Namibia Noah's Ark Wildlife Volunteers

Our project takes you 312kms east of Windhoek, which is very close to the Botswana border, to the remote and stunning Omaheke region, which covers 4.9 million hectares of farming land.

Namibia

The Republic of Namibia is situated in the southwest of Africa; it is a large country with a fairly parched landscape. It shares borders with Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south. The Caprivi is a narrow strip of land 400km long jutting out of the northeast corner of the country. The Caprivi Strip borders Zambia and Zimbabwe. The western coastline is extremely desolate and spans for 795 miles. The general landscape is mainly central highlands, with the Namib Desert bordering to the west and the Kalahari Desert to the east. The Orange River forms Namibia’s southern border to South Africa.

The capital city is Windhoek, situated in the centre of the country; additional towns of note are the ports, namely Walvis Bay. The climate fluctuates from desert to subtropical conditions; it is mainly hot and dry, whilst precipitation is sparse and unpredictable.

Namibia was under German control during the 19th century, however, it was South Africa that occupied the country during World War I and administered it as a League of Nations Mandate until after World War II. In 1966 a SWAPO guerrilla group initiated a war of independence against the South African occupation, however it wasn’t until 1989, after a UN peace plan that the South African regime agreed to end its administration. Independence was achieved in 1990, making the Republic of Namibia one of the youngest nations in the world.

Namibia is known for its contrasting landscapes. The desolate Namib Desert is said to be the oldest in the world, with its high dunes and awe-inspiring sense of space. The central plateau, with its thorn bush savannah and rugged mountains, rising abruptly from the plains, gives way to the majestic Fishriver Canyon in the south.

In the north of the country, landscapes range from dense bush and open plains of the great Etosha Pan, to woodland savannah and lush vegetation. Dinosaur footprints preserved in sandstone, prehistoric rock art, the ancient fossil plant, Welwitschia mirabilis, all bear witness to the timelessness of this country.

Time
Namibia is one hour ahead of GMT.

In Africa, time is not a priority like it is in much of the western world – there is a saying that Africa works to ‘Africa Time’, which basically means you must exercise a lot of patience! If a boat is due to leave at 12pm, don’t be surprised if it still hasn’t a couple of hours later… keep an open mind, and arrive in Africa ‘Expecting the unexpected’.

Getting There

You will need to fly into Hosea Kutako Airport in Windhoek, Namibia by 1pm on the Thursday stated. Upon arrival, you will be collected by our transfer company (this transfer will cost you around N$250) and driven to a comfortable local backpackers lodge in Windhoek. Here you will spend one night, payable at your own cost for approximately £6-10.

On the following day, you will be met and transferred across to your programme to being your orientation and settle into your accommodation.

Upon your departure, you will need to pay your programme coordinators for the return transfer in Windhoek: This costs N$150 (approximately £11). You will be driven back to Windhoek in time to meet your return flight home or continue your travelling.

Please note that because of the long distance involved, departing groups may be asked to leave the day before their flight. If this occurs then accommodation will be organised in Windhoek for that night.

Climate

Namibia has 300 days of sunshine on average per year. The climate is an archetypal semi desert climate, with extremely hot days and cool nights. Temperatures are lower in the central areas of the country where the land plateaus. Rain occurs in the summer months in the form of thunderstorms, consequently the riverbeds fill extremely fast with large quantities of muddy water. Temperatures can reach up to 40°C during the day, however it is significantly cooler during the evening. During the winter months, temperatures during the evening can often drop below freezing, so remember to pack your clothes accordingly!

Climate chart for Windhoek