One of Africa’s most unique destinations, Namibia is home to some of the continent’s most spectacular, stark and raw landscapes. 

 

This is a place of untamed charms – captivating, compelling and incredibly photogenic, it’s hard to fathom that a large proportion of it is inhospitable. The country is named for and centred around the Namib, an ancient desert that runs the full 1,500 kilometres of Namibia’s coastline, and there is Damaraland and the Kalahari too. It is from these uninhabitable lands that come rare but easily spottable desert-adapted animals, like lions and elephants, and hardy, age-old indigenous cultures, still proudly living lives full of rich tradition. 
 

The bushlands, like those of Etosha National Park, are teeming with life, and across the country there are plenty of geological wonders to discover, from the sun-baked clay pans of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei and the towering ochre sand dunes that surround them to the craggy rock formations of the north, complete with prehistoric rock art. 

 

The towns, when you come across them, are quaint and European in their vibe, offering gateways to more wonders. In lively capital Windhoek, visitors are often quickly pulled away from its charms by the close-by wilderness, while lovely coastal Swakopmund is the place to board a boat to cruise the waters of Walvis Bay, where you’ll spot all manner of aquatic creatures (the area is particularly known for whales).  

 

All this, and weather that is glorious 98% of the time? No wonder exploring here is such a delight!