Planning a trip to Namibia

Exposed to the mercy of the elements, Namibia's landscapes are not what you expect to find in Africa: deserts, tortured rock, open plains and a bleak eerie coastline that for much of the year is bathed in thick fog. Planning a trip to Namibia shows the country is dominated by vast expanses of silent unspoilt wilderness, yet these hostile environments are home to a wealth of animals and birds. Namibia is the last place on earth where black rhino roam free, it's the only home of the desert elephant, and 25% of the world's cheetah stalk the arid plains. Planning a trip to the cities of Namibia are clean and modern, with a fully developed infrastructure. Quite by contrast are communities in the far-reaching north, where life hasn't changed for hundreds of years. The traditions of the magnificent Himba and the Bushmen of the Kalahari continue to survive in these unyeilding landscapes. Namibia is the first country in the world to include protection of the environment and wildlife in its constitution, and much of the country is protected in parks and reserves. It's also a destination that's about adventure; whether you drive, hike or bike, the opportunities to enjoy the wild beauty of this empty, ancient land are almost limitless.