Boasting about 350,000 inhabitants, Windhoek is Namibia’s capital as well as its largest city. Rising in a verdant valley amidst the Auas mountains, at an altitude of 1,700 m, this pleasant town combines its elegant colonial tradition with a modern spirit. Its central location makes it the perfect gateway to the rest of the country.
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Day 2 — Windhoek → Etosha National Park
Etosha is Namibia's most famous national park. Covering an area of more than 22,000 square km, it’s a boundless, verdant savannah interspersed with bush. At its heart is the Etosha Pan – the largest salt pan in Africa, a landmark visible from outer space. The locals call it “The Place of Mirages”. The game drives take place along the routes connecting the many watering holes where the animals come to drink. You will have the chance to catch sight of elephants, giraffes and antelopes and, if you are lucky enough, even some large predators.
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Day 4 — Etosha National Park → Kaokoland (Kunene)
the seminomadic Himbas have lost a large portion of their land to farmers, engineers, miners and many were displaced during the wars that raged between Namibia and Angola. The dwindling number of pastoralists that still exist in their natural environment are protected as far as possible by a “buffer zone”, a sort of “educational tribe” where tourists can get a better understanding of their lifestyle, without interfering with those still living in their natural environment. The income that this specific tribe generates from the visits goes towards the education of orphaned Himba children and assists the tribe in giving them a chance to learn about their own culture and heritage.
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Day 8 — Damaraland → Swakopmund
Swakopmund is the largest coastal town in the country, nestled between a sea of dunes and the Atlantic Ocean. Founded by the Germans in 1892 as the main port for their colony, it is a pleasant town with colonial buildings in German style and excellent restaurants; but above all, it is an ideal base for numerous excursions in the surrounding area. The city offers numerous outdoor activities, such as surfing, fishing, skydiving, quad biking, and desert excursions.
