Namibia: Deserts and rivers

The Namibian Kalahari spreads across the southern and south-eastern part of the country, a vast semi-arid basin of reddish dunes anchored by vegetation where the shrub savanna creates landscapes of silent, desert beauty. Despite what its name might suggest, it is not a true desert: rainfall, though sparse and irregular, supports a vegetative cover of acacia trees, Kalahari grass and thorny shrubs that sustain a surprisingly rich wildlife. Gemsbok (oryx), wildebeest with paler coats than their southern subspecies counterparts, jackals, mongooses and a variety of raptors move among the dunes in a scene of boundless tranquility. The Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, shared with Botswana and South Africa in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, offers safaris among some of the most iconic red dunes in southern Africa, with sightings of black-maned lions that have adapted to arid conditions. The luxury lodges and tented camps in Namibia's Kalahari region organise dawn game drives, guided walks with San bushmen to learn traditional survival techniques, and nights under skies of extraordinary clarity, far from any light pollution. The Namibian Kalahari is an ideal choice for travellers seeking solitude, cultural authenticity and African landscapes less visited than the great parks of the north.

From the gentle, reddish dunes of the Kalahari, your journey leads into the even more dramatic and untouched landscapes of the Namib Desert. Wide-open plains, scattered acacia trees, and vast horizons accompany the early part of your drive. A convenient stop can be made in Mariental, before continuing westward. The scenery gradually becomes more arid and striking, with long, remote stretches and very few settlements along the way. A pleasant break is possible in Maltahöhe, a small town with a touch of colonial charm. From here onward, the landscape grows wilder, with the first dune formations, rugged mountains, and expansive gravel plains coming into view. As you approach the Namib-Naukluft area, the colors and contrasts of the desert intensify. You will arrive in Sossusvlei, famous for its towering dunes, white clay pans, and extraordinary light conditions – a true highlight of any Namibia journey. Sossusvlei is the iconic heart of the Namib-Naukluft National Park and one of the most photographed landscapes on the African continent, famous for its sand dunes — among the tallest in the world, some exceeding 300 metres — that turn deep red-orange at sunrise and sunset. The name means 'place where water collects but does not flow away' in the Nama language, referring to the white clay pan at the base of the dunes, flooded only in the rare years of heavy rainfall when the Tsauchab River manages to reach it. Adjacent to Sossusvlei lies Deadvlei — the 'dead valley' — a grey-white clay amphitheatre dotted with the carcasses of camel thorn trees (Acacia erioloba) that died over 900 years ago, their black skeletons rising in spectacular contrast against the red dunes and blue sky: one of Africa's most emblematic photographic subjects. The dune known as Big Daddy, around 325 metres high, can be climbed on foot and offers a breathtaking panorama of the entire valley from its summit. Dawn is the prime time to visit: the raking light sets the dune crests ablaze while shadows still saturate the valleys. Access is through Sesriem camp, the park's only entry point, where the main lodges and campsites are clustered. The distance from Sesriem to the Sossusvlei pan is around 65 km, the last five of which can only be covered in four-wheel-drive vehicles or on the park shuttles. Sossusvlei combines well with Fish River Canyon and a stop at Solitaire, a small desert outpost famous for its apple pies.

Walvis Bay is Namibia's main port and a city with a dual personality: on one side an industrial and commercial hub, on the other the gateway to one of the African coast's most extraordinary natural spectacles. The Walvis Bay Lagoon, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, hosts tens of thousands of greater flamingos each year feeding in its shallow, brackish waters, alongside pelicans, cormorants and over 70 species of migratory birds from the northern hemisphere. Catamaran excursions in the bay are among the most exciting experiences on the Namibian coast: dolphin sightings, Cape fur seals that clamber aboard, hand-fed pelicans, and freshly harvested oysters served directly on the boat. The Namib sand dunes reach the ocean's edge just south of the city, creating the surreal contrast of desert meeting sea. A few kilometres away, the Walvis Bay Saltworks — one of Africa's largest salt extraction plants — features evaporation pans coloured deep pink by halophilic bacteria, visible even from the air. Walvis Bay is usually visited in combination with Swakopmund, around thirty kilometres away.

Johannesburg is one of South Africa’s most dynamic metropolises, born from the gold rush and today the country’s economic heart. The city reflects its transformation through constantly evolving districts, where industrial heritage and contemporary creativity coexist. In the inner city, Maboneng stands out as one of the most vibrant creative districts, with art galleries, cafés, and markets such as Market on Main. Not far away, Apartheid Museum offers one of the most powerful narratives of South Africa’s recent history. To the south, Soweto represents the city’s deepest cultural soul: here you can visit Nelson Mandela’s former home on Vilakazi Street and the moving Hector Pieterson Memorial. From an institutional perspective, Constitution Hill embodies the country’s journey toward justice and human rights. The city’s contemporary face is also expressed through the urban art scene of Newtown and the financial dynamism of Sandton, the economic hub and symbol of global Johannesburg. Often seen only as a gateway to African safaris, Johannesburg is in fact a complete destination, capable of surprising those who take the time to discover its complex, resilient, and deeply cosmopolitan soul.

Chobe National Park was Botswana's first national park, established in 1967, and one of southern Africa's most celebrated for its continent-leading elephant population — estimated at over 120,000. The park encompasses diverse habitats, from the Chobe River floodplains in the north to the arid Savute area in the centre. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, buffalo and more than 450 bird species populate this exceptional ecosystem. Game drives and boat safaris allow visitors to explore contrasting environments in a single stay: Chobe is an unmissable stop in Botswana.

Victoria Falls rises on the banks of the Zambezi, beside one of the most spectacular waterfalls on Earth, where the river plunges over a hundred metres and throws up a curtain of spray visible for miles — the roar that local peoples call 'Mosi-oa-Tunya', the smoke that thunders. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the falls are admired from the trails of Victoria Falls National Park, amid hanging rainbows and rainforest fed by perpetual mist. The town that shares the name of the falls is the beating heart of African adventure: sunset cruises on the Zambezi, panoramic helicopter flights, white-water rafting through the gorge and safaris in the surrounding reserves all begin here. The famous Victoria Falls Bridge, suspended over the chasm, links Zimbabwe to Zambia and hosts daring bungee jumps. Colonial-era lodges still carry the atmosphere of the great explorers, while elephants and antelope wander freely nearby. Victoria Falls is the perfect gateway to an Africa of water, wildlife and wonder, where nature reveals its full power.