Damaraland – The craft of making a living
January 13, 2015Conservation | Swing Gates Saving Lives
January 15, 2015Compiled Sanet van Zijl
Last year Namibia was named the fastest growing tourism industry in the world and now magazines, blogs, websites and social media are all buzzing about Namibia as one of the top travel destinations of 2015.
As of late international media has been praising Namibia and encouraging its tourists to visit the country. The travel destination has made some very prestigious lists:
- Forbes Life’s top 3 travel destinations of the year
- The Guardian newspaper’s top 40 destinations for travel
- Lonely Planet travel company’s 2nd preferred travel destination in the world
- Malay Mail Online top 5 stand out destinations
- Irish Times 2nd best must-see destination for 2015
- Travel-Plus-Style top 6 inspiring places to travel
- Africa Geographic’s’ 18 best eco-safari destinations
Forbes Life is one of the most reputable travel magazines in the world. They called Namibia a must-see and complimented it for being an example to Africa of power and sustainable development. Montenegro, Namibia and Lithuania was the magazine’s top 3 travel destinations for this year. Among the reasons they list for visiting this beautiful place are the following:
Namibia is celebrating twenty- five years of independence this year, its silver anniversary. Namibia was also the first country in Africa to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution. Wildlife is protected and managed by communities in communal conservancies. More than 43% of Namibia’s surface area is under conservation management and these parks are some of the most popular tourist attractions with their vast landscapes.
Namaqua Chameleon, Chamaeleo namaquensis. Photo courtesy of The Living Desert Snake Park
Cheetahs on a chase. Photo courtesy of Africat
Green grass in the desert. Photo ©Paul van Schalkwyk
Namibia is also home to the largest sand dune in the world at Sossusvlei and the largest canyon in Africa – The Fish River Canyon.
The Dead Vlei. Photo ©Paul van Schalkwyk
Fish River Canyon. Photo ©Paul van Schalkwyk
The British newspaper, The Guardian, said that the fourth Mad Max film that was filmed in Namibia would most certainly convince travelers to add Namibia to their lists. Keeping in mind that the British pound is stronger in currency than the Namibian dollar, Namibia will offer more value for money than other African destinations would.
Lonely Planet also praises the country for its conservation efforts, noting that it hosts the world’s largest number of cheetah and black rhino and unlike anywhere else in Africa, its populations of giraffe and lion are growing.
Giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis. Photo ©Yolanda Nel
The site lists its life changing experiences in Namibia: Climbing the Sossuvlei dunes at dawn to witness the sun ‘set the red sand dunes on fire’; staying up late in Etosha National Park to experience the big game at the waterholes and taking a flight safari to witness the dramatic landscapes and wildlife of the Skeleton Coast.
Skeleton Coast. Photo ©Paul van Schalkwyk
Travel Plus Style called their experience of the country “transcendental”. According to the site Namibia should inspire future travels with its amazing nature, breath-taking landscapes and ancient tribes, such as the last truly authentic Himba people.
Himba mom and kids. Photo ©Paul van Schalkwyk
