Wildlife in Namibia

Characterised by rugged mountain ranges, barren valleys and dramatic escarpments, Damaraland is a pristine wilderness that is largely unpopulated. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is a region of wide-open spaces and jaw-dropping vistas with a network of caves that are home to a myriad of rock art. Damaraland is also one of the likely first places you will come across Namibia’s wildlife as it plays host to desert-adapted elephants and black rhino. A great chance to track these desert beasts by 4x4 or on foot for those looking for a bit more of a thrill.

The Namib Desert itself is often referred to as the world’s oldest desert and it is within this vast expanse that the iconic landmarks of Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Namib Naukluft Park are located. The landscape is every bit the spectacular picture postcard, with brilliant red dunes set against a vivid blue sky and endless deserts punctuated by skeletal trees and the odd incongruous breakout of vegetation. 

Etosha National Park is the home to Namibia wildlife with its silver salt pans shimmering in the heat haze covering a huge proportion of the northern landmass, and open savannah plains, acacia woodlands, and water holes characterise the south. This is one of Africa’s biggest game reserves and during the dry season, the water holes to the south attract impala, wildebeest, and zebra. Being such a dry country the Namibia’s wildlife relies on the permanent water that is often pumped to the surface from boreholes underground. These man-made waterholes are the life blood for the wildlife of this region and provide the perfect backdrop for the wildlife traveller as a diversity of species gather around a waterhole at any one time.

At first glance, Namibia may seem like a dry and desolate country with not much in the way of wildlife, however, if you know what you are doing, you will see a host of endemic animals that will spark the imagination from black backed jackals and ostrichesm, to desert beetles that drink moisture from the dew that they trap on their legs. Some of the ‘bigger hitters’ do also compete with the traditional east African safari destinations, with herds of desert-adapted elephants, rhino, lion, as well as the largest population of cheetah on the continent. Spotting these beasts to the backdrop that Namibia affords is truly a treat for any safari-goer.