Travel News Namibia

Venture Media is the pioneer of Namibia tourism promotion. We are the leader in spreading the tourism word around the world. We distribute accurate, credible, up to date and regular tourism-related information on paper, in social media, on the World Wide Web, and on mobile apps. We have reached hundreds of thousands over almost three decades. Be part of our community and let's do it together. We focus on telling and sharing STORIES THAT MATTER across our various magazines and digital platforms. Join the journey and share your stories with audiences that understand and value why certain things matter. Why ethical business, conservation, tourism, people and communities matter. How these elements interrelate and how we can bring about change, contribute to the world and support each other. Whether for an entire nation, an…

How does one celebrate 30 years of a publication such as this with the honour it deserves? How does one encapsulate 30 years of dedication? 30 years of telling beautiful and life-enriching stories about a country few people knew about when the very first pages were sent out into the world? These were some of the thoughts racing through my mind as we set off to put together the first 2023 issue of Travel News Namibia. The magazine celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, and what a wonderful three decades it has been. In each issue of the year we will look back over the decades that were, and look forward to what exciting things are to come. Started by the late Paul van Schalkwyk in 1993, Travel News has always…

A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON TOURISM FOR 2023 The Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) reports positive projections for tourism in Namibia for the year ahead. According to the association’s accommodation numbers for January, the country is on its way to full recovery, and even growth, in the travel and hospitality sector. January, midway through the tourism low season, has shown a 3% increase in the occupancy rate compared to January 2019 (the last pre-pandemic normal year) and nearly double the occupancy rate of January 2022. The statistics also indicate that the domestic travel market for January 2023 has grown by 5% compared to 2019, which proves that Namibians have established a steady travel culture, willing to explore and enjoy their own country. Namibia’s MICE market (business and conference tourism) numbers for 2023 are still…

Rainfall in the Namib Desert is extremely scarce, and every drop is a welcome blessing. Don’t be fooled by this barren and dry landscape, though; this hinterland teems with life. But it does so secretively, only sharing these signs of life with the few that know where to look. When the rains fall in the desert it is as though this land holds out its hand, inviting all to come see how alive it really is. It is a welcome, a request to come and see the transformation. Yet, even seeing it with your own eyes is surreal. Our journey to this transformed landscape sees us depart Windhoek heading south. We are taking the scenic route, heading towards Rehoboth and then turning off on the C24 until we turn onto the…

you might not know about Namibia 1. Namibia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world, with just 2.6 million people living in a land area that is nearly three times the size of California. 2. The Namib Desert, hugging the entire Namibian coastline, is one of the oldest deserts in the world and home to some of the planet’s most unique and diverse plant and animal species. 3. Namibia is one of only a few countries which have enshrined the protection of wildlife and the environment and the principle of sustainable use in their constitution. 4. The Himba people of Namibia are famous for their striking appearance and unique cultural practices, including the use of otjize, a red ochre mixture, to cover their skin and hair. 5. Namibia is home to…

BLACK-FACED IMPALA The first animal you are most likely to encounter if you enter through Von Lindequist or Andersson gates is the blackfaced impala, which is endemic to northwestern Namibia and southwestern Angola. It is a subspecies of the closely related common impala which occurs further east in Namibia. Its distinctive purplish-black facial blaze extending from the nostrils to the top of the head, the shiny reddish coat and the bushy tail distinguish it from the common impala. Fearing that the population in Kaokoland would become extinct as a result of a prolonged drought, competition from livestock, poaching and illegal hunting, conservation authorities decided to launch a major capture operation to translocate some of the antelope to Etosha National Park. Game capture operations were still rudimentary in those days - it was before…