7 things you didn't know about Namibia

Dune 7 stands at over 1200 feet tall, and got its name for being the seventh dune past the Tsauchab River as you travel towards Sossusvlei. This area is a vast depression or clay pan, towered over by huge sand dunes up to 300 metres high. Look out for springbok and ostrich among the sparse vegetation of this wild and beautiful spot. 

The food isn’t a typical reason to book a trip to Namibia, but it’s a pleasant surprise. Fresh local beef, sausages and game are grilled on a traditional open barbecues and served with homemade flatbreads. Biltong – air-dried meat – is also popular here. Vegetarian and vegan options are traditionally more limited, but Namibians are so welcoming and generous, they’ll go out of their way to find the best dishes and eateries for you. Your Tour Leader is on hand to provide recommendations.

While a desert nation, Namibia is not as hot as you might expect. January and February are the hottest months here, when temperatures in the heart of the Namib Desert can exceed 40c. Outside of this time, the average maximum temperature in Namibia is 20-25c, more temperate and comfortable than many imagine. At night-time, the average minimum temperature is less than 10c, so prepare for colder evenings and early mornings – layers are key! 

80 million years old, the Namib desert is the oldest desert on earth, and is known for being home to some of Africa’s strangest flora and fauna. This huge 2,000 kilometre expanse is almost entirely uninhabited other than some small indigenous settlements. Its animal residents are specially-adapted species that have developed techniques to survive the environment here – desert elephant, ostrich, oryx and the endemic Namib Desert beetle.