Namibia

Standing awestruck amid the saffron dunes of Sossusvlei on the edge of the African continent in the Namib desert, the world’s oldest, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you had actually reached the edge of the world.

Namibia’s wide-open landscapes host amazingly adapted creatures like desert lions, elephants and oryx and inexplicable plants like the welwitschia. The rarity of these animals only serves to heighten how exceptional they are - and your naturalist guides know just where to find them.

In the oasis that is Etosha National Park and adjacent reserves like Ongava, sparsity gives way to wildlife abundance and density with multiple species gathering together at the same waterhole.

In remote corners of the country, guests might be able to encounter the semi-nomadic Himba people, their bodies dusted red with ochre.

If you want to get away from it all, you can find ultra-remote and secluded camps in the Kaokoveld or on the fog-fringed Skeleton Coast. Stunningly austere landforms under an endless sky by day give way to some of the darkest night skies in the world.

Namibia was the first African country to include environmental protection as a component of its constitution and now boasts nearly 50 percent of its land under conservation protection. Rhinos are flourishing under community conservation initiatives and guests can track these magnificent creatures on foot with local trackers.

Pro tip: The road network in Namibia is quite good but distances are vast so its best to consider internal flights where possible.