Namibia, a country of vast open spaces; extreme contrasts of harsh, arid deserts and green, palm-fringed oases, of thorny bush savannah and rugged mountains, of freezing winter nights and sweltering hot summer days. A country with European influence that is revealed in the German architecture, the lifestyle and the language of a large part of the white population. A rich tribal population offers the traveler a unique cultural experience. Namibia is the driest country south of the Sahara, the fifth largest country in Africa, and yet has the smallest population.
Experiencing a harsh and arid desert is not for everyone, but for me the experience was overwhelmingly beautiful. The peace and solitude reconnected me with nature, the abundance of space, the eerie stillness reminded me of the infinity of life in the universe. The contrasting colors of the landscape allow for incredible photographic opportunities. Deep blue, mostly clear sky, rugged brown moonscape sparsely dotted with unusual desert plant species, huge ever-changing earthy orange sand dunes sculpted by the winds of time. You will return home with a different perspective on life. This landscape leaves you with a feeling of peace and tranquility.
As my intention here is to enlighten you on a true Namibian wilderness experience, I would like to direct your attention to the extreme north-west of Namibia, to a remote and luxurious wilderness camp, situated right on the banks of the Kunene River. Wilderness Safaris Camp, Serra Cafema is a premier camp offering you a true wilderness experience in the lap of luxury. A relatively small camp that sleeps up to 16 guests in beautiful chalets raised on wooden platforms made of straw, canvas and wood that blend in with their natural surroundings. Serra Cafema is one of the most remote camps in southern Africa and is best reached by plane from Windhoek unless you have a couple of days to spare, a 4×4 and an adventurous spirit.
Once you arrive at Serra Cafema campsite after a 45 minute drive from the airstrip, you will be pampered by friendly, caring, happy and bubbly staff adding to the experience of this remote campsite. All deliciously prepared meals are included, as are activities such as nature tours in the Hartmann Valley in open Land Rovers, boat rides on the Kunene River, nature walks in the valleys, and visits to the working Himba village. if nomadic peoples are in the area. . Professional and experienced field guides accompany you in these activities. One of the highlights is a guided quad bike tour that allows you to experience the untouched areas of the desert. The emphasis here is on giving you information about the environment around you, about the endemic fauna and flora that blend so harmoniously with their surroundings, and about living sustainably within this balanced ecosystem.
Serra Cafema Camp is leased to the 300,000-hectare Marienfluss Conservancy, which is made up primarily of the local Himba people, one of the last semi-nomadic peoples on earth. The Himba, who number approximately 12,000 individuals, live an isolated existence that has allowed them to preserve their culturally rich lifestyle.
Like all Wilderness Safaris camps, Serra Cafema truly embraces unity among the local population, including those on the Angolan side. The Himba community he visited not only benefits in terms of direct employment, but also receives basic food such as maize flour from the camp. This way of life, so different from many others, fascinates visitors and it is important, when encountering the Himba, to maintain the delicate balance necessary to be able to share this perception without negatively impacting the people and their customs. Wilderness Safaris’ Serra Cafema and Skeleton Coast Camp are situated within Himba territory and have approached the Himba people with respect, creating a positive relationship between the camps and the community.
A year-round destination, Namibia’s climate creates a variety of fascinating moods. Namibia receives most of its rain in February with an average of 25 to 30 ml/a. The rains bring with them the most incredible transformation of the desert into lush green meadows and colorful flowers that last only a couple of weeks and then hibernate again until the next year.
Namibia has become a popular destination for its air safaris and combining a couple of days in a desert experience with an authentic Big 5 game viewing destination such as Kruger National Park in South Africa would make for an adventure. very exciting African.