Windhoek, capital of 165,000 people is only true city in country. For those traveling to more remote regions, this is where you settle practical matters. The positive aspects of German period can be seen in charming style of older buildings in city. Places of interest in city include State Museum, State Archives, and Namibia Crafts Centre. The Dan Viljoen Game Park lies 24 Km west of Windhoek on gentle hills of Khoma Hochland. In this resort you find ostriches, baboons, zebras and over 200 species of birds. The Waterburg Plateau Park, located 230 km from Windhoek is popular with weekenders. This extensive mountain wilderness is home to cheetah, leopard, kudu, giraffe, and white rhino.

Etosha National Park is what brings wildlife lovers to Namibia. The park is comparable in size and diversity of species with best in Africa. The unusual terrain of Etosha holds savanna grassland, dense brush and woodland. But it is Etosha Pan, a depression that sometimes holds water and covers 5,000 sq km, that is heart of park. The perennial springs around pan, attract many birds and land animals in dry winter months. The effect of this background is magical and some of best wildlife photographs have been taken here.

There are 144 mammal species in park and elephants are particularly abundant. Some other interesting wildlife here includes giraffe, leopard, cheetah, jackal, blue wildebeest, gemsbok and black rhino. The birding is great at Etosha and over 300 bird species have been recorded. You will get best value by spending at least three days here. There are excellent accommodation facilities at three rest camps of Namutoni, Halali and Okaukuejo. The best time to see animals is between May and September, when water draws them in huge numbers to edge of pan. Etosha is 400 km to north of Windhoek by road.

The Fish River Canyon is unrivalled in Africa and only Grand Canyon in U.S in larger. The Canyon runs for 160 km and reaches a width of 27 km and depth of 550 m. But size alone does not explain appeal of canyon. You experience incredible views at various points along rim. Adventure lovers do not merely come for views. Hiking through canyon is ultimate endurance adventure for hikers. There is an established 90 km hiking trail that will take you 4-5 days to cover.

The trail ends at Ai-Ais hot spring resort where you can unwind. You are allowed to hike between early May and end of September. The hike is quite strenuous and needless to say, you must be physically fit. The authorities disbelieve capacity of most people to undertake hike and will actually insist on seeing a medical certificate of fitness before allowing you to start off. Fish River Canyon is 580 km to south of Windhoek.

The Skeleton Coast has been graveyard of seafarers and whales and deserves that morbid name. The problem is dense fogs. And woe to ship wreck survivor who expects respite onshore! Ahead is Namib Desert, one of driest and most unwelcoming places. Adventure travelers love trekking along coastline as they enjoy stark beauty of area. To south at Cape Cross, you find a seal colony carrying tens of thousands of seals. The Skeleton Coast Park covers 16,400 sq km and begins at 355 km northwest of Windhoek.

The Portuguese explorer Diego Cao reached this part of world in year 1486. He is probably one of people whose experiences discouraged Europeans from venturing ashore until arrival of Germans 400 years later. Further south is Namib-Naukluft National Park, a vast wilderness covering 50,000 sq km. The landscape is very diverse and covers mountain outcrops, majestic sand dunes, and deep cut gorges. For really spectacular dunes, Sossusvlei area is unsurpassed. Here you have dunes rising to 300 m! The orange tint giants extend as far as horizon and area has an unreal, unforgettable atmosphere.

To northeast of country, well-watered Kavango and Caprivi Strip region offers an unspoilt wilderness suitable for rugged game viewing and camping. The area also promises a feast for bird lovers. Game reserves in area include: Kaudom, Caprivi, Mahango, Mudumu and Mamili. Poachers did great damage to wildlife during years of civil war in neighbouring Angola. Animal numbers are however building up rapidly. Some of wildlife in region includes leopard, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, lion and various antelope species. The Caprivi Reserve falls in an area of swamps and flood plains. Here you have an opportunity to partake fishing, hiking, game viewing safaris and river trips in traditional mokoro boats.

In Namibia you can enjoy up to 300 days of sunshine. The coast is temperate and thermometers run between 5C-25C. Inland, daytime temperatures range from 20C-34C, but can rise to 40C in north and south of country. Winter nights can be quite cold and frost occurs over large parts of country. The rains inland fall in summer (November-April) and are heaviest in Caprivi region. Rains do not much affect travel, but beware of flash floods in vicinity of riverbeds. The best time to travel is over dry months of March to October, when it is easier to see animals at waterholes. It is best to avoid Namib Desert and Etosha between December and March when it can get unbearably hot.

You can get by wearing light cottons and linens in summer. Over winter nights and mornings, you need heavier cottons, warmer wraps and sweaters. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, as ground gets very hot. Some useful stuff to pack includes: camera, binoculars, sunglasses, sun hats, sunscreen and mosquito repellant. Be ready for dusty conditions and carry your clothing, equipment and supplies in dust proof bags. Do not be tempted to buy items made of ivory. You may not be allowed to carry them through customs at home. And it also good that you do not encourage trade in ivory products that keeps poachers busy.

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The game you come across in park includes elephant, hartebeest, leopard, lion, giraffe, buffalo, hippo, crocodiles and many species of antelopes. Upstream of Murchison Falls are Karuma Falls, where Nile cascades over 23 kilometres of rapids. Here you have some of most exciting white water in Africa. Murchison Falls is located 330 km from Kampala.

The Queen Elizabeth National Park is another outstanding treasure. It is a UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserve for Humanity. The recognition arises from tropical forest, green meadows, savannah and swamps that constitute park. In terms of wildlife, you find elephant, buffalo, hippos, baboons, chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds. The park occupies 2,000 sq km and is situated 440 km from Kampala. At northern end of Queen Elizabeth, you find Kibale. This park has a unique forest habitat and has an excellent diversity of animal and plant life. It is at Kibale that you find highest number of primate species in Uganda, and one of highest primate densities and diversities in world.

Traveling from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth or Bwindi, most visitors break at Lake Mburo National Park. The park is 230 km west of Kampala along Mbarara road and is most accessible in country. It is a very attractive park of rolling hills, open grassy valleys, interspersed with thickets, woodlands and rich wetlands. In addition to viewing game including zebra, cape buffalo and eland, you can relax by taking a boat trip on Lake Mburo.

The fairly flat terrain of country is interrupted to west by Rwenzori Mountains and to east by Mount Elgon. Rwenzori, otherwise known as "Mountains of Moon" has third highest peak in Africa after Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro. The Rwenzori is part of national park of same name and contains 6 snow-capped peaks. You can hike trails of this mountain without any special climbing equipment unless you want to go for peaks. The mist covered mountain range stretches for about 100 km.

Mount Elgon sits by Kenyan border and is shell of an ancient volcano. The main attractions here are waterfalls, caves that were once used by indigenous people, hot springs, mountains vegetation, various peaks, Suam Gorge and caldera itself. After millions of years of erosion, oval shaped caldera now measures roughly 7 by 8 kms, one of largest in world.

The traveler with a sense of history will want to visit Source of Nile at Jinja. Jinja is 60 km to north east of Kampala and is easily accessible by road. This is where White Nile begins, as it exits Lake Victoria on its 5,600 km journey to Mediterranean. The source of Nile was a thousand year old mystery that was decisively settled by explorer John Speke in 1862.

If you are keen about culture, go for The Kabaka's Trail. This is a unique journey through a part of Uganda's rich heritage that has been shaped by region's kings over years. The Kabaka is ceremonial king of Baganda and his lineage goes way back to 14th century. The Trail combines a series of cultural sites, all within easy reach of Kampala. You can easily combine Kabaka Trail with your Search of Nile excursion to Jinja. The Trail offers much more than sightseeing and you will learn about hidden and forgotten history of Uganda. You will also experience an authentic tribal culture - with traditional dance, music, craft making, spiritual healing and storytelling.

There are international standard hotels in Uganda, especially in main towns of Entebbe, Jinja and Kampala. The quality is variable in smaller towns and rated accommodation is scarce. All of major national parks offer accommodation in game lodges and tented camps.

If you want to drive around Uganda, you need to show an international drivers license to hire a vehicle. Rental cars in Uganda are available in Entebbe and Kampala. Roads radiate from Kampala and are of varying quality. In north of country security situation is still doubtful and so are roads. Its is a good idea if you are on self drive to get local advise about condition roads you intend to use.

Uganda enjoys a tropical climate tempered by altitude. The hottest period of year is from December to February when temperature rise to 29 degrees Celsius. For rest of year, temperatures range between 21 to 25°C.The country experiences two rainy seasons: April to May and October to November, with April being wettest month. The best times to visit are December-March and June-September. Light informal clothing is generally adequate. But you need warmer wraps and sweaters for evenings and early mornings. You are also advised to carry some rainwear, just in case.

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