Namibia

Blanketed by vast tracts of desert and semi-arid terrain, Namibia stands apart in Africa as a unique destination. Named after the Namib Desert, one of the planet's oldest and driest desert environments, these expansive and ancient landscapes provide for some of the continents most startlingly desolate, yet enthralling scenery.

And being a large country with an extremely sparse population, traveling here, whether by road or air, provides a sense of never-ending remoteness.

Highlights include the mountains of sand that comprise the dune-scapes of Sossulsvlei, the haunting beauty of the Skeleton Coast and the windswept Atlantic Ocean, and the rugged majesty of the mountains dominate Damaraland and the Northwest. In the South, the awesome Fish River Canyon is the outstanding attraction.

The wildlife is surprisingly bountiful, particularly in Etosha Pan and along the seasonal river systems in the north.