Trifter

1. Visit the Matterhorn of Namibia (The Spitzkoppe)

   

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   Located in the middle of the Namib Desert in west central Namibia is the Spitzkoppe also known as the Matterhorn of Namibia. The Spitzkoppe is a bunch of bald granite peaks that that rise up out of the desert and dominate the surrounding landscape. The peaks are some 700 million years old and the highest peak is 5,857 feet high. There are many great rock formations here and the area is vastly underutilized from a tourist standpoint.

2. See the Second Largest Canyon in the World

   

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   Located in Southern Namibia along the Fish River is the second largest canyon in the world the Fish River Canyon which is roughly 100 miles long and up to 16.5 miles wide.

3. Visit One of the Oldest Artist Colonies on the Planet

   

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   In northern Namibia you can check out one of the first artist colonies at Twyfelfontein, a World Heritage Site. Over 3,000 years ago the hunter-gatherers who lived in the area produced over 2,000 rock carvings and paintings in the area. They probably had the typical beards and long hair associated with artists.

4. See the Valley of the Organ Pipes

   

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   Located close to Twyfelfontein is the Valley of the Organ Pipes where rows of dolerite columns created by molten rock pushing through the earth’s surface many years ago line the valley. As the molten rock pushed through the surface here it cooled inward forcing the remaining magma to rise vertically and as it cooled and contracted it split creating the organ pipe formations.

5. Visit a Diamond Mine Ghost Town

   

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   Located along the coast of the Namib Desert in southwestern Namibia is the ghost town of Kolmanskop. In 1908 diamonds were found in the area and Kolmanskopp boomed to handle the fortune seekers but as the diamonds became scarce and new fields were discovered Kolmanskop became abandoned by 1956 leaving the buildings to the unrelenting desert sands and wind.

6. See the Oldest Known Meteorite on Planet Earth

   

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   Located in central Namibia near the town of Grootfontein is the oldest known meteorite on Earth, the Hoba Meteorite. Some 200 to 400 million years old, the Hoba Meteorite baffles scientists as it left no known crater from its impact.

7. View the Awesome Kalahari Desert from a Height

   

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   Located in central Namibia in the Waterberg National Park is the Waterberg Plateau. The plateau is elevated well above the Kalahari Desert and offers fantastic views to the rugged travelers who venture into this remote area.

8. See a Massif

   

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   Located in the Namib-Naukluft National Park in central Namibia is the Naukluft Mountains massif. Hiking trails and four-wheel drive trails are popular in this area.

9. Visit a Desert Castle

   

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   In the desert of south central Namibia is Duwisib Castle. Built by a German Captain Hans Heinrich von Wolf, who was also Baron Wolf, for himself and his American wife and completed in 1909. The castle was never occupied for long as Wolf was killed in 1916 at the Battle of the Somme in WW I. Today the castle is a museum filled with antiques.

10. See a Millions-Years-Old Crater

    

    Some 2.5 to 5.3 million years ago an object the size of an SUV slammed into the Namib Desert creating the Roter Kamm meteorite crater 1.5 miles wide and 400 feet deep. Today most of the crater is filled with sand.

11. View Some Desert Waterfalls

    

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    Being a desert country most of Namibia’s waterfalls are seasonal. But along the Kunene River along the border with Angola are a couple of pretty waterfalls.

12. Climb the Largest Sand Dunes in the World

    

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    Located in the Namib Desert near The Sossusvlei are the largest sand dunes in the world with some rising well over 1,000 feet.

    

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13. Visit Some Shipwrecks Lying in Desert Sand

    

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    In the northern part of the Namib Desert along the coast many ships have wrecked along the Skeleton Coast and left behind their remnants. Heavy coastal fog combines with strong currents and off shore rocks to create this treacherous area.

14. See the Magnificent Animals of Etosha

    

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    Etosha National Park in northwestern Namibia is home to some of the most magnificent animals on planet Earth. The huge salt pan that dominates the park attracts most of the inhabitants of the park when it fills with water.

15. View the 2,000 Year Old Welwitschia Mirabilis Plants

    

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    Welwitschia Mirabilis is a living fossil plant found in the Namib Desert in Namibia. This plant is thought to live for up to 2,000 years and survives by growing two long leaves that absorb moisture available from the daily coastal fog of the region.

As I’m sure Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie would agree, Namibia is quite a country.