Recently, I was given the privilege of being invited on a weekend break to Namibia – taking in The Namib Desert, Windhoek and Swakopmud – What an amazingly beautiful and inspiring country awaits you here. Even without travelling further North or South to the areas of Etosha or Soussusvlei etc, I became aware of the fact that one does not need heaps and weeks of time to take in and appreciate the power and beauty of this wonderful country.
Although I would have given my left arm for more time to explore and see the more remote parts of Namibia, I was still awe struck and pleased by what I was able to experience in a short, somewhat rushed 2 days. We arrived at Windhoek Airport and were met by our lovely guide/driver. He took us on a mini tour of Windhoek and gave us a brief history of the country and daily life as it is now. Namibia is a massive expanse of land with a population of only 1.8 million people, so if it’s space, peace and stunning beauty you are after, this is undoubtedly the place for you.
After our short and sweet tour, we were delivered to the historical and gorgeous Windhoek Station where we boarded the Desert Express Train, bound overnight for Swakopmund, – a small and quaint town lying on the coast. Although not overly fancy, the train was fun, sociable and comfortable – however, it was the scenery en route, if nothing else, that was absolutely awe inspiring and made the trip worth it. (The bathrooms were tiny though – not a luxury experience) To paint a picture, when we left Windhoek around lunch time, we were in the Kalahari Desert region – there had been a lot of rain and the bush was emerald green……..then upon waking the following morning, as far as the eye could see were sweeping views of bright orange sand dunes – known as the world famous Namib Desert – it is so magnificent, one does not know where to look – this is a place where time stands still. The train stopped for a while and were given the opportunity to walk up one of the dunes – not for the faint hearted as they are really steep and higher than they look, but the view from the top makes all that panting well worth the journey – I couldn’t take enough photos and was amazed to look around me and see that I, the people with me and the train were completely alone in this barren and beautiful land. The Desert has a magic about it that can only be understood when standing right there, soaking up the stillness.
It is possible to experience this on a short weekend if need be, but I recommend spending at least a week or two and venturing further North, as the sights just get better and better as you go along. After arriving in Swakopmund, we were again taken on a short and interesting tour – Swakopmund is situated in between the sparkling blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Dunes of the Namib Desert – it is very surreal to see such a stark contrast in the landscapes surrounding you. The town itself is small and historical with gorgeous architecture and wonderful people, surprisingly full of cultural diversity having the local and German influence.
For those with a bit of adventure in their spirits, quad biking in the Namib Desert is an absolute must. The quad biking is operated by various companies straight out of Swakopmund and can be taken as an afternoon activity – we were escorted in a group in single file and followed our guide who took us on a roller coaster of excitement, 30 odd kilometres into the desert – up and down, around and around – it was amazing. Blue sky, orange sand with the most amazing contours and ending off with a cool drink and a rest whilst taking in the views of the ocean – one has to blink, for fear it is not real. Desert Explorers was the company to host us, but when there you can discuss with your guest house or hotel and they can point you in the right direction.
From Swakopmund, you can either fly or drive north to the Skeleton Coast, Etosha Pan and many other amazing destinations. I have not flown this leg, but I can imagine that flying in a light aircraft over this amazing region must be an experience you will never forget……….