Landscapes in southern Africa

Southern Africa is incredibly diverse in terms of landscapes. The region is dry and hot and therefore features many dry savannas, deserts, and semi-deserts. There are several mountain ranges as well. While these mountains do not have soaring snow-capped peaks, they do have their own distinct tropical character.

Landscapes in Africa: Namibia

Namibia, in particular, offers a wealth of spectacular landscapes. The Namib Desert, which encompasses the entire 200km-wide Namibian coastline, is one of the oldest deserts on the planet. It’s an inhospitable yet exceptionally impressive wilderness. The original inhabitants called this area “The Land the Gods Made in Anger” for good reason. The sand dunes in this Namib Desert are famous, but you’ll also find weathered rocks in the most bizarre colors and shapes in many places. The Fish River Canyon is the deepest gorge in Africa and is said to be the second-deepest gorge on the planet after the Grand Canyon in the USA.

Landscapes in Africa: Botswana

Botswana is less spectacular than Namibia in terms of landscape. The country is largely flat, with no truly spectacular highlights. You primarily go to Botswana to see wildlife. However, even here, there are quite a few landscapes that are definitely worth a visit. First and foremost, of course, is the Okavango Delta in the north. A vast oasis in the Kalahari desert with an extensive system of rivers and swamps. The enormous salt pans of Makgadikgadi and Nxai are also interesting. They shine dazzlingly white in the bright sun. Standing on these salt pans really gives you an ‘end of the world’ feeling. Finally, there’s the Central Kalahari Game Reserve with its endless savannas.

South Africa

The northwest of South Africa consists primarily of deserts and savannas. This part of South Africa is actually a continuation of the deserts in Namibia. Further south and east, the landscape is greener and more populated. I’ve traveled less through South Africa than through Namibia and Botswana. Therefore I’m less familiar with southern South Africa. In the north, the Orange River Gorge and the desolate desert landscape of Richtersveld National Park are well worth a visit if you are mainly interested in landscapes.