Wedged between the Kalahari and the South Atlantic, Namibia boasts deserts, seascapes, bushwalking and boundlessness. Along its entire length, the vast shifting sand dunes of the Namib Desert spread inland for 80 to 130km. In the interior, the escarpment of a northsouth plateau slopes away to the east and north into the vast interior sand basin of the Kalahari. In the far northwest, the 66,000 sq km of the Kaokoland mountains run along the coast, while further inland lies the Etosha Pan (a dried-out saline lake), surrounded by grasslands and bush which support a large and varied wildlife population. The Etosha National Park & Game Reserve is one of the finest in Africa, in that it remains, to a large extent, free of human influence. For sportsmen and adventurers Namibia has much to offer. Namibia derives its name from the Namib Desert, a unique geological feature renowned for the pristine and haunting quality of its landscape. Far from being lifeless and barren, this narrow strip of moist coastal desert features an unusual variety of desert-adapted flora and fauna, including a large number of endemic plant, bird, reptile and insect species. Like many of Namibias urban centres, the capital city, Windhoek exudes a sense of small-town charm which includes a rich blend of African and European cultures. Like most African states that were once colonised, the city is a multi-cultural blend of European and African cultures. While Windhoek enjoys distinction as a business capital, it also has a great deal to offer the leisure tourist. From the pavement displays of African arts and crafts, the city tours of previously segregated areas and the sport and recreation facilities, to a wide range of restaurants, cafés and bars, art galleries and theatre, Windhoek has it all. New buildings, restaurants, hotels and shops blend in with the traditional markets. The friendliness and cultural diversity of its people, a well-developed infrastructure and an extensive choice of parks, resorts and accommodation establishments make it a sought-after tourist destination to which visitors return again and again.
