Namibia

Bwabwata National Park is located in the Northeastern part of Namibia between the Kavango and Kwando rivers forming the wider Kavango-Zambezi conservation landscape. The Park lies in the narrow northeastern part of Namibia known as the Caprivi Strip within the Kavango East and Zambezi regions. Unlike many African national parks Bwabwata is amazing to explore and covers about 6,100–6,274 square kilometres stretching between the Okavango River in the west and the Kwando River in the east, with Angola to the north and Botswana to the south. The Park includes wildlife animals which move across international borders between Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe making Bwabwata part of a much larger regional conservation system. The Park includes the Okavango River that forms the western side of the park with floodplains that support a particularly aquatic, wetland and riverine habitats. The Mahango and Buffalo areas on the western side are especially important for biodiversity. Bwabwata's western wetlands are also ecologically connected to the broader Okavango system. The Kwando River forms the eastern ecological boundary of the park with floodplains and surrounding woodlands which provide habitats for elephants, buffalo, antelope, predators and numerous bird species. Together, the Okavango and Kwando rivers make Bwabwata quite different from Namibia's famous arid parks such as Etosha and the Namib-Naukluft known to have floodplains, woodland, grassland, sandy soils and old drainage channels. The vegetation around the park includes; the Zambezi teak, False mopane, Camel-thorn, Leadwood, Jackal-berry, Mangosteen, Knob-thorn, Makalani palms. Closer to the rivers, reeds, papyrus and floodplain vegetation become more prominent. The resulting combination of woodland, grassland, riverine forest and wetland creates a mosaic of habitats capable of supporting a remarkable range of wildlife. Wildlife that can be watched in the park include; Elephants, Buffalo, Antelope, lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena, Africa, wild dogs Sable antelope, Roan antelope, Red lechwe, Common reedbuck, sitatunga, Impala, Kudu and other woodland species. Other than wildlife, travelers can watch bird species i.e Wattled crane, African skimmer, Pel's fishing owl, Western-banded snake eagle, Wood owl, Narina trogon, Cape parrot, Red-billed oxpecker, Yellow-billed oxpecker. There are various things travelers can do in the Park and these include; Game drives watching elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, antelope, African wild dog. You can also do a boat trip on the Kwando River, Explore the Okavango River and Mahango area, birdwatching, Look for African wild dogs, Visit the Kwando and community conservation areas, Enjoy a sunset safari, Go camping, Take wildlife photographs, Visit Popa Falls Best time to visit the Park Bwabwata National Park can be visited anytime around the year although the best time to visit the park is during the dry season in the months of June to October as during this period, rainfall is low, vegetation becomes less dense and wildlife tends to concentrate around the Okavango and Kwando rivers, making animals easier to spot.

Etosha National Park is one of Africa’s remarkable wildlife destinations located in the north-central part of Namibia with a vast white salt pan, open savanna landscapes, abundant wildlife and waterholes where animals gather usually in the dry season. The Park covers an area of about 22,935 square kilometres. The Park's name “Etosha” is derived from the Ondonga word Etotha, traditionally interpreted as meaning “the place where no plants grow.” The name reflects the enormous, pale salt pan that dominates the central part of the park. Today, Etosha is a major destination for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, bird-watchers, researchers, and tourists from around the world. Its combination of dramatic scenery, exceptional wildlife, and conservation importance makes it a symbol of Namibia's natural heritage. Etosha National Park is situated in the Northern part of Namibia primarily around the enormous Etosha Pan with scape is predominantly flat and open, although some hills occur around Halali and in the western part of the park. The park contains a mixture of salt pans, smaller depressions, grasslands, shrublands, and savanna habitats. The most distinctive geographical feature is the Etosha Pan, a huge, shallow depression covered with salt and other mineral deposits. The pan covers approximately 4,730 square kilometres and forms the visual and ecological heart of the park. The park includes a geological history of ancient and complex biodiversity very amazing to adventure. The Etosha Pan The Etosha Pan is the defining feature of the national park. Its bright, chalky-white surface contrasts sharply with the surrounding grasslands and vegetation. The pan is generally dry for much of the year, creating an almost desert-like environment. When rainfall and seasonal water flows are sufficient, however, temporary wetlands can develop. These changes have a major influence on bird populations and other wildlife. The enormous size and open nature of the pan also create beautiful visual effects. Heat shimmer and mirages can appear above the surface, while animals moving along the edges of the pan can sometimes be seen from considerable distances. Although the pan itself provides limited permanent water and vegetation, the surrounding areas contain numerous waterholes. These water sources are central to the park's wildlife ecology. Wildlife of Etosha Etosha National Park includes various wildlife animal species that can be watched and these include; African elephants, Lions, Black rhinoceroses, White Rhinoceroses, Leopards, Giraffes, Cheetahs, Springbok, Gemsbok or oryx, Blue wildebeest, Plains zebra, Burchell's zebra, Eland, Red hartebeest, Black-faced impala, Damara dik-dik. Other than wildlife animals, travelers can watch may species of birds as they fly from one tree to another and these include; waterbirds, Flamingos, pelicans, storks, cranes and other species like Woolly-necked stork, Lappet-faced vulture, Hartlaub's spurfowl, Rüppell's parrot, Meyer’s parrot, White-tailed shrike, Carp's tit. Vegetation in Etosha National Park includes Salt pans, Grasslands, Shrublands, Mopane vegetation, Savannah, Woodland areas, Nama Karoo, grasslands, Kalahari woodland etc. The dry season is considered as one of the best periods for traditional safari viewing and this happens in the months of May to October as a particularly favorable period for game viewing because the cooler, drier conditions which encourage animals to concentrate around available water sources. The dry season also produces the classic Etosha landscape: pale earth, sparse vegetation, intense sunlight as animals gather around isolated water sources. The Rainy Season The rainy season creates a very different Etosha experience making the Grass and other vegetation greener, temporary pools appear and insects become more abundant. Migratory and water-associated birds may also arrive in large numbers. Best Time to Visit Etosha National Park can be visited anytime around the year although the Best Time to visit the Park is during the months of May to October as travelers get to view various wildlife animals as they gather at the water holes to break their thirst. November to April This period generally includes more rainfall and greener vegetation. Wildlife becomes more dispersed, but bird-watching can be excellent, and temporary wetlands may attract flamingos, pelicans and other waterbirds. Tourism Activities to do in the Park While in Etosha National Park, travelers can engage in various activities which include; Game drives, Wildlife photography, Bird-watching, Waterhole viewing, Night wildlife viewing, Guided safari drives. With an area of approximately 49,768 square kilometres, Namib-Naukluft is Namibia’s largest conservation area. It is famous internationally for the towering dunes of Sossusvlei, the stark landscape of Deadvlei, the dramatic Sesriem Canyon, and the surrounding Namib Desert. The park also contains the Namib Sand Sea with diverse geological, ecological and evolutionary importance.

Namib-Naukluft National Park is located in the western and south western part of Namibia including various landscapes i.e orange sand dunes, gravel plains, rocky mountains, deep canyons, ephemeral rivers, coastal desert environments and isolated rock formations. The Park covers an area of approximately 49,768 square kilometres with famous towering dunes of Sossusvlei, the stark landscape of Deadvlei, dramatic Sesriem Canyon and the surrounding Namib Desert. The Park is more than a landscape of sand dunes with plants and animals fond of wandering around their natural habitat. Namib-Naukluft National Park is situated along Namibia’s Atlantic coast stretching inland across a large portion of the Namib Desert including parts of the Namib Sand Sea, the Naukluft Mountains and extensive desert plains. The park covers approximately 49,768 km² making it Namibia’s largest protected area with landscapes extending from the coastal desert toward the escarpment and mountain regions further inland. Visitors can move from immense dune fields to rocky mountains, river valleys and gravel plains within the same protected area. The Namib-Naukluft landscape is therefore best understood as a collection of interconnected desert ecosystems. understood as a collection of interconnected desert ecosystems. The Namib Desert The Namib-Naukluft Park protects a major part of the Namib Desert, one of the world's oldest and driest deserts. The Namib extends along the Atlantic coast of southwestern Africa and is influenced strongly by the cold Benguela Current. The cold ocean contributes to the formation of coastal fog, which is one of the most important sources of moisture for life in the region. Unlike many deserts, where rainfall is the primary source of water, portions of the Namib receive extremely little precipitation and depend heavily on atmospheric moisture that combines extreme aridity, intense sunlight, strong winds, shifting sand, fog, daytime temperatures, low nighttime temperatures. The Namib Sand Sea One of the most important features of the park is the Namib Sand Sea a coastal desert including extensive dune fields influenced by fog. It covers about 3,077,700 hectares with an additional buffer zone of about 899,500 hectares. The Namib Sand Sea is remarkable because its sand did not simply form from the erosion of nearby rocks. The result is a huge dynamic landscape of dunes, gravel plains, rocky hills, inselbergs, coastal flats and temporary drainage systems. Sossusvlei The Park includes the Sossusvlei which is the most famous attraction. Sossusvlei is a large clay and salt pan surrounded by enormous sand dunes i.e deep orange and red dunes that beautiful at sunrise and sunset creating strong contrasts between the illuminated sand and darker slopes. The surrounding dunes can reach extraordinary heights making the region one of the world's great desert landscapes. Deadvlei Deadvlei is located close to the Sossusvlei and also a white clay pan containing the remains of ancient camel-thorn trees that died centuries ago after environmental conditions changed and water from the Tsauchab River could no longer reach the area sufficiently to sustain them. Due to the fact that the environment is extremely dry, the dead trees have decomposed very slowly. This unique combination makes Deadvlei one of Namibia's most recognizable landscapes. The Sand Dunes The dunes around Sossusvlei are among the defining features of Namib-Naukluft. Their colors range from pale orange to deep red. The color is associated with iron-rich minerals in the sand, with older sands generally becoming more intensely oxidized. Wind is the principal force shaping the dunes. Wind direction, sand supply and the physical characteristics of the landscape determine the form and movement of individual dunes. The dunes are therefore not static mountains of sand. They are constantly being modified by atmospheric processes. This continuing movement is one reason the Namib Sand Sea has such outstanding geological importance. Other safari attractions in the Park include; the Sesriem Canyon, Naukluft Mountains, Rivers and Water in the Desert, Climate of the Park is extremely arid. Climate of the Park varies i.e rainfall is highly unpredictable and varies across the park. Some areas receive only very small amounts of annual rainfall. During the day, exposed desert surfaces can become extremely hot. At night, temperatures may fall considerably, especially during the cooler months. There is fog too as moist air from the Atlantic Ocean moves inland forming fog when it interacts with the colder coastal environment. The floral species around the Park are Welwitschia mirabilis, Camel-thorn, Shepherd's tree, Commiphora species, Lichens and various desert grasses and shrubs in the different ecological zones i.e the Namib Desert, Succulent Karoo and Nama Karoo biomes. Wildlife animals you watch include; Oryx or gemsbok, Springbok, Hartmann's mountain zebra, Giraffe, Brown hyena, Leopard, Baboon, Black rhinoceros, reptiles, many insects and other invertebrates. There are more that 348 bird species i.e lappet-faced vulture, Ludwig's bustard, Rüppell's korhaan, dune lark, Herero chat and African black oystercatcher. The best time to visit Namib-Naukluft National Park Namib-Naukluft National Park can be visited any time around the year although the Best time to visit the park is during the months of May to October as there are Clear skies, very little rain, cooler temperatures, excellent conditions for visiting Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. November–March are Hotter and more unpredictableas summer rains produce dramatic skies and occasional desert greenery, but heavy rain can affect some roads. September is probably the best month to visit as the terrain is very dry, excellent sunrise/sunset conditions and ideal for exploring the dunes.