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T R A V E L

3rd Edition © Map Studio™ 2010All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape,

mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from the Copyright owner.

Map Studio and the MapStudio device are trademarked to New Holland Publishing (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd

Cover image supplied by IMAGES OF AFRICA www.imagesofafrica.co.za

Jéan du Plessis

R O A D A T L A S

PERFECT FOR THE FIRST TIME VISITOR � COLOUR PHOTOSDETAILED CONTINUOUS MAP SECTION � STREET MAPS

TOURIST AREAS � SITES � PLACE NAMES INDEXCONTACT INFO � SMALL TOWNS � RESERVES

NATIONAL PARKS � ROUTE PLANNERSHOPPING � HOT SPOTS � HISTORYACTIVITIES � GPS CO-ORDINATES

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NAMIBIAContents Contents Contents Content

INTRODUCTION 4History 6People 8Nature 10Activities 12

TOWNS 14Windhoek 16Daan Viljoen Game Park 19Swakopmund 20Walvis Bay 22Lüderitz 24Sesfontein & Opuwo 25Oshakati & Rundu 26Katima Mulilo & Tsumeb 27Grootfontein & Otavi 28Outjo & Otjiwarongo 29Omaruru & Henties Bay 30Okahandja & Gobabis 31Rehoboth & Mariental 32Keetmanshoop 33

TOURIST AREAS 34Etosha 36Sossusvlei / Namib-Naukluft Park(mountain region) 38Kaokoland 40Fish River Canyon 42Namib-Naukluft Park (desert)& West Coast 44Mudumu & Mamili 46Khaudum Game Reserve 48Waterberg Plateau Park 49Hardap & Lüderitz Peninsula 50Kolmanskop 51

TOURING / DRIVING MAPS 52

INDEX 91

RESOURCES 94

Swakop is small enough to be explored onfoot, and interesting enough to make theeffort worthwhile. It’s also the adventureand activity centre of Nambia (which includesparachuting, sand-boarding and dune-bikeriding) and as such it’s little surprise thatthe town is extremely tourist friendly, whilemaintaining the ability to slip back intosleepy-hollow mode at certain times of theweek, month or year. There are plenty ofcultural attractions (libraries, museums,commercial art galleries, curio stores andinteresting buildings) to occupy the non-adrenaline junkie.

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Swakopmund Prison, often mistaken by visitorsfor a hotel.

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Swakopmund Swakopmund Swakom

The Sam Cohen Library has 7,000volumes of Africana books and literatureon Swakopmund, as well as old photos,maps and German and Englishnewspapers dating back to 1898.

Namibia’s holiday mecca, Swakop (as the locals call it) offers lovely beachesfor anglers, surfers, bathers and sun-worshippers to share.

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RUNNING OUT OF STEAMOne of Swakop’s most famous pieces ofhistory lies just outside of town – nicknamed‘Martin Luther’, the now rusty old steamengine was imported from Hamburg inGermany to take the place of oxen whostruggled in the heat.

NATIONAL MARINE AQUARIUMHand-feeding by divers, an underwaterwalkway through the huge main tank anda wide array of local marine life (rangingfrom sharks to crayfish) make Swakop’saquarium a good place to spend half anhour or longer.

SWAKOP RIVER DELTAA couple of hundred metres from theAquarium is the Swakop River Delta, anexcellent spot for birdwatching and birdphotography (including flamingo, pelican,cormorants and kestrels) with a 4km rivertrail for walkers.

THE ABOMINABLE JETTYSwakop’s well-known iron jetty stretches262m into the ocean but is now unfortunatelydilapidated, has been closed to the publicand exists merely as a landmark rather thana tourist ‘attraction’. The lighthouse can beseen from as far as 30km away – a goodthing considering how treacherous Namibia’sSkeleton Coast has been over the last century.

HARBOURING NO BAD FEELINGSSwakop was founded by the Germans in1892 in order to match the British who hadalready established their own ‘port presence’at Walvis Bay on the strategically valuableSkeleton Coast. Sadly, Swakop proved apoor choice, as the harbour was prone tosilting up. Just 14 years later the governmenthoped the construction of a mole wouldhelp to create an artificial harbour that couldfunction properly. Regrettably, sandbanksbuilt up and ruined any chance for theharbour. On a more positive note, it didimprove the safety and bathing pleasure forbeach users and the mole is now used asa launching spot for boats and small craft.It also allows walkers the chance to seedolphins at close range.

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The old jetty, originally built in 1911 during theGerman colonial era.

Swakopmund is a good base for visiting thedramatic Spitzkoppe, which are just over 100kmaway from town.

Swakopmund walk.

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komund Swakopmund Swakopmund

A short drive out of town are sand dunesthat are ideal for adventure sports (4x4,sand dune boarding, quadbiking) as wellas the Welwitschia Drive in the Namib-Naukluft Park.

English is Namibia’s official language, but German is widely used … andSwakop residents in particular are well-versed in the language.

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The long, straight and rolling road between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.

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Walvis Bay Walvis Bay Walvis Bay W

Walvis Bay’s huge saltwater lagoon is a vital habitat for flamingoes whoflock there in their thousands all year round.

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Walvis Bay lies 30km south of Swakopmund,and many visitors stay in Swakop and journeydown to Walvis to partake in the birdwatching(numerous seabirds, including the favouriteflamingoes and pelicans), angling, seal-spotting cruises offshore (if you’re in luckyou’ll get to see dolphin and even sunfishfrom your craft), or the more leisurely boatingactivities on the lagoon. The architecture ofthe town lacks the character of Swakop’sGerman charm, possibly because the portwas annexed by the British in 1878 (theGermans never took control of Walvis andwere forced to lay port elsewhere).

The legendary Bartolomeu Dias is down inthe history books as the first European tovisit here, back in 1487, and he named thespot Bay of Whales. For the next two centurieswhalers and numerous other vessels droppedanchor in Walvis Bay (as well as at SandwichHarbour), and when the Dutch came to townin 1793 they adapted its name to Walvisbaai(Walvis Bay), and some claim their influenceis still felt in the town’s lack of architecturalcharacter! Walvis’ small population of justover 40,000 rely on fish and fishing for theirlivelihood as well as salt production (Walvissupplies more than 90% of South Africa’ssalt). The salt is evaporated from seawatertrapped in a 3,500-hectare ‘salt pan’. Toursof the salt works are offered by local touroperators. Walvis Bay Lagoon is one of thetwo most valuable wetland areas (alongwith the nearby Sandwich Harbour) to befound throughout the entire West coast ofAfrica. The lagoon is able to support morethan 150,000 birds in summer and almost70,000 in winter, notably the greater andlesser flamingoes, pelicans, migrant wadersand seabirds. Wait for low-tide to get yourbest birding opportunities as the birds scourthe shallow water for tasty marine morsels.

Top: Greater flamingoes in flight.Above: Pelican preening itself.

A good catch, a quiet beach, and a friend to bearwitness to your success. Fisherman’s paradise!

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Avoid the tourist trap of activities centredsolely on the lagoon – explore some of themagnificent desert sights and scenery thatsurrounds the town. It’s an experiencelargely untapped by visitors.

For a different experience, stop by the RaftRestaurant (built on stilts in the Walvis Baylagoon) and enjoy a bite to eat or a drinkat the bar. It’s ‘a good place to be seen’!

Namibia’s best natural harbour (and only deepwater port), Walvis is a vitalbase for patrolling the valuable fishing ground and offshore diamond fields.

A favourite travel destination and a stunningexample of friendly, small-town and slow-paced hospitality, rich in German traditionand history, Lüderitz is worth the effort tovisit for a few days. Sitting more than 360kmfrom Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz is literally andfiguratively isolated from the rest of theworld. However, it’s not cut off completely,as it has a rich supply of public telephonesthat seem to pop up on every corner. Tourismis increasing and accommodation optionsare happily opening up to meet the newdemand, with the first phase of a newwaterfront development already completed.Part of Lüderitz’s charm is that its isolationfor so many years has left the town with awealth of original architecture and interestingbuildings from the 1900s. Added to this isthe fun nature of the town, with its eccentrichouse colours and the midday siren thatdoubles-up as a fire alarm! Bartolomeu Diasalso made his mark here and named thetown Angra Pequena (Little Bay). A numberof tools and artefacts dating back to thestone-age confirm that the Khoisan found‘Little Bay’ some time before Dias!Kolmanskop and Elizabeth Bay ghost townsare a comfortable drive from Lüderitz andare both worth the effort.

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Some of Lüderitz’s brightly coloured buildings.

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Lüderitz Lüderitz Lüderitz Lüderitz LS

Plan your wardrobe carefully: Lüderitz’sweather is ‘predictably unpredictable’.Within a few hours Mother Nature mighthurl sunshine, fog, cold, wind and evenrain at you. Locals ‘joke’ that the wind isso strong it blasts the paint off cars. Joke?

The unusual pastel shades of many of the houses in this laid-back butcharacter-rich town have led some to playfully call it ‘Ludicrous’.

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SESFONTEINFort Sesfontein was established as a Germanarmy outpost to keep an eye on the areamilitarily as well as from a crime and gun-running perspective prior to World War I.Abandoned and in an awful state of deterior-ation for decades, it was given a facelift andgeneral overhaul and converted into a comfyoasis-like lodge. It's an ideal base for explor-ations into the surrounding Kaokoland andDamaraland. The historic graveyard is wortha wander. Take in the views of the town andits mountain backdrop from the shale andlimestone hills that skirt the fort.

About 29km out of town is Ongongo Camp,which means ‘beautiful little place’, and theBlinkwater Falls back up this claim.Otjitaimo Canyon is 10km out of town andis hard to reach on foot, yet it offers richrewards for seekers of solitude and spectac-ular scenery.

OPUWOOpuwo means ‘the end’ in the native Hererotongue, which is fitting as it is a vital stocking-up point for travellers passing through …and passing through is what most peopledo in Opuwo, apart from using it as a basefor exploring the surrounding area, whichincludes some nearby settlements of Himbaand Herero people. Kaokoveld adventurersand explorers often use Opuw0 as a stop-off point, or stop relatively near by.

Opuwo made its name as a base used bythe South African troops during times ofconflict and occupation in Namibia. It is anotherwise unpretentious little settlementlost in the bush and tucked away in its ownsmall ‘crater’, although there are someinteresting local dwellings, such as traditionalrondavels (round huts) and Himba huts.Opuwo has two ‘supermarkets’ and a fishshop called Madiba (Nelson Mandela’snickname).

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A wall of tins built by the locals in Opuwo.

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Top TripA day trip along the Hoanib River fromSesfontein to Purros offers great viewingof the desert elephant as well as numerousother forms of wildlife. Please note that itis advisable to travel with a guide.

Locals will be willing to act as guides tothe town (for a fee), but they no longerthink tourist cameras are worth a freesmile. Be careful when encroaching ontribal land and always seek permission. To

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LSesfontein Opuwo Sesfontein Opuwo

Named after the six springs (ses fontein) found here, this dusty little townin the middle of nowhere lies central to all the delights of northwest Namibia.

RUNDUSituated above theKavango (Okavango in Botswana)River floodplain, Rundu is a fabulous stopoveren route to more entertaining and enjoyableactivities or destinations, in the Kavangoand Caprivi regions. Its proximity to Angolahas given the little outpost of Rundu aPortuguese flavour mixed with a languidsense of calm. There are great views acrossthe Kavango River, with some watersports,fishing and four-wheel drive opportunitiesfor the energetic. Rundu is an importantrefueling stop for travellers: petrol is scarcein the area, and the town’s bottle storespresent shoppers with a fantastic array ofproducts. Souvenir hunters will enjoy Rundu’shappy hunting grounds: woodcarving in thearea has a proud tradition.

OSHAKATIBig and spread out, Oshakati is primarily aresidential and governmental town, hostingthe Northern Campus of the University ofNamibia, some private schools and municipalbuildings. There are many comfortable homesin town, but there equally areas which offermore basic housing and services.

Woodcarvings for sale in Rundu.

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night out in a small town. Basic butwelcoming, favourite spots include ClubFantasy (proclaiming itself to be ‘yourparty place’), Let’s Push Bar, Club YellowStar and Moby Jack’s.

Oshakati Rundu Oshakati Rundu Os

Rundu presents weary Caprivi-bound travellers with a relative oasis to washaway the bleak desert landscape through which they have travelled.

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KATIMA MULILOKatima Mulilo boasts excellent facilities fortravellers and is a great base for exploringas well as embarking on adventure activities.Located on the banks of the mighty ZambeziRiver, it provides an easy base from whichto hop into Zambia, Zimbabwe or Botswana.

TSUMEBTsumeb is attractive, with wide, quiet streetsblessed with beautiful old colonial buildingsand dressed withjacaranda,

bougainvillea, palm trees, parks and lawns.Tsumeb’s name can be translated to mean‘to dig a hole in loose ground’, which isunderstandable given its status as one ofNamibia’s key mining towns. The crystalsand gemstones unearthed here have earnedthe town a worldwide reputation. The TsumebMuseum affords visitors a fantastic windowinto the past, while the Tsumeb CulturalVillage is an open-air museum that allowsvisitors to glimpse first-hand what tribal lifeis all about in Namibia.

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The mokoro (dug-out), a popular means oftransport in the wetlands.

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It’s rough and ready for most big cityfolk; local eateries include The Butchy-Butchy Bakery (offering freshly bakedbread) or you can rub shoulders with thelocal Crocodile Dundees at Mad DogMcGee’s (a meat-eater’s haven).

Katima Mulilo Tsumeb Tsumeb Katim

The patron saint of mine workers (believe it or not) is St Barbara … and you’llfind Tsumeb’s St Barbara catholic church on Main Street.

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GROOTFONTEINMeaning ‘large fountain’ (there are strongnatural springs in Tree Park), Grootfonteinoffers a pleasant stopover, as trees linethe streets and limestone buildings standproudly amid the spring explosions ofjacaranda and red flamboyants.

The fascinating Old Fort Museum (signpostedas Die Alte Feste) off Eriksson Street hasinteresting historic photographs, gems, rocksand a display on the old art of wagon andcart manufacture. Straussen Ostrich Farmoffers an insight into the ostrich industry,and includes a shop and a restaurant. TheHoba meteorite – the largest recorded meteor-ite on earth at around 60 tonnes – can befound 50km outside town. Almost threemetres square (and between 75-122cm thick!),it may have celebrated in the region of 200to 400 million birthdays, and it found itshome here around 80,000 years ago.

OTAVIOtavi’s natural springs play a vital role inirrigating the surrounding farmlands, andit’s no surprise that the name translates to‘place of water’. The town made its nameduring the copper-mining boom years at theturn of the century, and an amethyst mineis found just out of town.Otavi hit the headlines with the 1991 discoveryof the jawbone of a prehistoric ape-likecreature dubbed the ‘Otavi Ape’, a creaturewhich no doubt spent some time in theabundant caves in the area – anyone withan interest in caves will enjoy a great dealof time ‘caving’ themselves.

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The enormous Hoba meteorite that landed nearGrootfontein many thousands of years ago.

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to the Khorab Memorial. Erected in 1920,it marks the spot where the Germanforces capitulated to General LouisBotha’s South African forces in 1915.

Grootfontein Otavi Otavi GrootfontO

Otavi, Grootfontein and Tsumeb form the Maize Triangle, cultivating andproviding much of Namibia’s commercially grown maize.

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OTJIWARONGOKnown for its spring explosions of jacarandaand bougainvillea, Otjiwarongo is situatedclose to the Waterberg Plateau Park.Otjiwarongo boasts Namibia’s first crocodileranch, which serves meals to visitors, sellsmeat to locals and exports skins to Asia.Look out for the famous Locomotive No 41at the train station … but don’t rush to catchit! Since 1960 it hasn’t gone anywhere asthe railway gauge was changed from narrowto 1.067mm gauge. A trainspotters’ delight!

OUTJOOutjo revolves around cattle-ranching andone-night stay tourists en route to EtoshaNational Park, Khorixas or northernKaokoland.

One of the town’s most outstanding (literally)landmarks is the Water Tower, which hasstood tall since 1901. The town museum isin Franke House, which dates back to 1899and was one of Outjo’s first homes. Themuseum shows off a wide range of mineralsand gemstones, local history artifacts, andnumerous animal skins, bones and horns …and has a one-of-a-kind sheep-sheeringdevice that operates off a bicycle chain! Thenearby Ugab Terrace hills offer spectacularrock formations, including middle age castleshapes. Gamkarab Cave (50km away) boastsstalagmites and -tites of distinction.

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An hour or so outside of Otjiwarongo area number of fossilised footprints thatdate back 200 million years! Stare inawe at the massive set of prints madeby a very large two-legged dinosaur.

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Outjo means (appropriately) ‘a place on the rocks’, while Otjiwarongo wasnamed by the Herero who thought of it as the ‘place of the fat cattle’.

0860 10 50 50www.mapstudio.co.za

NOWINCLUDES DETAILEDGPS CO-ORDINATES

www.mapstudio.co.za

T R A V E L

3rd Edition © Map Studio™ 2010All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape,

mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from the Copyright owner.

Map Studio and the MapStudio device are trademarked to New Holland Publishing (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd

Cover image supplied by IMAGES OF AFRICA www.imagesofafrica.co.za

Jéan du Plessis

R O A D A T L A S

PERFECT FOR THE FIRST TIME VISITOR � COLOUR PHOTOSDETAILED CONTINUOUS MAP SECTION � STREET MAPS

TOURIST AREAS � SITES � PLACE NAMES INDEXCONTACT INFO � SMALL TOWNS � RESERVES

NATIONAL PARKS � ROUTE PLANNERSHOPPING � HOT SPOTS � HISTORYACTIVITIES � GPS CO-ORDINATES

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