Etosha National Park

Namibia is recognized for its dynamic sand dunes and shifting deserts, as well as its majestic red rock formations and mountains that soar from the savannah to the sky. It is a territory defined by the turbulent and unforgiving Atlantic swells, which pay homage to the storms of the Cape of Good Hope and impart a salty spray over the seal-populated bays of the Skeleton Coast. As a result, Namibia’s landscapes and remote regions have played a pivotal role in establishing this substantial expanse of West Africa as a prime destination for adventure tourism on the continent.

Take some of the world’s clearest skies, oldest desert, highest dunes, and most desolate coastline, add in a world-class collection of wild animals, open landscapes, empty roads, and excellent campgrounds: Namibia – a firm favorite on the southern African self-drive and adventure travel circuit – has it all.

Namibia is a land of superlatives and contrasts. It’s home to Africa’s largest canyon, its oldest desert, and some of its highest dunes, boasting a 1,500km (932mi) coastline along with a network of languid waterways. Despite being one of Africa’s driest countries, sun-baked tracts of desert are nourished by fog rolling in from the icy Atlantic, enabling these seemingly empty expanses to support a variety of mega- and microfauna.