MORE PICTURES...   Deserts and Wildlife  |  Etosha Safari
Pictures from Namibia   Namibia DESERTS AND WILDLIFE
Pictures of the scenery and wildlife of Namibia

 

Picture of Namib Desert, Namibia
THE WILD BEAUTY OF NAMIBIA

Namibia is a country of rugged scenery that at one time was home only to nomadic San Bushmen.  Time and nature have created extreme and diverse landscapes of stark beauty in this part of southwest Africa.  Inland from the desolate Atlantic coast are sights that include the incredible dunes of the Namib Desert and the vast salt pan and surrounding bush of the wildlife-rich Etosha National Park.

 
The spectacular dunes of the Namib Desert

The vast Namib Desert in western Namibia is regarded as one of the oldest and driest deserts on Earth.  It includes a sand sea reputed to contain the most picturesque dunes in the world.  The highest dunes are set around ephemeral clay pans at Sossusvlei. 

Sossusvlei dunes, Namibia
Sossusvlei dunes, Namibia
The dried remains of trees in the now parched landscape of Dead Vlei, one of the clay pans that lie among the high dunes.
Gemsbok, Namib Desert Gemsbok somehow survive the hostile environment among the orange dunes of the Namib Desert.
Sossusvlei dunes, Namibia
Over time, the Namib dunes have been sculpted by the wind into bizarre and complex shapes.  This apparently barren and arid landscape is home to a complex ecosystem supported by precious moisture gleaned from fogs that roll in from the Atlantic.
  Wildlife of Etosha
Etosha National Park in Namibia is one of the most important game reserves in Africa.  An expansive pan - the 'place of dry water' - is surrounded by grassland and woodland habitats that are home to abundant wildlife.

For more photos from Etosha...
ETOSHA SAFARI

 
Picture of elephant, Etosha
Picture of giraffe, Etosha
Photos of giraffes, Etosha
Picture of cheetah, Namibia Picture of baby cheetah
Namibian cheetahs under protection at the Otjitotongwe Cheetah Park.
Cheetahs in danger
As in most parts of Africa, wildlife in Namibia is under severe pressure from the human population.  Because cheetahs are sometimes shot by ranchers, a number of projects aim to relocate threatened cats or house them in reserves. 
The Cape Cross seals
Tens of thousands of Cape fur seals live in noisy, squabbling crowds along the rocky shore of Cape Cross.  The seals take advantage of rich concentrations of fish in the cold Benguela current that sweeps this stretch of the Atlantic Ocean.
Cape Cross seal
Cape Cross seals
Cape Cross seal

The plight of the San Bushmen

The San Bushmen are believed to have been the first human inhabitants of the Kalahari desert area of southern Africa.  Traditionally, the Bushmen were nomadic hunters and food-gatherers who traveled in groups of several families following the water and game.

San Bushmen
San Bushman rock art, Twyfelfontein
San Bushman rock art, Twyfelfontein
San rock art like this at Twyfelfontein dates back thousands of years.
The Bushmen were progressively displaced by other Africans and then by white settlers.  They have now lost most of their traditional rights to land and resources.  Many are impoverished, live in settlements and are reduced to menial labor.  Local and international pressure groups are pressing for ancestral land and the right of self-determination to be returned to them.
NAMIBIA: Etosha safari
Pictures of African wildlife in the Etosha National Park in Namibia. Etosha wildlife
EAST AFRICA: Safaris
Photos of African wildlife on the evocative Serengeti and Masai Mara. African wildlife
OTHER DESTINATIONS
More pictures
Pictures from more of the world's stunning locations.
BOTSWANA: Okavango Delta
Pictures of wild animals in the pristine Okavango Delta wetlands of Botswana. Botswana, Okavango
BOTSWANA: Elephants of Chobe
Pictures of the elephants that create a dramatic spectacle in Botswana. Chobe elephants
AFRICA WILDLIFE WALLPAPER
African animal photos as wallpaper for your computer desktop.
LIVING EDENS: NAMIB
The Namib Desert, "Africa's Burning Shore".  From The Reader's Digest World on PBS Online.
LIVING EDENS: ETOSHA
A guide to Etosha and its wildlife.  Another website from The Reader's Digest World.
NAMIBIA TRAVEL GUIDE
A guide to the diverse sights of Namibia, with photos.
THE ELEPHANTS OF AFRICA
The natural history of elephants.  From PBS Online.
ELEPHANT INFORMATION
Information about elephants and links to other useful sites.
SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL
Campaigning for the rights of tribal peoples including the San Bushmen.
A TOUR AROUND NAMIBIA
From the Great Outdoor Recreation Pages.
AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
Working to preserve the wildlife and wild lands of Africa.  Includes information about the lives and conservation of elephants, rhinos and lions.
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND
Working to leave our children a living planet.
DESTINATION NAMIBIA
The Lonely Planet travel guide to Namibia.