At first glance, Namibia might seem like one of Earth’s most desolate places. With its ancient deserts, parched salt pans and a windblown shoreline littered with the weathered hulls of foundered ships, there would seem little potential for life and color — and perhaps little to capture the intrigue of the average traveler. But there is a startling beauty in its vistas — from the multi-hued dunes of the Kalahari and Namib deserts to the foggy shores of the Skeleton Coast. And surprisingly, Namibia is home to an incredible variety of plants and animals that have adapted to the extreme climate. Its national parks and wildlife refuges are among the finest in Africa.

Perhaps most surprising are the people who have adapted to this harsh environment: San Bushmen and the Herero women with their banana-shaped headdresses and bright Victorian-style dresses patterned after those of early German missionary women. Namibia is a thinly populated country, but it’s still a great place for people-watching and experiencing another way of life.

Namibia’s dunes are famous for their dramatic shapes and colors, a sampling of which is evidenced in the banner image above taken by our very own resident Namibia expert (and pretty darn good photographer too), Nancy Grimes.

Namibia has a lot to offer those looking for an unusual place a little off the beaten track. It has always been one of our favorites and is listed among our “Sweet Sixteen” featured destinations (click here for more). Although its terrain is harsh and demanding, it is actually one of the safer and more stable countries in Africa. Namibia will appeal to well-seasoned travelers who have already been to the more developed nations in eastern or southern Africa and who want to see more of what the continent has to offer.

As a way of providing our website visitors with a beautiful glimpse of Namibia and a short visual tour of some of the highlights that Namibia has to offer, we proudly present this month’s Travel Video Share, Wild Namibia, created by Romain Sarrett, a French filmmaker working as a freelance under the name ROMSPROD.

Now, sit back, relax and enjoy!

The Avant Team