LAND OF
CONTRAST Namibia is a land of many contrasting landscapes. This unique country is characterised by harsh desert and semi-desert conditions – the reason why it is the second-least populated country in the world. But apart from two deserts, ancient geological formations and vast savanna woodlands you will also find wetlands with abundant vegetation. The extreme beauty of this southern African country with its barren deserts, mighty sand dunes, rugged coastline and luscious wetlands makes it an ideal destination for explorers who appreciate nature’s artistry.
I
n the west, along the whole length of the country, lies the harsh landscape of the Namib Desert next to the Atlantic Ocean. In the central Namib the perfectly shaped sand dunes of the Namib Sand Sea meet the sea. The extensive dune fields are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The proximity of the desert to the cold Benguela Current causes nightly fogs to rise from the ocean. The fog moisture creates a unique environment which sustains an amazing biodiversity. The Namib Desert is alive with an array of endemic species that have adapted to the arid conditions. The northern part of the coast is named Skeleton Coast for the many ill-fated ships which floundered along these inhospitable shores, their remains relentlessly battered by the elements and the surf. Wildlife, however, thrives in this desert land almost entirely devoid of water. The champion survivor
30
is the endemic Welwitschia mirabilis, an extraordinary plant that lives for hundreds of years. Some specimens are thought to be 2000 years old. Welwitschias occur only in the Namib Desert, along its entire length from northern South Africa to southern Angola. Turning to the south, you can expect to encounter bugeyed desert rain frogs and what is known as fairy circles, open areas for which scientists can find no explaination. You can also visit a once forbidden land, now known as Tsau // Khaeb National Park (formerly Sperrgebiet, a restricted area). Its Succulent Karoo Biome is a global biodiversity hotspot. The southwest of Namibia is part of this unparalleled ecoregion which boasts the world’s widest variety of succulent flora: a total of 6356 plant species, 40% of which are found nowhere else on earth. More than 900 of these species are threatened with extinction.
