Namibia is one of the world's newest independent republics. Previously known as South West Africa, Namibia was a German protectorate up until WW1 then came under the administration of South Africa. The German heritage is still very evident in the architecture and place names (Windhoek, Luderitz, Swakopmund) and in the dress of the Herrero tribe womenfolk, who still copy the dress of the German missionary's wives of the 19th Century. The country has large stocks of diamonds, copper, uranium, tin, silver and other minerals, and these, plus the more traditional stock raising and fishing underpin the economy. Namibia appears to the visitor huge and empty. The largely desert-like landscape offers some stunning scenery.
Fish River Canyon in the south is the largest canyon in Africa and Etosha National Park in the north is one of the biggest game parks in Africa. However Namibia's largest National Park, the Namib-Naukluft, is a whopping 23,000 sq kilometres big which makes it the fourth largest nature conservation area in the world. The main attraction here is the huge dunes at Sossusvlei. Swakopmund is Namibia's second biggest town and Namibia's adventure capital. Luederitz, named after the German merchant is located between the Namib desert and the Atlantic ocean. The big industry in this area is diamond mining. Its history can be seen at the Eberlanz Mueum in Diaz Street and on an excursion to the ghost town of Kolkmanskop - a former mining town slowly being claimed back by the desert. Damaraland is the old name for what today is called Kaokaland - an area known for its unusual geological features and rock art by the ancient San and Himba cultures. Both Spitzkoppe (pointy hill), Brandberg (fire mountain) feature plenty of bushman paintings. The most extensive gallery of rock art, however, can be found at Twyfelfountein (meaning 'doubtful fountain' since the farmers doubted that there was enough water there for cattle). Here you can gawp at the mass of rock pillars known as Organ Pipes which were formed by the intrusion of volcanic rock dolerite about 120 million years ago. Another highlight in Damaraland is the Petrified Forest; the tree trunks there are up to 30 metres long and approx. 200 million years old.
Skeleton Coast is name of these 200 kilometres of coast alludes to the many ships that were shipwrecked here. Today, the main attraction is the Seal Colony at Cape Cross which consists of 80,000 Cape Fur seals and is one of the world's biggest colonies. The Caprivi Strip is a pan-handle shaped part of Namibia located in the far north-east, is, other than the rest of Namibia, green and well-watered. It has many game parks which offer plenty of animal watching opportunities, especially elephant and birds.