National Parks in Namibia
The former German colony Namibia lies directly on the Atlantic Ocean and is largely covered by desert. To the west by the Namib Desert, to the east by the Kalahari Desert. The country covers twice the area of Germany and…
Vast land areas shape the country's landscape. Despite the dry climate and barren landscapes, diverse animal and plant species have perfectly adapted to nature. They find ideal conditions in the country's protected areas.
The Namib-Skeleton Coast National Park
The by far largest protected area in Namibia is the Namib-Skeleton Coast National Park, a merger of four parks on the Atlantic coast. The national park extends along the entire 1,570-kilometre-long coast from north to south and covers 107,540 km². Compared to its length, the park is very narrow at 25 - 180 kilometres. Together with the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa and the Iona National Park in Angola, it forms a transboundary protected area.
The name is derived from the Skeleton Coast, the northernmost part of the Namib Desert, which is hostile to life. Nevertheless, some animal species have settled here, including jackals, hyenas and some desert lions. It has even been proven that small herds of desert elephants inhabit the barren landscape. The large fish stocks along the coast serve as a food source for the carnivores. Eared seals live in huge colonies along the entire coast.
The Bwabwata National Park
This 6,000 km² protected area is located in Namibia's Caprivi Strip. The Caprivi National Park and the Mahango National Park were once independent parks until they were merged in 2007 to form the Bwabwata National Park. Life in this region is only possible thanks to the Kwando River. In the west, the park is bordered by the Okavango River.
Dense deciduous forests near the river and dry forest along the park boundaries characterise the Bwabwata National Park. Unique is the tree population along the Okavango's coast. Here grow deciduous trees unique to the country such as the jackal berry tree or the apple-leaf tree.
Not only the flora, but also the fauna is impressive. While water animals such as crocodiles or hippopotamuses are typical along the river courses, lions, elephants and buffaloes live in the dense forests and savannas. Sitatungas, which roam the savanna together with antelopes, can only be found in this area.
The Etosha National Park
The largest national park in the interior of Namibia is the Etosha National Park, which covers almost 22,200 km². Translated, the name of the park means great white place, translated from the Oshivambo language. The president of the former German colony declared the area a nature reserve over 100 years ago.
Much of the park can be explored by tourists, who encounter a diverse fauna here. The various animal species gather at the countless waterholes, including elephants and rhinos as well as big cats such as lions and lynxes. In addition, over 340 bird species have adapted to the barren landscape, including falcons, vultures and eagles.
