Repeat clients who have ticked off a traditional safari experience in south or east Africa are opting for a self-drive package to see Namibia’s dramatic landscapes.
The country’s must-sees include the towering sand dunes of Sossusvlei, the rocky moonscapes near Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast – so-called because of the mass of shipwrecks off shore.
The country is not short of game parks either, with most itineraries taking in the Etosha National Park in the northwest and the Caprivi Game Park in the northeast.
Southern Africa Travel operations manager James Westrip said: “Namibia is very much for the second-time traveller. You go there to see a different side of Africa – the desert with its huge, wide open spaces. The country is four times the size of the UK with a population of around 1.5m. It is very unspoilt.”
The operator offers an 18-day self-drive tour that leads in at £2,389. The deal includes flights, three-star accommodation, car hire and most meals.
Flights are with South African Airways. “SAA flies every day to Johannesburg, with a good daily connecting flight,” said Westrip.
Abercrombie and Kent planning manager Jayne Smith said: “We get a mix of those who have taken an animal safari before or first-timers interested in the country’s scenery.
“In one day’s driving you can see many different types of scenery, big square mountains and then flat desert and scrub.”
The operator offers a 12-night self-drive itinerary for £1,910. The price includes flights from the UK to the capital Windhoek, 13 days’ car hire and 12 nights’ accommodation in four-star properties.
The deal includes breakfast and seven days’ full board. Flights are with Air Nambia or SAA.
n Namibia has seen a steady rise in UK tourists since 1993, when 5,987 visited, compared to 13,992 in 1998.