Namib-Naukluft park is Namibia’s largest conservation area contains some of the country’s most iconic attractions: towering sand dunes at Sossusvlei, the imposing canyon at Sesriem, forgotten shipwrecks and ghost towns along the icy Atlantic coast, stark inselbergs and mountain ranges, and lichen-encrusted gravel plains.
Evidence of Stone Age life in the Kuiseb River dates back 200 000 years. Other archaeological finds indicate that the area was used by semi-nomadic communities when rain provided enough grazing for animals. The Topnaar people still live along the Kuiseb River inside the park and were guaranteed rights of residence by Queen Victoria more than a century ago.
Namib-Naukluft National Park spans a large area along the coast of Namibia. Its southern part is in the ǁKaras region, its northern part in Erongo, and the main part is in Hardap. The western part of it, the Namib Sand Sea, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History:
Namib-Naukluft, the Namib Desert Park was proclaimed in 1907 as Game Reserve number 3 by German Governor Friedrich von Lindequist initially as a buffer zone to restrict English sovereignty to Walvis Bay. The Naukluft section was created to serve as a sanctuary for Hartmann zebra, which are endemic to Namibia. The amalgamation of these two parks with state land was proclaimed as the Namib-Naukluft Park in 1979. The most significant change in boundaries occurred in 1986 when the old Diamond Area number 2 and a portion of Diamond Area number 1 were incorporated into the park.
Namibia’s largest conservation area contains some of the country’s most iconic attractions: towering sand dunes at Sossusvlei, the imposing canyon at Sesriem, forgotten shipwrecks and ghost towns along the icy Atlantic coast, stark inselbergs and mountain ranges, and lichen-encrusted gravel plains.
Evidence of Stone Age life in the Kuiseb River dates back to 200 000 years. Other archaeological finds indicate that the area was used by semi-nomadic communities when rain provided enough grazing for animals. The Topnaar people still live along the Kuiseb River inside the park and were guaranteed rights of residence by Queen Victoria more than a century ago.
Oryx, Hartmann zebra, Giraffe, Springbok, Brown hyaena, Leopard, Baboon. The 348 bird species recorded include Lappet-faced Vulture, Ludwig’s Bustard, Rüppell’s Korhaan, Dune Lark, Herero Chat and African Black Oystercatcher.
Vegetation:
Namib Desert, Succulent Karoo and Nama Karoo biomes. Vegetation types: Southern Desert, Central Desert,Desert/Dwarf Shrub Transition, Central-Western Escarpment and Inselbergs, Succulent Steppe, Dwarf Shrub Savannah. Welwitschia (Welwitschia mirabilis), camel-thorn (Acacia erioloba), shepherd’s tree (Boscia albitrunca), lichens and Commiphora spp.
There are many camp sites in the Namib-naukluft park, some so small that only one group can stay over. You need a permit to drive to them as well as a permit to stay overnight. With the exception of the sites listed here, you will only find a long-drop toilet and a few refuse bins there, but no water or electricity.
The larger sites with more infrastructure are:
Outside the National Park: On the edge of the park there are several private camp sites:
Overview
What to See
Things to do
Where to stay
Visit Namibia
Journey into Namibia, Africa's best-kept safari destination secret
Recommended Itineraries Just for You
<
>
Visit Africa
Destinations
Visit Namibia
We are Social!
Africa
Visit Africa
Visit Uganda
Visit Tanzania
Visit Zimbabwe
Visit South Africa
Visit Kenya
Visit Africa Copyright © 2019 All Rights Reserved. Visit Africa X Kubwa Five Safaris Limited Prime Partnership.
Visit Egypt
Visit Africa is a leading tourism company in Africa, that profiles every tourist destination, in every country, in the African Continent; Destination, How to get there, Attractions, Things to do, How to get around, itinerary pricing and Where to stay. We partner with other leading tour/ safari, travel, leisure and hospitality companies and agencies, for the best tourism experience in Africa.
Wildlife in Africa