Explore one of the world’s most spectacular and least populated countries, with amazing wildlife, unique desert landscapes, outstanding night skies and an incredible sense of silence and space, such a rarity in modern life. Namibia is one of our most extraordinary destinations – its amazing, remote and extreme landscapes have created an utterly unique country of exceptional and surprising beauty. The statistics are incredible – as one of the world’s emptiest countries, Namibia has the third lowest population density in the world. The vast Namib Desert, the oldest in the world, covers the whole coastal region, 1,243 mi from north to south and extending 93 mi into the interior. The rest of the land is either mountainous or semi-arid, and includes a large part of the Kalahari. Only 1% of the land is arable. The country itself is more than three times the size of the UK, but with a population barely over two million. Back in the 1880s, during the ‘scramble for Africa’, what is now Namibia became one of a number of German colonies across West Africa. At first, the settlers were few and co-operated with the various indigenous tribes. However, after an uprising in 1904 was brutally crushed by the German authorities many thousands perished from thirst and starvation. After the end of WWI the local tribes were initially more welcoming to South Africa, which was entrusted to administer the country. After a prolonged guerrilla war during the last few years of apartheid, Namibia finally gained its independence in 1990. Whilst many people are surprised to hear that Namibia is such a young country, it is remarkably stable and efficient. The infrastructure in Windhoek and other major towns is much better than many other African countries, however much of the road network is made up of gravel roads – the very low rainfall means that they remain in good condition throughout the year and our coaches are specially adapted for these conditions. The country’s small capital, Windhoek, is our first port of call – you’ll notice some German street names and a few older buildings here and there, but generally this is a low-rise modern city of wide clean avenues, rows of palm and jacaranda trees interspersed with a few 19th-century church steeples. Within just a 10-minute drive of the centre you’ll find yourself in open countryside and within another 10 minutes you’ve lost sight of the city altogether. That’s the beauty of Namibia – you are always a short distance away from the wide-open vistas and unspoilt horizons of the real Africa. The Namib Desert is undoubtedly a major highlight – this vast sea of shifting dunes is 55 million years old, the world’s oldest desert. The seemingly endless panorama of shadow and light, with an astounding palette of colours ranging from orange, terracotta to deep reds is at its best early in the morning or at sunset. The dunes at Sossusvlei are some of the highest in the world and you’ll have the opportunity to climb one of the dunes overlooking the remarkable Dead Vlei salt pan. Amazingly, specially-adapted animals do manage to live here – look out for oryx and ostriches in amongst the camel thorn trees along the dry river beds. As a complete contrast, the seaside resort of Swakopmund with its fine Lutheran church, lush gardens and red and white Lighthouse looks a world away from the harsh arid landscape that surrounds it. Founded in 1892 as the country’s main harbour, nowadays the port facilities are down the coast at Walvis Bay and Swakomund is a pleasant, though somewhat sleepy, holiday spot with a nice beach, interesting colonial buildings and a number of good fish restaurants. It’s also the starting point for a number of fascinating trips: take a light aircraft flight over the Namib; visit the nearby dunes with a specialist naturalist guide or take a catamaran cruise in the bay to spot dolphins and seals. Towards the north of the country the region of Damaraland is a remote and ruggedly beautiful region with Namibia’s highest mountain, cliffs and arid valleys with numerous fascinating examples of ancient rock art. We visit the most famous of these, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, dating back 6,000 years. We’ll also visit a village of the local Himba tribe, with time for you to ask questions about their daily lives and see their remarkable hairstyles and jewellery. Etosha National Park, despite being one of the emptiest places in Namibia – nothing grows on its enormous salt pan – is nevertheless the best place to see the huge variety of wildlife that has adapted to this difficult environment. Etosha’s famous waterholes attract everything from rhino, to elephants, zebras, giraffes and lions, all in close proximity to one another. Not all of Etosha is made up of the barren salt pan, so there’s also plenty of exciting opportunities to track game in the bush too. After so many years of South African influence, almost everyone in Namibia speaks English, as well as ‘Namlish’ – a fascinating mixture of German, Africaans, local dialects and English. Namibian cuisine has also been strongly influenced by German culture – you’ll find dishes like wiener schnitzel, tasty sausages and excellent locally-brewed lagers in restaurants. The South African predilection for a good ‘braai’ (BBQ) can be experienced in the wide range of freshly grilled game meats at most hotels and of course there’s also a varied selection of well-priced Cape wines to choose from. It is no exaggeration that Namibia is a unique destination – you’ll be amazed at its diversity, its wildlife, its colours and its people, all within a vast landscape that will capture your imagination and your heart.