The Namib-Naukluft National Park is home to the highest sand dunes, rising to over 1,000ft above the desert floor, and the oldest desert in the world (over 80million years old). The Naukluft Mountains rear up within the park, with lush waterfall-strewn valleys falling in between – ideal if you want to hike in peaceful and secluded surroundings. In contrast to this, the burnt oranges and reds of the surrounding desert are a paradise for any photographer. Descend the Sesriem Canyon on foot or climb the mighty sand dunes; alternatively take an overview of the magnificent scenery in a hot-air balloon. Best of all, arrive at Sossuvlei at sunrise to climb one of the many dunes which rise more than 1,000ft above the desert floor. Then bury your hands and feet in the cool sand as the colours of dawn blaze across this magical landscape.

Just south of the Sesriem is the Namib Rand Nature Reserve, where you’ll have a chance of seeing baboon, leopard, cheetah and mountain zebra eking out a living among the mountains, or springbok, spotted hyena and African wildcat finding unlikely refuge in the red-sand desert.

On the aptly named Skeleton Coast the intrepid explorer will find the skeletal remains of ships and beached whales on the spooky, barren beaches. Meanwhile, a fly-in safari from Windhoek allows easy access to the vast seal colony at Cape Frio.

The desolate landscapes of Damaraland and Kaokoland are home to the rare desert elephant and black rhino. Some of the main attractions are the Petrified Forest, the ancient Bushmen rock art at Twyfelfontein and Namibia’s highest summit, Brandberg Mountain, with the famous White Lady rock painting.

The northern section of Namibia is dominated by the Etosha National Park, about the size of Holland and home to a massive variety of wildlife. Lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, black and white rhino can all be found, and in the rainy season this massive saltpan becomes a shallow lake that attracts great numbers of pink flamingos along with other water birds.