ATC 2015 Brochure v1 (English) | Page 168

Namibia Walvis Bay Walvis Bay is Namibia’s second largest town, a holiday destination and popular fishing destination for tourists and locals alike, looking to escape the heat of the dry Namibian interior. During the German colonial rule, it served as the territory’s main harbour. It is still an important harbour for luxury cruise-liners to anchor. Boat cruises give the tourist the opportunity to have close encounters with the dolphins and seals, which are in abundance in the rich ecosystem where fish and other food sources are plentiful. Visitors can join a dolphin cruise or explore the lagoon on a kayak tour. While plenty of attractions provide tourists with sights, sounds and tastes within city limits, the real action happens in the desert surrounding Walvis Bay. Quad-biking, sandboarding, parasailing and various other guided activities are available from adventure companies operating in the area. Walvis Bay is an exciting destination suited to the adventurous traveller or those in search of a relaxing holiday. Kalahari Desert The world’s largest continuous stretch of sand, the Kalahari Desert to the south of Namibia, is a hub of life in own respect. Thanks to a modest measure of rainfall, the landscape is well vegetated with a variety of trees, shrubs, camelthorn, red ebony and other acacias. In springtime the plains are covered in blankets of flowers and grass while the summer rains bring a fair share of greenery. This physical beauty enhances the real, true allure of the Kalahari and the liberating silence and solitude found in so much open space. Visitors describe their visit as an almost spiritual experience and emotionally enriching. Complete your experience meeting the proud San Bushmen. We will respectfully make such introductions with the tribe where you can learn about their traditions, origins and knowledge of living in the bushveld. In some cases you can still listen to their unique use of the ‘click’ language, a wonderful experience in itself. Namib Desert The Namib Desert is rugged, diverse, barren, beautiful, and a fascinating place. In such a completely remote environment, it’s just you and the red sandy earth. Possibly the oldest desert in the world, the Namib was already arid at least 80 million years ago. Massive mountains of sand, fossilized driftwood, skeletons of various kinds, ancient granite mountains, San rock art, numerous shipwrecks, the marvellous Welwitschia plants, desert adapted elephants, and oryx are a few of the interesting finds in the Namib Desert. The barren coastal area is also known as the Skeleton Coast. Spend a night alone in the desert under a sky lit up with millions of stars shining so bright as few other places on earth. www.atctravel.co.za 168