Namibia

Grandiose, magical, sumptuous, "breathtaking", fascinating... Words fail to express the traveler's feelings about Namibia's landscapes. Not only are they magnificent, they are also highly varied, combining sunrise over the red dunes of Sossusvlei (Namib Desert), the softness of the Kalahari dunes, the blinding whiteness of the Etosha pan, sunset over the immense plateaus and green and ochre mountains of Damaraland, the lush Caprivi strip leading to the famous Victoria Falls, the bewitching Brandberg mountains, the impressive Fish River canyon..

Namibia is a multicultural country with several ethnic groups. The Ovambo (50%) are in the majority and practice agriculture. The Kavango (9%) live along the Kavango River, while the Herero and Himba (7%) are pastoralists known for their traditional dress. The Nama and Damara (5%) speak Khoekhoe and have a pastoral culture. The San (3%) are indigenous hunter-gatherers. Finally, the Tswana (1%) and Whites (5-6%, Afrikaners and Germans) add to the country's linguistic and cultural diversity.

Namibia is criss-crossed by numerous rivers, the most important of which are the Orange River, which forms the border with South Africa, the Kunene River in the north bordering Angola, the Okavango in the east, which continues its journey towards the famous delta in Boswana, and finally the Zambezi, which forms the border between Namibia and Zambia before plunging down towards Victoria Falls.

Namibia also boasts a highly distinctive flora that has adapted to the most arid of locations.
Although Namibia is generally associated with the desert, it also boasts a varied ecosystem. The famous "big five" (lion, elephant, rhinoceros, leopard and buffalo) can be seen throughout the country.
The north, with its high rainfall in certain seasons, is home to very wet biotopes, naturally accompanied by a wealth of flora and fauna.
Etosha National Park is one of Africa's largest reserves (22912 km2), with 114 species of mammals, over 100 reptiles and more than 340 birds. These include elephant, zebra, wildebeest, lion, springbok, oryx (Namibia's emblem), giraffe, kudu, impala, the rare wild dog, hyena, rhinoceros, leopard, cheetah and more.
Namibia's wildlife is also exceptional in the ocean. Its coast receives migrating whales, is home to several colonies of Cape sea lions and is frequented by dolphins, penguins and sharks.
The country has three types of climate: desert, semi-arid and subtropical. From December to April, this period corresponds to a very hot summer (up to 45°C in desert areas) and a rainy season (infrequent, short, but abundant in the north); from May to September, it's winter (very pleasant during the day and cold at night, down to -10°C in July at altitude or in the desert). The warm but pleasant dry season, from October to December, is the best time to observe wildlife.
Namibia is the ideal destination for those wishing to combine the discovery of wildlife and wide-open, untouched spaces, far from the hustle and bustle of tourism.