Four times the size of Britain, but with a population of barely two million souls, Namibia is an awesome land of space, sky and silence. With its looming sand dunes, barren mountains, stark coastline, and diverse wildlife gathered around the country's few permanent sources of water, Namibia's wilds can be explored with remarkable ease, due to the country's comparatively well-developed infrastructure.

The overriding physical characteristic of the country is the vast Namib Naukluft desert. This is Africa's largest conserved wilderness, encompassing dunes, plains, canyons and mountains. Although seemingly desolate, the desert is rich in wildlife: hundreds of endemic species of birds and mammals gather around the rare waters.

The country is best visited during the dry winter, which runs from May to October. Temperatures vary wildly throughout the country. The coast is generally from 15 - 25 C throughout the year, although fog makes mornings and evenings quite chilly. The north of the country, where Etosha National Park is, runs from 2 C in winter, to 43 C in summer. Travelers will want to have a fleece with them in most parts of the country, as it can be cool in the morning and evening.

Namibia's small population is one of the most ethnically diverse in the region. Almost half the population are Ovambos - these farmers have lived in the region for 200 years. Minority ethnic groups include the Nama , San , Herero , Himba , Kavango , Tswana , and others.

Southwest Africa's harsh climate has kept human populations low throughout history. Remains of human habitation dating back 20,000 years have been found in Damaraland , Kaokoland , and parts of the Namib desert. Semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer culture continues into the 20th century, and is still practiced in a few remaining pockets, most notably by the Himba people. European settlement began in the 15th century, with Portuguese traders stopping off along the coast. The 16th century saw the most significant social change in the region: the arrival of the relatively warlike pastoralist Herero people from the region of modern Zambia. With their knowledge of forging weapons from iron, the Herero dominated the region and instigated a period of tribal warfare that continued unabated until the Herero united with other tribes against their common enemy: the German settlers of the late 19th century. Up until this time, the harsh landscape had restricted the impact of traders, hunters and missionaries, whose activities were primarily limited to the coast. The Germans established forts in 1885, provoking deep resentment amongst the Nama and Herero people. Settlers arrived soon after, and were given Herero land to farm. The situation between settlers and native people deteriorated rapidly. By 1904, armed conflicts were beginning. After World War 1, German rule was replaced by South African rule, which was equally resented by local people. Indigenous people were relocated to "tribal reserves" in the 1930's and 40's. 1960 saw the birth of the South West African People's Organization , whose claims for self-rule were acknowledged by the International Court of Justice and the UN, although the situation on the ground was becoming increasingly violent. The 1970's and 80's were a time of war and struggle in the region. In 1990, Namibia finally became independent, and is now one of the most politically stable, and alluring nations in Africa. Its diamond mines, and other mineral wealth, play a key role in maintaining economic and political stability.