About the Book
This new thoroughly updated edition of Bradt's Namibia remains the essential guide for a successful visit to this vast country - more than twice the size of Germany but with less than 3% of the population. Written by expert author and long-standing tour specialist Chris McIntyre, this sixth edition incorporates all the most recent changes, including unrivalled coverage of places to stay and eat, from small, personal guesthouses to classy hotels and upmarket game lodges, and detailed information for self-drivers (including personally researched and checked GPS coordinates) as well as for fly-in and guided safaris. There's also in-depth coverage of wildlife and where to see it, including a new full-colour wildlife field guide section, covering mammals, reptiles and amphibians, marine life and birds.
Two background chapters covering everything from history and politics to people, ethnic groups and culture are complemented by two chapters on planning, preparation, health and safety and two on the practicalities of getting around and camping and walking in the bush (including canoeing). Helping you to discover Namibia in detail, 13 chapters offer a regional breakdown, from the capital, Windhoek to the Southern Kalahari, Namib desert, Swakopmund, Skeleton Coast, Etosha National Park, and the Kavango and Zambezi regions in the extreme northeast, including excursions into neighbouring Botswana.
With sweeping landscapes and empty roads, Namibia has long captured the imaginations of travellers and photographers. Its immense emptiness offers majestic sand dunes, seemingly endless gravel plains, vast tracts of farmland and rugged mountains hiding galleries of ancient Bushman rock art. Add to this the wildlife and the unexpected beauty of the rivers that define the country's northern and southern boundaries, and it's easy to see why Namibia attracts lovers of the great outdoors.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION
Chapter 1 The Natural Environment
Physical environment, Flora and fauna, Conservation
Chapter 2 Namibia Wildlife Guide
Land mammals, Reptiles and amphibians, Marine life, Birdlife
Chapter 3 History, Politics and Economy
History, Government and administration, Economy
Chapter 4 People and Culture
Population overview, Ethnic groups, Language, Religion, Education, Culture
Chapter 5 Planning and Preparation
When to visit, Highlights, How to travel and budgeting, Organising your trip, Tourist
information and national parks, Tour operators, Red tape, Embassies and high commissions,
Getting there and away, What to take, Money, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public
holidays, Shopping, Media and communications, Travelling positively
Chapter 6 Health and Safety
Health, Safety
Chapter 7 Getting Around Namibia
Driving, By air, By rail, By bus, Localtransport, Hitchhiking
Chapter 8 Camping and Walking in the Bush
Bush camping, Walking, Canoeing, Minimum impact
PART TWO THE GUIDE
Chapter 9 Windhoek
History, Getting there and away, Orientation, Getting around, Tourist information, Travel agents and tour operators, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Sports, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Excursions outside Windhoek
Chapter 10 The Central Corridor
West from Windhoek: to the coast, East from Windhoek, South from Windhoek
Chapter 11 The Southern Kalahari and Fish River Canyon
Mariental, Hardap Dam Game Reserve, Eastof Mariental and the B1: the Kalahari, The B1 from
Mariental to Keetmanshoop, Keetmanshoop, The deep south, Fish River Canyon
Chapter 12 Lüderitz and the Southwest
The roads to Lüderitz, Lüderitz, Excursions from Lüderitz, North of the B4
Chapter 13 The Namib-Naukluft National Park
History, Flora and fauna, NamibRand Nature Reserve, Naukluft Mountains, Sesriem and Sossusvlei area, Solitaire area, The park's northern section
Chapter 14 Swakopmund and Walvis Bay Area
History, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Around the towns
Chapter 15 The Skeleton Coast
Flora and fauna, Getting there and away, Dorob National Park, Skeleton Coast Park: the south, Skeleton Coast Park: the north
Chapter 16 The Kunene Region
Southern Damaraland, Northern Damaraland, Kaokoland
Chapter 17 Etosha National Park
Background information, Practical information, What to see and do
Chapter 18 Highlands South of Etosha
Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Waterberg Plateau Park, Outjo
Chapter 19 The Triangle and Bushmanland
Otavi, Tsumeb, Grootfontein, Bushmanland
Chapter 20 Ovamboland
Tsumeb to Ondangwa, Ondangwa, Ongwediva, Oshakai, Oshakai to Ruacana, Ruacana
Chapter 21 Rundu and the Kavango/Zambezi Regions (The Caprivi Strip)
The Kavango Regions, Excursions into Botswana, Zambezi (Caprivi) Region
Appendix 1 Tracks and Signs
Appendix 2 Language
Appendix 3 Further Information
Index
About the Author :
Chris McIntyre went to Africa in 1987, after reading physics at Queen's College, Oxford. He taught with VSO in Zimbabwe for almost three years and travelled around extensively, mostly with a backpack. He first visited Namibia, driving from the far tip of the Caprivi to the Orange River, in 1989. There was too little time for the vast distances covered, but he was captivated by the country.
In 1990 he returned to cover the ground in more detail, attending the country's independence ceremony in the process, before returning to the UK. There he co-authored the UK's first guidebook to Namibia and Botswana, published by Bradt, before spending three years as a shipbroker in London.
Since then, Chris has concentrated on what he enjoys most: Africa. He wrote the first editions of Bradt's guides to Zambia in 1996 and Botswana in 2003, and since has co-authored several guides to Tanzania and Zanzibar, whilst regularly returning to Namibia, and continuing to ensure that it's up to date.
Meanwhile Chris's day job is managing director of Expert Africa - a specialist tour operator which organises high-quality trips throughout Africa for individual travellers from around the world, including a very wide range of trips to Namibia. This also includes the Wild about Africa programme of trips guided by top professional guides.
In his spare time, Chris maintains a keen interest in development and conservation issues, acting as advisor to various NGOs and projects associated with Africa. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and contributes photographs and articles to various publications. Now based in Dockenfield, Surrey, Chris and his wife, Susan, still regularly travel and research in Africa.
Chris can usually be contacted by email on chris.mcintyre@expertafrica.com
Review :
Recommended reading in Travel Africa magazine
"Bradt's Namibia travel guide is invaluable for planning an itinerary." The Irish News
"Bradt's Namibia travel guide is essential for planning your trip" Scotland on Sunday
'A handy option.' Wanderlust
'Excellent' Sunday Times Travel Magazine
