Located in the south west of Africa, Namibia is rapidly gaining popularity amongst travelers seduced by its vast landscapes, haunting shipwrecks, and extraordinary flora and fauna.

The capital city of Windhoek is a pleasant, relaxed place, easily explored by foot. Much of the city's early Colonial architecture remains. The Alte Feste, or old fort, houses the State Museum. An excellent collection of photos and memorabilia conveys a strong sense of Namibia's early colonial history, and is followed by a recently established collection of information on the struggle against apartheid, and SWAPO's role in recent history. Across the road is the Owela Museum, housing natural history exhibits. State House is a good place to learn about traditional life throughout Namibia. Courts, churches and colleges in typical Germanic style are found on Robert Mugabe Avenue. Windhoek is a good place to shop for Namibian handicrafts, including jewelry, textiles, basketwork, carvings and sculpture, and for hearing live music.

The coastal resort town of Swakopmund is popular amongst visitors and locals alike. Considered by many to be one of Africa's most colonially influenced towns, it has a great deal of early 20th century German architecture. Swakop, as it is often known, played a key role in German efforts at opening up the Namibian interior to colonial settlement. The town was settled in 1893, and is now increasingly popular amongst visitors. Stroll along the Promenade and Jetty. The pier offers sweeping views of the bay and Lighthouse. Classic buildings include the Lutheran Church, opposite from the Old German School. The Swakopmund Museum houses a broad and eclectic collection of natural history items, early colonial exhibits, and military uniforms. This is an excellent place to learn about the Nama-Herero wars, which played such a decisive role in Namibian politics. The Woermannhaus dates back to 1905: originally a sailors' hostel, today it contains a military museum, and offers sweeping views of the town and the sea from its tower. Surrounding Swakopmund are massive sand dunes, which are popular for dune-boarding and sight-seeing.

A short distance down the coast from Swakopmund, the calm waters of Walvis Bay developed into Namibia's primary trading port. This natural harbor was used back in the 15th century by Portuguese mariners. Today, it is popular for windsurfing, water-skiing, and fishing. The bay is a superb spot for bird-watching. Each year, thousands of migrating birds are attracted to the area and the nearby lagoon: avocet, stilts, flamingoes, sandpipers, plovers and more take refuge amongst the pools and reeds of the region.

The Namib Naukluft National Park is Southern Africa's largest expanse of conserved wilderness. This is an inconceivably vast region of ancient wilderness, encompassing the world's oldest desert, and a wealth of mineral-rich land. Travelers are enthralled by the stunning colors of the region's weird and wonderful geology: soft rose pinks, dove grey, russets, blues, and more combine to make the park a delight. This arid land is surprisingly full of life. Canyons rich in water support baboons, leopards, kudu, zebra and more. In the south of the park are the great sand dunes of Sossusvlei - at over 2000 feet high, they offer dizzying views of the region, and a true sense of the desert's beauty.

To the north of Swakopmund is Skeleton Coast National Park , part of the Namib Desert. This region, in the north of the country, has struck fear in the hearts of mariners since the 15th century. To be shipwrecked in this barren land, which has almost no permanent water supply, was a grim fate that befell many over the centuries. Today, this is an extraordinary land, with fantastically diverse birdlife. Cormorants and Cape gannets make their homes amidst the shipwrecks of the north. Visitors are entranced by the overwhelming silence and stillness of the area. The coast, and the neighboring Namib Desert, are a sparsely populated region hosting unusual people, plants and animals, all of whom have adapted to this unusual and challenging land. To the north of the coast is Kaokoland , a rugged region home to the Himba people, well known for their traditional dress and lifestyle. In the south of the park is Damaraland , one of Namibia's most dramatically stunning areas. This landlocked region is a region of flat-topped mountains, and fertile valleys. The area is home to Damara people who have for the most part adapted to Western customs and lifestyles. Wildlife includes leopard, antelope, hyena and black rhino. The rock engravings at Twylfelfontein cover thousands of years - over 3000 petroglyphs depict animals, human footprints, and animal tracks.

Widely considered one of Southern Africa's most important wildlife reserves, Etosha National Park covers over 20,000 sq km of north-central Namibia. In the center of the park is a vast salt pan, covering a quarter of the park. The waterhole at Okakuejo attracts black rhino, antelopes, dik dik, wildebeest, impala, and more. While the park is home to a breathtaking number of animals, they can be surprisingly elusive. Visitors are highly recommended to give themselves at least a few days here, to maximize their chances of wildlife viewing. The dry season of August - September, just before the annual rains, offers the best chances for wildlife viewing. Birdwatching is best during and after the rains - from November to April.

Fish River Canyon is an awesome site, second in size only to the USA's Grand Canyon. The grand spectacle of the canyon is enhanced by the wildlife that can be found here: eagles, leopard, lynx, baboon, and a plethora of birds are all drawn to the river. Hiking in the area is superb, although there is a risk of flash floods in the rainy season (November - March). Horseback riding can also be arranged.

Luderitz ranks high on lists of Africa's eccentricities. Exuding a classically Bavarian flavor, this southern Namibian town grew wealthy from the nearby diamond mines during the peak of German colonial activity. Lovely architecture and the Luderitz Museum make the town an interesting destination, if a bit off the beaten track.