Namibia’s Etosha National Park is a spectacular site for rhino tracking, game drives, nature walks and nocturnal wildlife viewing. The country also is home to the oldest known desert in the world, the Namib, which features eroded canyons, dune belts and dry riverbeds. Here, you can walk amid the world’s tallest sand dunes at Sossusvlei.

Other fantastic landscapes await at Fish River Canyon, the second largest gorge in Africa and a sheer drop from the vast desert plains. Visit the coastal town of Swakopmund, graced by promenades and public gardens, or Windhoek, Namibia’s bustling capital.

Safaris in Namibia are available year-round, although the best game-viewing periods are during the dry winter months of May through September. Winter temperatures can dip below freezing at night, so spring or fall months such as October or April also are enticing. The best months for bird-watching are November to April.