In Namibia, learn to expect the unexpected

After years of travelling the length and breadth of Namibia, I’ve come to expect the unexpected. Expertly trained coffee baristas manning a small café in the middle of nowhere – why not? Dry riverbeds becoming raging torrents overnight –certainly possible!

Even the people are startling – the lengths to which they would go to help a total stranger stranded on the road, the bonedeep genuineness of their hospitality, and their ingenuity for fixing problems with little or no equipment are something to experience. Time and again, Namibians and Namibia surprised me. These days, each time I encounter yet another unexpected natural wonder or brilliant Namibian, I add it to my “This is Namibia” list.

Northwestern Namibia is an unexpected part of an unexpected country. I found myself holding my breath while cresting each hill – what expansive view would unfold before me? Would I encounter a giraffe, an elephant, or a flock of goats around the next corner? The people here are unexpected, too. How do they survive during drought? What on earth do their livestock eat? How do they remain so friendly during times of great hardship?

Like the ovaHimba people, northwest Namibia possesses an understated elegance that is best appreciated at a steady African rhythm. Slow down, shed your schedules and deadlines, and explore the offline world of goatherders and villagers. As you start moving to the African beat and encounter more of Namibia’s unexpected beauties, stress and anxiety give way to wonder and gratitude.

In this context, each animal sighting is a special treasure. Finding lions may involve days of tracking through riverbeds and over dunes, all the while learning how lions view their world. The search for desert black rhinos includes walking alongside dedicated rhino rangers who wear their boots out while working to protect these precious animals. The elephants and giraffes stand out as desert survivors, as resilient as the people with whom they share this landscape.

Exploring the vast reaches of northwestern Namibia thoroughly is almost impossible for the inexperienced traveller, and could even be dangerous. Tales abound among locals about the misadventures of tourists who underestimate the rocky roads and flash-flooding rivers. Similarly, this expansive wilderness would be underappreciated during a normal safari, where one goes out for short game drives from a lodge.

For these reasons, Conservancy Safaris Namibia (CSN) specialises in immersive expeditions to the northwest. Each expedition is tailored according to local knowledge and the guests’ specific requests. Whether you’re searching for desert wildlife, Namibia’s unique birds, or authentic cultural exchanges, the CSN team tailors each expedition using your preferences and up-to-date local knowledge. From the route to the accommodation—be it wild camps, equipped sites, or remote lodges—every detail is carefully crafted for comfort and adventure.

As you prepare for your adventure, you may have an exciting list of expected experiences – standing in awe of the endless views, tracking desert-adapted wildlife, meeting amazingly resilient indigenous people – each of which make the trip more than worthwhile. Yet I urge you to leave space for unexpected encounters with Namibia and her people – come expecting the unexpected.

Gail Thomson

Find out more and book your expedition with Conservancy Safaris Namibia: https://conservancysafarisnamibia.com/