Namib Naukluft National Park
Namib Naukluft National Park stretches up the west coast of Namibia and is home to some of the world's rarest and weirdest plant and animal species. It is a truly spectacular destination that offers up so much, from the cold Atlantic Ocean, massive dunes, remote mountain ranges, all the way through excellent desert wildlife and birdlife.
It is exceptionally hard to visit Namibia and not come in contact with some part of the Namib Naukluft National Park.
Namib Naukluft Park Facts
- Size & Location: 50 000km²
- When to visit the park: Year-round, winter being best
- Rainfall: Erratic, 63mm per annum, varying
- Altitude: Sea level to 2 000m above sea level
- Location: Entire west coast of Namibia stretching inland
- Accommodation: Namib Desert Lodges
Information On Namib Naukluft Park
The park's main attractions are Sossusvlei, Sandwich Harbour and the Naukluft hiking and four-wheel drive trails. The Namib Naukluft is one attraction that should not be missed.
Desert mammals include three species of elephant shrew, desert golden mole, dune hairy-footed gerbil, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, African wild cat, spotted hyena, brown hyena and springbok. Mountain mammals include baboon, leopard, cheetah, mountain zebra, gemsbok Oryx, rock hyrax, kudu, and klipspringer.
The reptile residents are fascinating and include lizards, barking geckos, crickets, spiders and snakes such as Peringuey's Adder. By night the nocturnal creatures include mongoose, squirrel and Cape hares.
Birdlife is in abundance in the park (for a desert). Mountain birds include black eagle preying mainly on the rock hyrax. The coastal section includes breeding populations of jackass penguins, terns, cormorants, flamingos (13,000) and white pelicans. The gravel plains support high breeding concentrations of lappet-faced vulture, greater kestrel, Gray's lark, while in the dune sea to the south resides the endemic dune lark. On the escarpment (Naukluft region), the endemic Herero chat can be found, as well as black eagles and rosy-faced lovebirds.
Sandwich harbour is the breeding ground for large numbers of fish, and the birds are attracted by the large numbers of young fish trapped in the shallow waters by the outgoing tide.
Where is Namib Naukluft Park located?
In a nutshell, the entire west coast of Namibia is part and parcel of the Namib Naukluft National Park, while the Sperrgebiet and Skeleton Coast both fall under the Namib Naukluft.
For a birds-eye view of the approximate location of the Namib, click the following Google Map link; Google Maps - Namib-Naukluft National Park
Best Time to Visit Namib Naukluft Park?
Winter is the preferred season for travelling through the Namib-Naukluft as summers are extremely hot by any standard worldwide. There is nothing quite like being slapped in the face as one steps out of an air-conditioned vehicle by 45-degree celsius heat.
In winter, the days are mild, and the evenings are cool, while in summer, the days are long, they are hot, and it does not cool down much in the evenings.
Main Attractions Of Namib Naukluft Park
- Gain a true desert experience
- Come face to face with prehistoric Welwitschia plants
- Tracking the small desert creatures and observing their adaptation patterns
- Hiking the world's largest and brightest coloured dunes at Sossusvlei
- Spectacular desert scenery
- Incredible dunes
- Amazing mountains
- Wild and remote
