Africa

The sheer scale of Namibia's natural wonders, so scarred and ravaged by time, is one of its most distinguishing and awe-inspiring features. Yet despite these desolate landscapes, the miracle of life appears all around. Dunes the size of mountains that are ceaselessly blown and sculpted by the wind host a wonderful variety of flora and fauna, whilst the fog shrouded beaches of the legendary Skeleton Coast, curse of so many shipwrecked sailors in times past, are home to sprawling colonies of breeding seals and the sun-bleached bones of ancient whales.

In the northern stretches of Namibia's endless plains lie the shimmering salt pans of Etosha, a fragile ecosystem of shady water holes and thick mopane forests in which herds of oryx and impala shelter from the midday heat and where the predators lie in wait for their prey.

Even in the high plateau region of Damaraland, a world of jagged rocks and craggy mountains overlooking a hostile semi-desert wilderness, underground streams support lush oases, which in turn support an intriguing array of desert-adapted wildlife including elephant, springbok, greater kudu and the rare black rhino.

Namibia is a remarkably diverse and exciting country that always confounds first impressions and delights in sharing its secrets.