Nomads

The Himba are an ethnic group of about 20,000 to 50,000 people living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene region (formerly Kaokoland). They are a nomadic, pastoral people, closely related to the Herero, and speak Otjihimba, a dialect of the Herero language.
The Himba breed cattle and goats. The responsibility of milking the cows lies with the women. Women take care of the children, and one woman will take care of another woman's children. Women tend to perform more labor-intensive work than men do, such as carrying water to the village and building homes. Men handle the political tasks and legal trials.] Members of an extended family typically dwell in a homestead, "a small, circular hamlet of huts and work shelters" that surrounds "an okuruwo (ancestral fire) and a central livestock enclosure." Both the fire and the livestock are closely tied to their belief in ancestor worship, the fire representing ancestral protection and the livestock allowing "proper relations between human and ancestor."The Himba wear little clothing, but the women are famous for covering themselves with otjize, a mixture of butter fat and ochre, possibly to protect themselves from the sun. The mixture gives their skins a reddish tinge. This symbolizes earth's rich red color and the blood that symbolizes life, and is consistent with the Himba ideal of beauty. Women braid each other's hair and cover it in their ochre mixture. The Himba women never wash, even after childbirth. In order to get rid of body odor, they apply strong-smelling substances to their bodies. They do not wash their hands either - instead they use specific dust to clean their hands. Modern clothes are scarce, but generally go to the men when available. Traditionally both men and women go topless and wear skirts or loincloths made of animal skins in various colors. Adult women wear beaded anklets to protect their legs from poisonous animal bites. Boys are generally circumcised before puberty, to make them eligible for marriage. Marriages are arranged at a daughter's birth and usually take place when the girl is between about 14 and 17.

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Peet Albert Koppie, rock engravings

The rock engravings at the Peet Albert's Koppie, close to Kamanjab, are a magical sight. It offers you a wide spectrum of impressive rock engravings. 200 000 years ago the San documented daily occurrences with endemic wildlife onto one of the oldest and hardest rock formations, the Kamanjab Granite. This granite formation is the only one of its kind in the surroundings.

 

 

 

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Kaokoveld

Fort Sesfontein

A gab in the mountains gives access to the valley basin on Sesfontein (six fountains), where luch green gardens give the landscape its special oasis character. In 1896, the government of what was then German South-West Africa built the Fort Sesfontein as control point for keeping in check cattle disease, arms smuggling and illegal hunting of big animals. The fort was abandoned in 1914 and only ruins and a small army-cemetery still stood witness to the former German presence in Sesfontein. Fort Sesfontein is the gateway to Kaokoveld, an area of some 50 000km between the Hoanib and Cunene, the frontier river to Angola.

 

 

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Khowareb Gorge

The Hoanib River has dug itself a gorge which is up to 500 m deep and about 23 km long. Experienced 4x4 drivers can explore the gorge during the dry season

 

 

 

 

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Ongongo Waterfalls

A few kilometres outside the little settlement of Warmquelle water from a lukewarm spring cascades over a small waterfall into a natural rock basin. This is a very popular spot with Kaokoveld travellers as it offers the opportunity of a refreshing bath to wash heat and dust from weary limbs.

 

 

 

 

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Opuwo

Surrounded by low-lying hills, Opuwo, which means 'the end' in Herero, is a small and uninspiring town in the middle of the bush. The town grew into a permanent settlement and administrative centre for the region during the bush war prior to independence, when the South Africa Defence Force used it as base from which to lunch expeditions into the surrounding area. A smart lodge and decent community campsite provide lodging for tourists passing through to the more isolated, attractive spots in the region.

 

 

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Epupa Falls

The Epupa falls are a series of cascades that drop a total of 60 m over a distance of about 1.5 km, reaching a maximum width of 500 m. Originating from the Herero word for the spume created by falling water, Epupa is a fitting name for this fascinating sight. Watching the Epupa Falls and its white mists of water against the red colours of the surrounding desert and mountains during sunset, with a sundowner drink in one hand and your camera or binoculars in the other, is likely to make up one the most beautiful and memorable experiences during your trip to Namibia.

 

 

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Kunene River

It flows from the Angola highlands south to the border with Namibia. It then flows west along the border until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the few perennial rivers in the region. It is about 1,050 kilometres (652 mi) long, with a drainage basin 106,560 square kilometres (41,143 sq mi) in area. Its mean annual discharge is 174 m³/s (6,145cfs) at its mouth. The epupa Falls lie on the river. Olushandja Dam dams the river.

 

 

 

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Swartbooisdrift

The monument commemorates the settlers who trekked north from South Africa due to strife with the Zulus and subsequent annexation by the British. They settled in Angola (and other areas), but decided to move once again when the Portuguese wouldn’t allow them to speak their own language in schools and wanted to convert these staunch Protestants to Catholicism. They suffered many hardships on their epic journey and have earned their place in history.

 

 

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Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is one of Southern Africa's finest and most important Game Reserves. Etosha Game park was declared a National Park in 1907 and covering an area of 22 270 square km, it is home to 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, surprisingly, one species of fish. The Etosha Park is one of the first places on any itinerary designed for a holiday in Namibia. Etosha, meaning "Great White Place", is dominated by a massive mineral pan. The pan is part of the Kalahari Basin, the floor of which was formed around 1000 million years ago. The Etosha Pan covers around 25% of the National Park. The pan was originally a lake fed by the Kunene River. However the course of the river changed thousands of years ago and the lake dried up. The pan now is a large dusty depression of salt and dusty clay which fills only if the rains are heavy and even then only holds water for a short time. This temporary water in the Etosha Pan attracts thousands of wading birds including impressive flocks of flamingos. The perennial springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw large concentrations of wildlife and birds.
A San legend about the formation of the Etosha Pan tells of how a village was raided and everyone but the women slaughtered. One woman was so upset about the death of her family she cried until her tears formed a massive lake. When the lake dried up nothing was left apart from a huge white pan.
The game viewing in Etosha National Park is excellent, the best time being from May to September - the cooler months in Namibia. Visitors to Etosha Game Reserve can expect to see many buck species, elephant, giraffe, rhino and lions. More fortunate visitors will see leopard and cheetah. There is a network of roads linking the three campsites and subsidiary roads lead to various waterholes.                                       
When it was originally proclaimed at the turn of the century the Etosha Park consisted of an area of 100,000 square kilometres. This was the largest reserve on earth but in the 1960's political pressure resulted in the Park being reduced to its current size.
Traditionally visitors to Etosha have had a choice of three rest camps – Namutoni, Halalai and Okaukuejo. September 2008 heralded the opening of Onkoshi Camp a brand new lodge inside Etosha - this is the first development inside the park in several decades and looks set to offer an environmentally friendly luxury experience
Non-resident visitors to Etosha, i.e. those residing at one of the many private lodges and hotels around Etosha, can stop off at these camps for rest, recreation, and refueling. All three camps have floodlit waterholes, two of which provide excellent night game viewing. Rhino and elephant are often seen at the waterhole at Okaukuejo, while the newer waterhole at Halali is fast attracting more wildlife. The dominant vegetation in Etosha is Mopane (Colophospermum mopane) or Omusati in a local language, and it is so widespread in the north-west of Namibia that a region in Owambo is named after it. The western areas of the park support mainly mopane scrub, whereas there are extensive woodlands of tall trees in the southern parts of the Halali area as well as in the camp. One of the most spectacular trees in the park is the African moringa, (Moringa ovalifolia) or ghost tree. There is a specially fenced off area, some 30km west of Okaukuejo, to help preserve this unique and to some, grotesquely shaped trees, known as the haunted forest . This is an unusual habitat for the moringa, as they normally occur on hillsides and they grow in a variety of weird shapes, and as many of the trees have several trunks emerging from a swollen base, they are often mistaken for baobabs, but are not related to them. The second most common species in Etosha is the red bushwillow, (Combretum apiculatum), and is known locally as Kudubusch, aptly named because kudu and other game species browse the nutritious leaves, whilst rhino consume entire branches and elephant prefer the bark. Because the quality of accommodation and service is higher at the private establishments, which can be found outside the Etosha PArk, visitors often choose to stay in them rather than within the camps. Many of these establishments offer private game
drives, either in their own game reserves or in Etosha Park itself. The main entrance to the
park is called the "Andersson Gate" situated near Okaukuejo in the south. The eastern
entrance is called the "Von Lindequist Gate" and is near Namutoni. The new "Nehale lya Mpingana Gate" gate, (King Nehale Gate) was opened at the beginning of 2003 in the north-east.
Visitors should note that the park is only open from sunrise to sunset. Outside of these hours, visitors either have to be in one of the camps, or completely outside the park.

 

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North of Etosha

Ruacana Hydro Power Station

The water drops almost 134m down vertical shafts into the heart of the mountain, where it drives the turbines before rejoining the Kunene from a discharge tunnel. When in full operation, the three turbines can generate about 240 Megawatts, which is fed into the Namibia Power Grid at 330 000 volts. Today the Ruacana hydroelectric power station is still the core of Namibia's power supply system. The first component of the Ruacana hydraulic system is the Diversion Weir, situated in Angolan territory. The Weir consists of a concrete gravity overspill structure with flap gates to control flood regulation, also incorporating the pressure tunnel intake. From the Diversion Weir a 1 500m long Pressure Tunnel runs along the southern bank of the river, some 30m below the ground.

 

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Nakambale Museum

Nakambale was originally called Olukonda and was founded in 1871 as one of the first Finnish missions in Owamboland. Since 1880 it was home to the Finnish missionary Martti Rautanen, nicknamed Nakambale by the locals. In 1889 Nakambale built the first church in the north of Namibia and in 1893 a house for missionaries. These buildings still exist and since 1992 are National Namibian Monuments.
Thanks to the help by the Government of Finland, both the church and the house were refurbished in 1992 and 1995 respectively. Currently the Evangelic and Lutheran Church of Namibia maintains them.
Nakambale Museum & Rest Camp was established in 1995. Accommodation is offered in five traditional huts, five permanent tents and a spacious camping area. As a direct consequence of the increase in the number of tourists visiting the camp in the last years, they have elaborated a project for its expansion. They will remove the permanent tent area in order to build rooms with a toilet and shower. They plan also to increase the camping area. This project will be financed by the Government of Finland.

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Ombalantu Baobab Tree

A huge hollow Baobab tree that served as a post office, a chapel and a hiding place during tribal wars. Nowadays one can visit the tree, read about the tree’s role in local history and camp around the tree. 'Omukwa waaMbalantu', as the people of Ombalantu know their baobab tree, played a significant role in local history. The hollow trunk of this huge tree has, at various times, been used as a hideout, a post office and a chapel, and was integrated into the South African military base, prior to independence. Information displays in front of the tree's entrance give a short overview of the tree's diverse history, its role in the Owambo community and the struggle for independence from South Africa in North Central Namibia.
The renovated 'Koffeehuys' (coffee shop), built and used by the South Africans during colonial times, is now in use as a kiosk with craft shop. The craft shop offers a wide range of wire products, from replicas of the baobab tree to wire giraffes, but also traditional Owambo baskets and clay pots.

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Uukwaluudhi Royal Homestead

The Uukwaluudhi Royal Homestead in Tsandi, the former home of King Josia Shikongo Taapopi, is an opportunity for guests to visit a traditional palace. Worlds apart from European palaces, the royal homestead is a typical Owambo homestead, surrounded by a mopane-pole palisade. This African-style palace offers a unique cultural experience, incorporating the customs, beliefs and accommodation style of the Oshiwambo-speaking people into the royal residence. A craft shop sells the local crafts of the area.

 

 

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Omugulugwombashe Monument

Omugulugwombashe is a settlement in the Tsandi electoral constituency in the Omusati Region. The settlement features a clinic and a primary school. In Omugulugwombashe the Namibian struggle for independence started in 1966. Government of Namibia erected a monument in honour of this battle at the thirtieth anniversary of the start of the conflict in 1996.

 

 

 

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Kavango and Zambesi

Rundu

Rundu is much more than a refueling stop. Situated in the north-eastern corner of Namibia this rapidly growing town is the main administrative center of the Kavango region.
As frontier town, Rundu is set to become the hub of trade and development in the north, especially with rebuilding efforts in Angola and the Trans-Caprivi highway that links the country and its main port in Walvis Bay to the rest of Africa.
With its diverse cultures and people, come the skills and talents to develop Rundu into a dynamic commercial centre.

 

 

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Okavango River

The Okavango River is a river in southwest Africa. It is the fourth-longest river system in southern Africa, running southeastward for 1,600 km (1,000 miles). It begins in Angola, where it is known as the Cubango River. Further south it forms part of the border between Angola and Namibia, and then flows into Botswana, draining into the Moremi Game Reserve.
Before it enters Botswana, the river drops four meters, across the full 1.2 km-width of the river, in a series of rapids known as Popa Falls, visible when the river is low, as during the dry season.
Discharging to an endorheic basin, the Okavango does not have an outlet to the sea. Instead, it empties into a swamp in the Kalahari Desert, known as the Okavango Delta or Okavango Alluvial Fan. In the rainy season there is an outflow to the Boteti River which in turn seasonally discharges to the Makgadikgadi Pans, which features an expansive area of rainy season wetland where tens of thousands of flamingos congregate each summer. Part of the river's flow fills Lake Ngami. Noted for its wildlife, the Okavango area contains Botswana's Moremi Game Reserve.

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Khemo Open Market

The Kehemu Open Market located in the Kehemu high-density residential area in Rundu was called “Tandaveka” a local word to describe a sitting position of a relaxed person, whose legs are stretched out and crossed at the ankles. It describes the comfort of the market. Once you are there you will not want to leave quickly !
The market serves the Kehemu and Safari residential areas mostly and at times a few customers from other surrounding areas. In 2001, referring to the operational costs, the market reached break-even and is cost recovering.
The Sauyemwa Market, built at the same time as the Kehemu market, became operative in June-2001. It basically serves the Sauyemwa residential town ship.
The total number of vendors selling at all three Markets varies from 850-900 vendors. Which means, that at the end of the project more than 90% of the informal hawkers of the Rundu Town had accepted the new structures and paid the basic monthly stand fees to allow the municipality to cover the operational cost and staff (cleaners, security guards, market operators) salaries. Due to their respective position in town and the difference in infrastructure, the main Rundu Open Market was assigned to become more of a multipurpose Market, serving as a trading place during the week and as a social venue for the weekends and evenings, while the two new community markets followed their vocation to serve the” community from 6.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m., as it was the tradition before.
All Markets are providing a great potential of resourcefulness, creativity, self-employment, as well as a platform for promoting social events and cultural interchange. The organization of a physical Market was a difficult task due to the social interrelation of people of different cultural interest groups and the lack of a Market history before 96.
In addition to the setting up of infrastructure and the marketing of the venue, the Nam/330 Rundu Open Markets Lux-Development project, provided training in fields as diverse as horticulture (gardening), marketing for the producers and traders , hairdresser training, key making, service milling and book keeping for individual Market traders, as well as workshops in community leadership for the market committees.

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Mahango National Park

If you are looking for somewhere “off the beaten track” with a true wilderness feel, the Mahango area of the Bwabwata National Park is well worth considering. Located in the north east of Namibia on the Botswana border, the contrasting vegetation of the 25 400 hectare Mahango Game Reserve is widely considered one of Namibia’ s most varied and fascinating conservation areas. There are three distinct habitats that can be identified, the river, which offers a blend of trees, reeds and grasses along its banks and on the wetlands. One tree that you will quickly recognize is the baobab. The Omurambas, which are fossil rivers, are covered with open grassland with tall acacia and bushwillow around the borders. Between the Mahango Omuramba in the north and the Thinderevu Omuramba in the south the vegetation is open dry woodland with some thick patches of Zambezi teak, wild seringa and wild teak. Year round water ensures an abundance of game, however, during the dry winter months, April-November, your chances of seeing game is higher as the animals seek out the river and waterholes.. Mahango is home to many antelope, if you are fortunate you may spot; roan, sable, reedbuck, tsessebe, sitatunga, red lechwe, kudu, Chobe bushbuck , Duiker and Steenbok. Apart from antelope you can expect to see Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Wildog, Hippo, Crocodile, Warthog Baboon and Vervet Monkey. The large herds of elephant are migrants, moving between Angola and the Okavango Delta, outside the dry season sightings will be fewer. During the wet summer months, November-March, birdlife is prolific. After it rains various trees flower and bear fruit attracting an abundance of insects and creating a birding paradise. Over 400 bird species have been recorded in the Mahango Reserve. This area is remote with very little in the way of development. Apart from the main road running through the park, linking Namibia to Botswana, there are only two other “tracks”. The track to the east follows the river, it is approximately 15kms and is suitable for conventional vehicles. The track to the west is only suitable for 4x4 vehicles. This trail is approximately 31kms and follows the course of the two fossil rivers in the park , the Mahango and Thinderevu. The drive through this unspoilt bush is spectacular but it is important to know that these roads can be very sandy in the dry season and very slippery in the wet.

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Bwabwata National Park

The Bwabwata National (formerly the Caprivi Game Park) is known as 'a people's park' as it supports both large wildlife and human populations. This special arrangement benefits mankind and the animal kingdom equally, with conservation and rural community development both coming out as winners from sharing this spectacular area. Community game guards and resource monitors have been put in place, not only as a long-term conservation initiative, but to improve the quality of life for local Caprivian people, who now have new opportunities in ecotourism. Namibian wildlife also benefits from this protection with a steady increase in numbers, and this is highlighted by the relocating and restocking of rare species, such as Sitatunga and red Lechwe. This forward thinking should be applauded and Bwabwata National Park now enjoys a stability not dreamed of only a few years ago.
The park is 6,100km² and extends for about 180km from the Kavango River in the west to the Kwando River in the east. Access is easy as the park is located 200km east of Rundu or approximately 100km west of Katima Mulilo. The deciduous woodlands are dominated by trees such as wild seringa, copalwood and Zambezi teak. While the park is sanctuary to 35 large and numerous small game species, visitors are not likely to see many of these animals, as unfortunately vehicles are restricted to the road between Kavango and Eastern Caprivi. Animals likely to be seen though are elephant, roan and kudu; buffalo occur towards the west and as many as 339 bird species have been recorded in West Caprivi.
One of the best times in the year for excellent and reliable game watching is in October. It can be incredibly hot, but as it's been months since any rainfall, game concentrates on the last remaining waterholes along the Kwando River. A favorite is Horseshoe, as the name suggests, a large perennial oxbow lake with picturesque white-sand beaches, surrounded by Zambezi teak woodlands. Bwabwata is named after a village in the reserve and means 'the sound of bubbling water.'

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Popa Falls

Be warned, Popa falls are not falls at all, rather a series of rapids, waterways and islands on the Okavango River. When the river is low the highest visible drop is about 3m. There is walkway into the middle of the river, after this you are free to scramble over the rocks in the middle of the river. At this point the channel is about 1km wide with the river split into a series of channels making their way through the rocks. The campsite suffers from the inflated park charges, but is set among lovely grassed lawns, by the water's edge. This is a popular spot for travelers on the way to Botswana and a convenient stopping place when travelling between Kavango and East Caprivi. The area is protected as a national park but is very small and apart from bird life, a few hippo and some crocodile there is little wildlife to be seen.

 

 

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Mission Andara

The village of Andara is situated 200km east of Rundu in the Kavango Region of Namibia. The area is inhabited by the Hambukushu people who live as farmers and herders along the banks of the Kavango River. In 1909 the first missionaries arrived to Andara Mission but their work was not successful so they went back to Nyangana where they established a Mission. Then in 1913, Alexander Ndara, chief of the Hambukushu tribe, accepted and welcomed the Catholic Missionary Oblates – OMI. By visiting Chief Ndara and gaining his favor, the first priests were able to easily spread the Good News of God to the people. When founded, the Roman Catholic Mission was named Ndara Mission after the Chief, but today it is known as Andara. On 5 July 1914, the Magdalena Jiwa was the first person recorded to be baptized by Father Josef Gotthard on the river island Tahwe. Fr. Gotthard worked with Junior Wüst from 1921 to 1931 and with Fr. Frolich who would serve the next 69 years in Andara. Fr. Thanissen also worked with Fr. Frolich until 1966 when he was replaced by Fr. L.V. Lulsdorff (1966-1974), Fr. L. Baver and Fr. Kapirika (1975-1982), Kapp – OMI (1983-1992), and Fr. Henryk Ostrowski – Fidei Donum (1992-2006). Aside from the Roman Catholic faith, the first priests brought great things to Andara and the Mbukushu area. The Andara Catholic Hospital was founded in the 1960’s by Sister Katharina and later improved by Sr. Krisanta and Dr. Fisch. The early priests also built a youth hostel on the Mission grounds. In 1966, the hostel accommodated 130 students with the hostel mother Sr. Bernadete, the first Catholic nun at the Andara Mission. Coming from Oshikuku, Sr. Bernadete is, hitherto, the only Namibian sister to serve at Andara. The Andara Mission is also proud of its family for further accomplishments. From Andara, Fr. Gotthard went on to become the Archbishop of Windhoek. Fr. B. Haushiku was also a priest at Andara who later became Archbishop of Windhoek. Fr. Joseph Shikongo served at Andara for a short period and later became the first Bishop of Rundu. These are wonderful accomplishments for us to remember.

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Mudumu National Park

The Mudumu National Park is a park in Namibia, created in 1990 out of 1009.59 square kilometers of savannah, mopane woodlands, and marsh on the eastern shore of the Cuando River. Many animals can be found in the park including sitatunga, red lechwe, as well as elephants, buffalo, kudu, impala, roan antelope, and Burchell's zebra. Its waterways are inhabited by spotted-necked otter, hippo, tiger fish, and crocodile.
This expansive Park, proclaimed in 1990, is located on the eastern side of the Caprivi Strip. Its lifeline is the Kwando River, which flows along the western border of the Park. Along the river there are extensive floodplains, floating papyrus swamps and lush riverine forest. Away from the river one finds mixed mopane and teak woodlands, open grasslands and typical African savannah.
The birdlife here is a big attraction with 430 species seen – Coppery-tailed Coucal, Slaty Egret, Greater Swamp Warbler, Swamp Boubou and Brown Firefinch are some of the resident species. In summer, numbers are boosted by the tremendous amount of migratory species including flocks of colourful Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Copper Sunbird, Pennant-winged Nightjar and Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah.

 

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Mamili National Park

Wild – that’s the one word that best describes Mamili (Nkasa Lupala)National Park. There is nothing prissy about it, it doesn’t have fancy campsites and offers no guided tours. But it is an extraordinary piece of wilderness, waiting to be explored. Lush marshes, dense savannah and high river reeds mean that travelling through the area is a dream for 4x4 enthusiasts. During the dry winter months, large herds of elephant congregate on Nkasa and Lupala islands. But for much of the year, the park is awash with floodwater. Drive slowly through deep pools and avoid rivers where crocodiles lie in wait. Slip through thick black mud, so soft it is called cotton, and dice with the odds of getting stuck! If you have to wait while someone else digs the vehicle out, listen carefully. Nearby buffalo or elephant may be crossing the river. For anyone who relishes the adventures of raw, real Africa, Mamili (Nkasa Lupala) National Park is the place to be. In a vast arid country, Mamili (Nkasa Lupala) National Park holds the distinction of being the largest wetland area with conservation status in Namibia. The Mamili (Nkasa Lupala) was proclaimed in 1990, shortly before Namibia’s Independence. And there is much to celebrate about this wet wonderland. The 318-km2 Mamili (Nkasa Lupala) National Park protects the flora and fauna living within a complex channel of reed beds, lakes and islands that make up the Linyanti swamps. Spectacular herds of elephant, buffalo, red lechwe and reedbuck are among the highlights of any game-viewing experience. But be careful, the waters are also home to five-metre-long crocodiles and families of hippopotamus, which venture onto the floodplains at night to feed. During the rainy season, as much as 80% of the park can become flooded and inaccessible, and yet it remains a sanctuary for birds. With more species of birds recorded here than anywhere else in Namibia, Mamili (Nkasa Lupala) National Park is a bird-watchers paradise.

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Katima Mulilo

The small town of Katima Mulilo, in Namibia's Caprivi Strip, is located on the Zambezi River, with its lush riverine vegetation, and colourful tropical birds and monkeys.
As with most African borders that were unnaturally formed, the splitting of tribes into different countries resulted in cross border strife. In mid 1999 there was an uprising and calls for a separate independent state in the region

 

 

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Kwando River

The Kwando River forms the border between east and west Caprivi, 100 km west of Katima Mulilo. It also forms the border of both the Bwabwata and Mudumu National Parks. The Bwabwata National Park (formerly Caprivi Game Reserve) is an unspoilt wilderness stretching from the Kwando in the east to the Okavango in the west. Mudumu National Park lies east of the Kwando where it borders on Botswana, and further south and west is Mamili National Park. The wide range of habitats along the Kwando allow a variety of birding opportunities, with over 400 species recorded. A minimum of 2 days should be spent in this area. Game viewing in can be exceptional, with huge herds of Elephant present, particularly during the dry season (June-November). A 4x4 vehicle is a pre-requisite if you are planning to travel south of the B8 towards Horseshoe Lagoon.

 

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Kaudum National Park

Khaudum National Park is one of the few remaining wilderness areas in southern Africa. In this beautiful green park one can enjoy the real Kalahari far from the main tourist routes. For the adventurous tourist the park offers deep sand tracks, which surely require good orienteering and 4x4 driving skills. Elephants are abundant in the park, and especially in the dry season (Mai - September) the visitor will see plenty of them. The park represents the only protected area of the “Northern Kalahari Sandveld” in Namibia. Here migration routes of various migratory game species between Namibia, Botswana and Angola are linked. Above this, Khaudum National Park is one of the few refuges in which rare species such as African Wild Dogs and Roan Antelopes roam freely - underlining the important status of Khaudum National Park as a conservation area. This developing web page is thought to serve as a information platform for Khaudum National Park and its surrounding areas. Here you find information for travelling, but also on people's and animal's issues alike.

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Hoba Meteorite Surrounding

Lake Otjikoto

Part of an underground river system, the lake was exposed when the roof of what was a large dolomite cave fell in. The lake is small with a diameter of about 102m, but very deep, with a depth estimated to be in excess of 142m in places. The lake is situated near the town of Tsumeb.
During the First World War the Union of South Africa, still part of the British Empire, was ordered to invade German South West Africa. The German troops were heavily out-numbered by the Union forces, but managed to hold out for nearly a year before finally being forced to surrender. The final hostilities took place in the vicinity of Otjikoto and, rather than surrender their weapons and artillery to the enemy everything, including the heavy guns and ammunition wagons, was dumped into the lake. Many of these relics have since been recovered, but not all. The lake still contains various pieces of artillery and there are rumors that the German troops also disposed of their war chest in the same manner. Stories are told of a large safe, the edges and keyhole sealed with molten lead and containing 6 million goldmarks, being lowered into Lake Otjikoto. The safe has never been seen again.
The first Europeans to see Otjikoto were the Englishman Sir Francis Galton and the Swede Charles Anderson who discovered the lake by accident in 1850. The name is derived from the Otjiherero language and means deep hole. The San called it "Gaisis" which means very ugly because they were afraid of the deep water. When Galton and Anderson first stumbled on Otjikoto they went for a swim. The local Herero and Owambo people were much surprised because local belief was that nobody could survive the mysterious waters.

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Lake Guinas

Lake Guinas, is situated southwest of Otjikoto, a 50km (31miles) round trip from the main road, but it is usually bypassed in favour of Otjikoto. The detour is well worth the effort, as Guinas is not only deeper, but more scenic than its more famous counterpart.

 

 

 

 

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Tsumeb

Tsumeb lies in the so-called "Otavi Triangle"; the area between the towns of Tsumeb, Otavi in the south-west and Grootfontein in the south-east. All towns are some 60 kilometers apart from each other. The Otavi Triangle has a relatively high rainfall so a lot of the land is being cultivated for mostly maize and wheat, but also vegetables and fruit. Tsumeb looks quite green. The prettiest time is spring when the Jacaranda trees are in bloom. The "Garden Town" of Tsumeb, with its 15 000 inhabitants, is economically dependent on the mining industry. Even the bushmen found copper here, in a malachite hill, which they bartered for tobacco with the Ovambo. Around 1900, the industrial mining of copper, lead, silver, zinc and cadmium started. The ore deposits of Tsumeb - of volcanic origin - in fact, contain many more minerals, some of them rare ones. In total 217 different minerals were discovered. Nowhere else in the world can such a variety be found. The mine went bankrupt some years ago, but in the meantime operations have been taken up again. You can learn about the wonder world of minerals and crystals in the museum of Tsumeb's local history. The dedicated curator, Ilse Schatz, who founded the museum in 1975, can tell interesting stories from the colonial times of Tsumeb

 

 

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Tsumeb Museum

The museum lies in Main Street. It is a must for all those interested in geology or history. It informs extensively about the mining industry in Tsumeb and the town's history. The museum also organizes tours of the mine.

 

 

 

 

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Tsumeb Cultural Village

Located at the southern entrance to town, this community project is an open air museum that gives visitors an insight into the rural life of Namibian tribes. Always adding on new details, it displays the life of the majority of Namibians. It tell about their history and culture, shows their work and skills in arts and crafts. Local specialties are on offer, including oshikundu, a drink made from Mahangu (millet).

 

 

 

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Hoba Meteorite

Hoba (also known as Hoba West) (pron. "HOE-bah") is a meteorite that lies on the farm "Hoba West", not far from Grootfontein, in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia. It has been uncovered but, because of its large mass, has never been moved from where it fell. The main mass is estimated at over 60 tons, and it is the largest known meteorite (as a single piece) and the most massive naturally-occurring piece of iron known at the Earth's surface. The Hoba meteorite is thought to have landed less than 80,000 years ago. It is inferred that the Earth's atmosphere slowed the object down to the point that it fell to the surface at terminal velocity, thereby remaining intact and causing little excavation. The meteorite is unusual in that it is flat on both major surfaces, possibly causing it to have skipped across the top of the atmosphere in the way a flat stone skips on water.

 

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Khorab Memorial

The Khorab Memorial, dates back to the First World War and marks the spot where the cease-fire was signed at Khorab on July 9, 1915.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ghaub Caves

One- to five-hour walking trails meander across the farm, and the Ghaub Cave excursion explores the third-largest cave in Namibia, 38 m in depth with 2.5 km of chambers and passageways. Declared a national monument, the cave is a slippery, rock-clambering opportunity to experience ancient underworld growth. Stalactites and stalagmites glimmer and glow in their solidified water journeys. It takes a hundred years for one centimetre of stalactite to grow so in the cave you will be looking at millions of years of rock history. Roots of camel-thorn trees hang down and water droplets seep into the underground cavern, glistening against the ancient rock. The caves can only be visited with a guide and it takes between 1 to 2 hours. It is best to wear hiking boots. The entrance is a hole in the ground and there are low hanging rocks. It is warm and humid underground and not recommended for people who suffer from claustrophobia.

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