Namibia is known the world over for its sound conservation practises and boasts a fantastic record in the world of nature conservation. Home to many national parks, Namibia has more than its fair share to offer. One always tends to think of the flagships, Etosha National Park or the Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia’s largest.
But, besides these absolute gems, Namibia has a few undiscovered National Parks that would tickle the adventure within you, as you discover some of Africa’s best kept secrets.
Here are my 3 best undiscovered Namibian National Parks:
Nr 1.
Bwabwata National Park
Looking at a map of Namibia, in the far eastern corner of the country, a little “wedge” extends east, like an outstretched finger of a desert land, reaching for the land of swamps and rivers, deep into the heart of Africa. Bwabwata is the thin and narrow part of this extended wedge. It supports the greatest wealth of biodiversity of life in Namibia.
Bwabwata is snuggly set between the Angolan and Botswana borders, only 32km between them, to the north and south with the Okavango River and Kwando River creating its borders to the east and west. Creating a great wilderness where Africa calls. It epitomises the true Africa, the one we think of when we hear adventure.
Nr. 2
Tsau IIKhaeb National Park
In the South-western corner of Namibia is one of the greatest natural wonders to gaze upon. The Tsau IIKhaeb National Park is where the “Sperrgebiet” used to be. The forbidden diamond area. Until recently not open to the public, even today large areas remain out of bounds. This exclusion has saved the park of most other human developments and interferences. With the strict measures taken to explore this unknown, the Tsau IIKhaeb is a last frontier of sorts, waiting to be explored.
Take guided tours to abandoned mining towns which now homes wildlife in this harsh environment. Where once fortune hunters gathered, a brown hyena is getting ready to den.
Nr. 3
Khaudum National Park
Khaudum has to be some of the greatest wilderness experiences found in Namibia. It’s only entrances; a handful of deeply rutted 4x4 tracks.
Khaudum is one of the most remote and inaccessible areas in Namibia and much of its experience is focused on the waterholes within the park. In this waterless bushveld, this is where game congregate to. The world beyond the waterholes is perhaps most enticing and intriguing. The whisper of nature’s ancient rhythms can be heard all through one of the last great places for uncrowded wilderness travel in a national park.
Author: Christiaan Jacobie
Photos: Helge Denker