The newest destination to be added to the Living Planet repertoire, Namibia is the most arid country in southern Africa (under 50mm rain on the coast and 10% humidity in winter) yet it also possesses tropical forest in the north east. This is a country offering a wide variety of situations and experiences.
Field Study Locations
Running north-south along the country’s 600km length the country divides into four distinct topographical regions: The Namib Desert – a 50km -140 km wide coastal desert extending along the entire coastline and interspersed with dune belts, dry river beds and deeply eroded canyons; the central plateau, running parallel to the desert with an average altitude of 1,000m – 2,000m, consisting of rugged mountain ranges, rocky outcrops, sand-filled valleys and endless plains; to the east of this, the fringes of the Kalahari Desert, which extends out of Botswana; to the north-east lie the dense bush-covered plains, which include the Etosha National park and the high rainfall areas of Kavango and Caprivi, typified by tropical forests, perennial rivers and woodland savannah.
Where?
Such is the size of Namibia that incorporating all the country’s best known highlights into a single visit is rather ambitious. As such two itineraries have been devised to minimise travel but maximise the experience of this extraordinary country. The first itinerary
Northern Namibia takes in takes in the northern part of the Namib Desert, along the Skeleton Coast and inland to Etosha National Park. Our second itinerary
Southern Namibia focuses on the southern region of the country from the Kalahari to the Namib Desert and features Fish River Canyon and the sand dunes of Sossusvlei.
With Whom?
The visit will be managed by a local team vetted by our staff. You will be able to capitalise on the locations to suit the interests of your group. You are the leader but at no stage need you have any concerns. Our Code of Practice, provided for all groups, clearly indicates the responsibilities and expectations. We also provide a Code of Conduct for you to copy to your students. Nearer to departure you’ll be provided with detailed information relating to your travel and accommodation.
When?
Any time is a good time for Namibia because the cold Benguela current modifies the desert climate. Being a southern hemisphere country the seasons are reversed so that our summer period is an excellent time to visit. Their winters are usually very dry, mild to warm and their summers (Oct-May) can be hot and sometimes humid (50 – 80%). The main rainy season is January to March but figures can be misleading as the rain is of the convection type, highly variable and irregularly distributed.
To Do What?
The choice is yours. You can concentrate on either field studies or recreational activities, or combine the two. Alternatively you can devise a tailor-made visit or even take part in conservation work. We are in a position to advise on all of these approaches.