The undulating mountains ecosystem harbors the endangered mountain Gorillas. The park also comprises of the montane ecosystem with bamboo forest, heath, swamp and open grasslands. Guided nature walks through the rain forest and cultivated foothills of the Virungas expose you to mystical views of the wilderness- listen to sounds of the golden monkeys and graceful birds. The park is spotted with buffaloes, elephants and giraffes.

An exhilarating trek through the cultivated foothills of the Virungas offers stirring views in all directions. Then, abruptly, the trail enters the national park, immersing trekkers in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colourful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, and littered with fresh spoor of the mountains’ elusive populations of buffalo and elephant. Through gaps in the forest canopy, the magnificent peaks are glimpsed, easily accessible and among the highest in Africa, beckoning an ascent.

The bustling market town of Ruhengeri has a memorable setting at the base of the Virungas. On the outskirts of town, the natural bridge at Musanze – a solidified lava flow  is a fascinating relic of the volcanic activity that shaped this scenic area. Also within easy day tripping distance of Ruhengeri are the seldom visited but lovely Lakes Burera, Ruhondo and Karago.

Accommodation

• Virunga Safari Lodge
• Ruhengeri offers a good selection of reasonably priced small hotels and guesthouses, including the newly renovated hotel Gorilla’s Nest.
• Visitors could also base themselves in Gisenyi or Kigali and – with an early start – head to the Parc des Volcans and Ruhengeri as a day trip.

Gorilla filming fees and Volcanoes park Tariffs

Namibia Giraffe drinking water

This section of the site aims to provide information about different holiday tourist destinations in Namibia. We aim to expand this section regularly to cover more locations.
Most Popular tourist travel destinations include:

1.Etosha National Park
2.Swakopmund and Walvis Bay
3.Cape Cross Seal Colony
4.Twyfelfontein
5.Okahandja Town
6.Sesriem and Sossusvlei
7.Namib Naukluft National Park

Okahandja is home to an excellent wood market where craftsmen sell handmade souvenirs.  These are largely hand carved wooden animals which vary in size from tiny to enormous, but the items on sale here are not just restricted to wood.  Ostrich eggs are drained, cleaned and then painted or engraved with detailed pictures.  Bones from animals are sometimes carved polished and painted to produce items such as bottle openers or ornaments.

The shell filling station as you approach Okahandja from the south has a good shop, and if you don’t already have a supply of cold drinks then this is a good place to stop and buy some.

It is worth enquiring at the camp offices which waterholes are dry as not all the waterholes are in use all year round – some may have dried up naturally and others may be undergoing maintenance work.

Some of the waterholes are natural, some are natural waterholes that have been expanded by man, and some are man-made.

This is not intended to be a full list of the waterholes, rather it is a suggestion of some of the waterholes that might be worth visiting or avoiding.

Andoni
This waterhole is a long drive North from Namutoni and is a fair distance from any of the other waterholes. The waterhole is clearly visible from the car parking area and is in a large shallow bowl. I have sighted lion here, but the distance to this waterhole make it one to avoid unless you’ve had no luck elsewhere.

Chudop
This waterhole is around 6km from Namutoni, and is another waterhole with a Spotted Hyena den close to it, and game sightings can be excellent here.

Dik-Dik drive
Not actually a waterhole, this is a 6km drive in a circular route near the Klein Namutoni waterhole. This is a good place to see the Damara Dik-Dik – the smallest antelope species found in the park. These are often found near the road under large bushes. Dik-Dik drive is also a good place for sightings of black faced impala and zebra and giraffe sightings are also common here.

Etosha
Not actually a waterhole, this is a lookout on the edge of the pan. There is also a short drive out on to the pan which is open when the pan is suitably dry, so you can drive approx 20 metres out onto the pan on a short road marked by ropes. When you drive on to the pan like this you get an idea of how vast it is – the pan extends a far as the eye can see and is totally empty and barren.

Halali
This waterhole has en my experience proved to be the best one for sightings of Black Rhino, and sightings of elephant are also good here. If staying at Halali camp it is well worth spending as much time as possible in the evening at the waterhole to maximise chances of spotting Rhino. During the day there is a steady flow of wildlife coming in to drink.

Helio
This waterhole is dry and is usually deserted – one to avoid.

Khoinachas
This waterhole is fairly close to Namutoni and is within the home range of the Hyenas living at Chudop, so Spotted Hyena can sometimes be seen here drinking or scavenging on a kill.

Klein Namutoni
This waterhole is just 3-4 minutes drive from Namutoni camp, and as such it is very popular with tourists shortly before sunset as they can continue watching wildlife as long as possible. This waterhole is well used by wildlife including Giraffe, Zebra, Springbok and more. There is also a Spotted Hyena den nearby so Spotted Hyena sightings are possible, particularly around dawn.

Namutoni
The rest-camp’s waterhole can be active during the day with Springbok, Oryx and Warthog, but the view is restricted by the large mass of reeds in the centre. Of the three rest camp waterholes, this is the least busy.

Nebrownii
This waterhole is about 9 Km East of Okaukuejo, just off the main East-West road through the park. The waterhole is adjacent to a flat plain and also has some scrub nearby. Game sightings can be good here, particularly during the dry season.
Oryx wait close to the Nebrownii waterhole in Etosha

Okaukuejo
By far the busiest of the camp waterholes, this is a good place for sightings of elephant in the evening, and during the day the waterhole can be crowded with springbok, kudu, oryx, zebra and other wildlife
Springbok crowd the waterhole at Okaukeujo Elephant and other wildlife at Okaukuejo waterhole A Rhino visits the okaukuejo waterhole at night

Okondeka
This waterhole is located North of Okaukuejo and is on the very edge of the Etosha Pan. A pride of lions is resident in the area and can sometimes be spotted. The view across the vast empty waste of the Etosha Pan is spectacular
A lion walks near the Okondeka waterhole with the Etosha Pan in the background

Ombika
This waterhole is located near the Anderssons Gate entrance to the park, and is worth visiting as you enter or leave the park, but it can be frustrating to see wildlife arrive then vanish out of sight – the waterhole is in a large dip, and as animals go down to drink they can sometimes move out of sight

From the abundant game and bird life to the diverse fish and seal population on the coast, Namibia offers something for everyone. Highlights include some of the highest sand dunes in the world, at Sossusvlei, historical and cultural experiences, a variety of geological formations and ecosystems, and abundant wildlife, adapted in unique ways to the desert climate and conditions. Namibia is home to one of Africa’s greatest wild animal sanctuaries, Etosha National Park. In addition, Namibia boasts one of the most stunning nature and game reserves in the world, Namib Naukluft Park. Namibia is like no other country in Africa, offering visitors an intense encounter with nature, the environment and wildlife.

More information about Namibia
Safari Destinations
Travel Tips
Wildlife Conservation

Daily Updates

Young People in Tourism Meet in Namibia

All young people in the southern African region taking part in the tourism tourism industry met in Windhoek to discuss issues of common concern.

The sixth annual Cross Border Tourism Youth Empowerment (CBTYE) conference was opened by Environment Minister Willem Konjore and Youth Minister John Mutorwa of Namibia.

“I hope that this initiative will help young people to network, exchange experiences and work towards addressing challenges faced by the youth in the tourism industry” said Konjore.

The occasion was attended by representatives from Namibia, Angola, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

Konjore told the participants that tourism was Namibia’s third largest revenue earner and has created about 10 000 jobs.

“It is a vital industry with enormous benefits. It does not only strengthen the local economic development of rural areas but adds to the improved living standards of our people,” said Konjore.

The CBTYE initiative started in South Africa and later spread to other SADC countries.