Illustration by Dawn Cooper
1. Black rhino, Etosha National Park
Black rhino © Education Images / Getty
Black rhinos interacting in what Attenborough called “secret parties” in the 2013 BBC series Africa was filmed at a waterhole close to the Etosha Pan. Visit between May and October for the best chance of sightings.
2. Cheetah, Okonjima Nature Reserve
A bull caribou in Denali National Park © Gallo Images / Heinrich van den Berg / Getty
On-foot radio-tracking of cheetahs is one of the stand-out activities at Okonjima, the world’s spiritual home of cheetah conservation.
3. Pel's fishing owl, Mahango Game Reserve
Pel's fishing owl © Wolfgang Kaehler / Getty
Standing 2ft high and with a 5ft wingspan, Pel’s fishing owl is one of the most sought-after of Namibia’s 700 or so bird species. Pub-quiz fact one: it can catch baby crocodiles.
4. Welwitschia plant, Welwitschia Plains
Welwitschia plant © Arterra / Getty
Only growing in the Namib Desert’s coastal region, this odd-looking plant is found in its greatest numbers some 70km inland from Swakopmund. Pub-quiz fact two: it belongs to the same plant group as conifers.
5. Hartmann’s mountain zebra, Fish River Canyon
Hartmann's mountain zebra © Roger de la Harpe / Getty
This canyon has been compared to Arizona’s Grand. Wildlife is scarce in this challenging environment, but you're likely to spot small herds of these zebras.
6. Cape fur seal, Cape Cross Seal Reserve
Cape fur seal © Paranyu Pithayarungsarit / Getty
At the height of the breeding season in November and December, some 210,000 seals crowd the beach here, attracting killer whales from the sea and black-backed jackals and brown hyenas from land.