The Nama people named this place the Namib, meaning `vast', and this is an understatement; at 1200 miles long and 70 miles wide this silent wilderness seems endless. Giant red sand dunes, some 1000 ft high, with knife-edge peaks sculpted by the wind, add to the unreality of this land of extremes.
Temperatures range from below zero to over fifty degrees Celsius, and the only creatures to survive here have specially adapted to the harsh environment.
The annual rainfall of the region is absolutely tiny, which has allowed the desert to survive as such for over 55 million years, making it the oldest desert in the world. Thick fog often comes over the dunes however, allowing some life in the arid sands.
The bizarre and ancient species to have survived here include many lizards, beetles as well as the odd hardy mammal. One beetle manages to stay alive by balancing upside down during the sea fog so that condensation trickles down its body and into its mouth, another builds trenches to trap the fog. The shovel-snouted lizard copes with the extremely high temperatures of the sand by `dancing' across the hot dunes, while most mammals only appear after dark, once the fierce heat has died down.
The Welwitschia plant is endemic to the region, and grows up to 6ft tall with fantastically curly leaves- wonderfully each plant can live for at least 2500 years.
The Namib is well protected, with a series of parks, recreation areas and protected diamond areas. The desert holds the largest conservation area in Southern Africa, the Namib-Naukluft National Park- at 49,768 sq. km this area holds gravel plains, the dune sea, eastern semi-desert and the Kuiseb River, as well as a large diamond region, to which tourists are not allowed access.
The Cape Cross Seal Reserve holds the largest colony of Cape Fur Seals in Southern Africa, with nearly 100,000 seals living on its rocks; so for a desolate arid region, the Namib holds a vast number of wildlife.
A mysterious and inspiring destination, the Namib Desert is truly magnificent in its utter silence and stunning contrasts.
This distinctive programme offers the opportunity to help the cheetah by clearing the sickle bush, allowing them to exist and hunt in their natural habitat. You will also track and monitor both cheetahs and leopards as well as enjoy being in close proximity to these incredible creatures.
This conservation project in the Namib desert is about getting out into the field and really making a difference at the forefront of elephant conservation. This is your chance to get involved in vital elephant conservation in Namibia.
Volunteering on this programme gives you an exciting and rare opportunity to work with and care for the animals of Africa on a daily basis. You will look after numerous species, ranging from baboons and meerkats to lions and cheetahs, helping to feed, care and clean them, while also maintaining the centre’s enclosures and grounds.
Set off on the adventure of a lifetime through Africa’s wide and varied landscape! Get up close to big game, take a trip to Kruger National Park and help to preserve the continent’s most iconic wildlife. Zimbabwe - Namibia - South Africa.
This family run farm dedicates its time to establishing the most suitable and secure home possible for neglected or orphaned wild animals in the African Savannah. Volunteers are trained to care for the injured or orphaned animals.
Janet Horsley had an incredible time on her tailor-made gap year, blazing a trail through Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America, read her story here.
Gap Year for Grown Ups have many Career Break Voluntary Projects in Africa for grown up gappers. Because Gap Year for Grown Ups is the leading authority and only specialist source of ideas and options for grown up gap years, it has the widest range of volunteering programmes in Africa. These include animal/wildlife conservation, teaching English in Africa, community volunteering in Africa and Voluntary work with children in Africa.
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