Campervan Holidays in Namibia’s Game Parks
It can be hard to comprehend the vastness of this largely deserted land, stretching from South Africa to Angola along the west coast of Africa as far inland as Botswana. Just 2.1 million people live in a country larger than Pakistan, but slightly smaller than Venezuela. Most overseas visitors fly into Windhoek International Airport, to pick up a rental 4WD campervan or motorhome hire, for campervan holidays in Namibia’s Game Parks.
There are five distinct regions, namely the Central Plateau, the Namib Desert, the Great Escarpment, the Bushveld, and the Kalahari Desert. Then they head out into the vastness of the 16 National Parks that cover 18% of this semi-deserted land.
Campervan Holidays in Namibia’s Game Parks
Ai-Ais Hot Springs and Fish River Canyon
The Ai-Ais Hot Springs – meaning ‘ouch it’s hot’ in the local language – are 700 kilometres (435 miles) south of the capital Windhoek. The main roads in Namibia are well maintained and tarred, although secondary roads branching off may be dirt.
There is a well-developed camping ground at Ai-Ais with good facilities for motorhomes, and a hotel nearby. The Fish River Canyon is the second largest in the world, but hard to spot when approaching across the strangely level ground above.
The Skeleton Coast that Lives Up to Its Name
The Skeleton Coast where shipwrecks litter the sand, stretches from Swakopmund (where there is a small airport to fly you to lonely spots) all the way to the Kunene River. The distance from Windhoek is 350 kilometres (215 miles). Namibia has a generous supply of basic community and private campsites.
It is wise to use these facilities as opposed to stopping by the roadside, just in case a lion or an elephant come calling. Swakopmund was once a holiday resort for German businesspeople in Windhoek. It retains quaint Bavarian-style architecture despite all streets terminating in dry and dusty desert.
The Park Where Herds Thunder Across the Plains
Etosha National Park in the far north of Namibia is 22,270 square kilometres in extent. This makes it slightly larger than Guyana, but a little smaller than Laos. The road from Windhoek is 410 kilometres (250 miles) long, and tarred and suitable for both motorhomes and campervans.
The rules of the road are simple: keep left, pass right, and obey the speed limit. The 763 kilometres (475 miles) of roads in the park are gravel. Four of the five rest camps have facilities for camping, the sole exception being Dolomite Camp in the extreme west.
Meeting the Welcoming People of Namibia
Namibia is a peaceful, friendly country with a 90% Christian community. While German and Afrikaans are official languages, most people understand at least a smattering of English.
