Namib-Naukluft Park Warnings Or Dangers Tips by nigelw6443 Top 5 Page for this destination

Scorpions

Of course there are Scorpions, sometimes you might even see one!

Around Namib Desert Lodge there were quite a few seen. Just before dusk they come out to feed. But generally they are not harmful unless of course you do not take care with either handling or checking your shoes in the morning! Another safeguard which I discovered at another lodge was using a towel or something to block the crack under the door.(I know they don't always build with such standards as Europe or N.America.

Two types, the Yellow and the larger Black Scorpion.

At another lodge just outside Etosha I had a Yellow Scorpion in my room and we had the towel wrapped sandbank in front of the door,but that's another story...

Snakes!!

This always gets peoples attention!

Yes you are in a desert with rocky areas and scrubland, this is a prime location for certain types of snake such as the Puff Adder, Cape Cobra, Sidewinder etc but the chances of seeing a snake aren't common. Obviously if you go looking the chances are you will find ie by looking under rocks, logs etc.,

Our guide has lived in Namibia all her life and she has only come across a House Snake which is not poisonous and once on a safari a tourist pointed out a Puff Adder next to the trail.

If you stick to paths and trails you will be fine as any snake will usually flee when feeling the vibrations from your footsteps.

Most snakes that bite don't even inject venom it's more of a warning. But in this region you may come across the Puff Adder. These fat, sluggish snakes are highly venomous and they are too slow to flee but don't get too close as they have a lightening bite and most snake bites reported in Namibia are of the Puff Adder kind.