Namibia Corporate Incentive Travel

The Republic of Namibia is bordered by the Atlantic ocean in the west, Angola and Zambia in the north, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the east and South Africa to the south and east.

The country offers wonderful opportunities for tourists and corporate incentive travel, and among the most visited places the Fish River Canyon, Etosha Pan, the Caprivi Strip, and on the coast the well known towns of Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Lüderitz.

Namibia gained it’s independence from South Africa on 21 March 1990 after the drawn out Namibian War of Independence.

The largest city, and also the capital, is Windhoek.

It is often called names such as “the land God made in anger” or “the ageless land” and it’s amazing variety of landscapes will fill you with amazement.

It is the second less densely populated country in the world, after Mongolia.

Geography and Climate

It is the 34th largest country in the world with 825,418 square km, or 318,696 square miles of land just begging to be explored.

There are 5 main geographical areas – Kalahari Desert, Bushveld, Namib Desert, Great Escarpment and Central plateau.

Kalahari Desert

Perhaps the best know feature in Namibia, this desert is shared with Botswana and Shout Africa and offers a wide variety of localized environments.

It ranges from areas that really defies any belief that it could possibly be desert, to totally sandy desert of the type one conjures up in the mind when thinking of the Sahara. The Succulent Karoo for instance, is home to more than 5000 plant species – NOT something one would expect of your standard desert!

Bushveld

This feature of the land is found in the Caprivi Strip and the north eastern part of Namibia along the Angolan border. This narrow strip of land was originally demarcated for the German Empire to give them easy access to the Zambezi River, and features a much higher rainfall than the rest of the country – around 400mm per year.

The Caprivi also offers more moderate temperatures, ranging between 10 degrees celsius in winter and 30 degrees in summer.

The bushveld area is generally flat and sandy.

Immediately adjacent in the north-central region, the breathtaking Etosha Pans are found. Dry and arid most of the year but during a wet season a shallow lake is formed that is more than 6000 square kilometers big!

Huge numbers of birds, animals and plant life can be found in this area, as the Etosha Pans form an important link in the ecological chain. The Bushveld Area has been demarcated as part of the Angolan Mopane woodlands eco region by the WWF. This area stretches north across the CuneneRiver into Angola.

Namib Desert

This broad, extremely arid area of gravel plains and dunes stretches along the entire coastline of

Namibia and varies in depth between 100 and up to many hundreds of kilometers. It includes the spookily named SkeletonCoast as well as the Kaokoveld in the north, and the extensive NamibSandSea in the central coastal area.

In the sand sea areas massive sand dunes are formed which are generally recognised as the largest sand dunes in the world.

This desert is one of the world’s oldest deserts. Here you will also find the Namib-NaukluftNational Park. These coastal deserts are the richest source of diamonds on earth and as a result, Namibia is the largest producer of diamonds in the world.

It is divided into the southern DiamondCoast and the northern SkeletonCoast.

Namibia has rich coastal and marine resources that remain largely unexplored.

Mostly this area offers little in the way of vegetation, but if you are into breathtaking sunsets and ear ringing silence – be sure to include it in your trip!

Great Escarpment

Rising to over 2000 meters you will also find that average temperatures increase as you move inland from the icy cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Along the coastline you will often wake to and find yourself enshrouded in a silent, densely fogged up wonder world. Further inland this diminishes swiftly.

The soil here is poorly developed, but still significantly more productive than the Namib Desert. Summer winds are forced over the Escarpment which extracts moisture in the form of precipitation. This water in conjunction with the rapidly changing topography is responsible for the creation of micro habitats. These offer a wide range, many endemnic, organisms. Vegetation varies in density as well as form and offers densely wooded areas to shrub lands with scattered trees.

For the plant fundi’s – a good number of different Acacia species are found here along with grasses and other shrubby vegetation.

Central Plateau

This area is bordered by the SkeletonCoast (northwest) and the Kalahari Desert (east) and runs from north to south. To the south it is bordered by the Orange River.

Home to Namibia’s highest point at Königstein elevation – 2606 meters.

The majority of Namibia’s population resides in the wide, flat central plateau, and it as a consequence it is also the hub of the economic activity. The capital, Windhoek, is located here, as well as most of the arable land.

A very interesting fact – arable land accounts for only 1% of Namibia, nearly half the population is employed in the agricultural market.

In this area cool is good, as summer temperatures can easily reach 40 degrees Celcius. No need to mention that figure in any other measurement – sufficient to say hot enough to fry eggs on a rock. Bring suntan lotion and drink lots and lots of water!

Some Must Do’s in Namibia

A large percentage of eco tourists visit Namibia, te majority of which wish to experience the varying climates and natural geographic landscapes.
It offers many reserves and lodges for eco tourists and incentive travel groups. Also on offer are extreme sports such as sandboarding and off road vehicles (4x4).
Caprivi Game Reserve - Access by road from Rundu or Katima Mulilo. Accommodation is available. Animal species living in the park include crocodiles, hippopotamus and a wide variety of birds.
Mahango Game Reserve - The reserve is open to day visitors only. Accommodation is available at PopaFalls camp.
Etosha National Park - The most famous Namibian park consists of salt pan, which is approximately 4 500 square kilometres large, woodland and grassland habitats. Access by road from Otjiwarongo or Tsumeb or by light aircraft. Open all year round. Accommodation is available in three camps: Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni. Animal species inhabiting the park include different smaller species of antelopes, cheetahs, elephants, gemsboks (oryx), giraffes, hartebeests, impalas (black-faced only), kudus, leopards, lions, rhinoceros, springboks, wildebeests, zebras and more than 300 species of birds.
Namib-Naukluft National Park - Consists of desert and semi-desert. Access by untarred road from Windhoek, Walvis Bay or Luderitz via Helmeringhausen. Open all year round, access is not permitted to the diamond area. Different types of accommodation is available. Animal species living in the park include cheetahs, klipspringers, kudus, leopards, springboks and zebras.
Skeleton Coast Park - Access by untarred road from Swakopmund or from Khorixas. Open all year round. Accommodation available. Animal species living in the park include elephants, hyenas, jackals and a wide variety of birds.
Khaudom Game Park - Consists mostly of semi-desert. Access by poor road from Grootfontein or Rundu (Katima Mulilo). Open all year round although access is only permitted to four wheel drive vehicles. Accommodation available. Animal species living in the park include antelopes, elephants, zebras and a variety of birds.
Waterberg Plateau Park - Consists of savannah and woodland. Access by road from Windhoek or from Otjiwarongo. Accommodation is available. Animal species living in the park include antelopes, buffaloes, bushbabies, cheetahs, rhinoceros, and more than 100 species of birds.

Travelling in Namibia

One of the African countries that offers a well maintained network of surfaced and gravel roads covering more than 40 000 kilometers in total! Gain easy access to Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia via the Trans-Kalahari and Trans-Caprivi highways.

The two major airports are in Walvis Bay and the Hosea Kutako International Eirport 42 kilometers outside Windhoek. All the major towns have either an airport or a registered landing strip, making air travel easy.

What can Jewel of Africa Safaris do for you in Namibia?

We will arrange all road transfers as well as air transfers.
We will arrange for game viewing safaris, as well as all other activities you may want to plan.
Assist you in planning your activities and advise you on good deals, places and activities that will enhance your overall experience.
We ensure the shortest possible travel times, and give you more time to enjoy those things you came here to do.
We work only with the most suitable lodges as per your budget end requirements.