Namibia

More than twice the size of California, Namibia is an arid, sparsely populated country (with just over 2 million inhabitants) where savagely beautiful deserts extend to the breaking surf of the Skeleton Coast (so named for the many shipwrecks caused by a combination of powerful currents and unremitting onshore winds). For 70 years, it was a German colony, but at the end of World War I, authority was transferred to South Africa by the League of Nations. The country gained its independence in 1990 and today is one of the most hospitable nations in Africa, with an excellent modern infrastructure.

The Namib Desert is an otherworldly place, dominated by forbidding mountains, monumental rock formations and towering red sand dunes. Namibia offers remarkable game-viewing in a number of highly unusual and disparate locations. At the center of the country, the vast Namib-Naukluft National Park and adjoining NamibRand Nature Reserve (a total area of 19,495 square miles) are famous for their heroic scenery and immense shifting dunes of orange sand. Etosha National Park is one of southern Africa’s major wildlife areas, with a full range of large species. Damaraland is home to the extraordinary desert elephant, which have adapted to life among the sand dunes. And on the so-called Skeleton Coast, the shoreline is dotted with huge colonies of Cape fur seals. Namibia is also the last great bastion of the endangered cheetah, the population of which has been tragically diminished elsewhere in Africa.

The country is also the final redoubt of the San Bushmen, the traditional inhabitants of the Kalahari, who have been grotesquely persecuted over the past three centuries. And in the far north of Namibia, close to the border with Angola, the Himba remain a colorful and strikingly traditional tribal people.

Although Namibia is warm and sunny year-round, the best time for a visit is May through October. From November to March, daytime temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees, and there are occasional light afternoon showers. To discover the country at a leisurely pace, we recommend a visit of at least eight days, including a night in Windhoek.

WHEN TO GO: Rain is rare and skies are invariably clear, hence a rewarding visit is possible at virtually any time of year.

CURRENCY: Namibian dollar (NAD). Fluctuating rate valued at NAD8 = US$1.00 as of January 2012. Wilderness Safaris quotes rates in rand (R). R8 = US$1.00 as of January 2012.

U.S. EMBASSY: Windhoek, Tel. 61-295-8500.

DIRECT DIAL CODES: To phone hotels in Namibia, dial 011 (international access) + 264 (Namibia code) + city code and local numbers in listings.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passport (valid for six months beyond end of stay) and visa. Visit travel.state.gov, and for travelers’ health information, cdc.gov