Fly-in adventures in Namibia
Adventure is in the air. Soaring over the dunes, gliding past the setting sun or floating over crashing waves. Flying in Namibia is for those with a sense of adventure. Within hours, airplane passengers may see hundreds of elephants cross the rivers in the Caprivi, gasp at the sheer size and beauty of the pan as they fly over the Etosha National Park and land at the coast in time to watch the sun set over the sea. Flying provides access and adventure, and is amazingly available to tourists.
Ginger Mauney, Travel News Namibia, Volume 13
Paul van Schalkwyk flies high to get the perfect shot. www.tala.com.na
In the past decade, the demand for scheduled and charter flights within Namibia and to destinations in the Southern African region has grown dramatically.
From excursions to the harbour town of Lüderitz, flights over the huge sand sea, up the Skeleton Coast and over the large seal colony at Cape Cross to Epupa Falls on the Kunene River, home of the Himba people, there is something for everyone.
Whether they have undertaken a fly-in safari to various locations or simply an hour’s excursion, tourists who have enjoyed the rush and the pleasure of seeing Namibia from the air often remark that it was the highlight of their trip.
The majority of fly-in operators agree that the most popular scenic flights are to Sossusvlei, famous for its magnificent star-shaped red and orange dunes, and day trips to authentic Himba villages in the north-western part of Namibia.
Paul van Schalkwyk. www.paulvans.com
Personalised fly-in safaris:
Skeleton Coast Fly-in Safaris offers guests fascinating bird’s-eye views of shipwreck remains along the coast, diverse and ever-changing geological formations, and the refuges of desert-dwelling animals such as the endangered black rhino and desert-adapted elephant.
Desert Air offers excursions to view aspects of Namibia that range from the mysterious beauty of ancient desert landscapes that stretch into infinity and the lush, green wilderness teeming with wildlife to exotic cultures, interesting people and extraordinary plant and animal life.
Wilderness Air (previously Sefofane Air Charters) operates from Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The main destinations that Wilderness services in Namibia are Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Damaraland, the Skeleton Coast, Etosha and the Kunene River, representing some of the finest wilderness areas Namibia has to offer.
African Profile Safaris plans routes through picturesque landscapes and captivating destinations, making each safari an exceptional and distinctly African experience.
Commercial travel
Air Namibia, the national carrier, maintains direct international flights between Windhoek and Frankfurt, offering six flights per week.
Air Namibia recently introduced direct flights between Windhoek and Accra, (Ghana) and Lusaka (Zambia). Both routes go via Johannesburg, with traffic rights to carry passengers, cargo, airmail and live animals.
Other regional flights are between Walvis Bay and Cape Town; Windhoek and cities such as Luanda (Angola), Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), Maun (Botswana), Johannesburg and Cape Town (South Africa); and domestic flights to local destinations such as Walvis Bay, Katima Mulilo, Rundu, Oranjemund, and Ondangwa.
Foreign airlines providing a service to Windhoek are South African Airways, South African Express, TAAG Angola Airlines,