It's hard to imagine how the German colonisers of Namibia coped with the unlimited elbow room, vast deserts and annual quota of 300 days of sunshine, but that's exactly what now draws travellers to one of Africa's most intriguing destinations.

Wedged between the Kalahari and the chilly South Atlantic, Namibia's charms are well known in neighbouring South Africa, but outsiders have only recently discovered its deserts, seascapes, bushwalking and boundlessness. Blessed with rich natural resources, a solid modern infrastructure and diverse traditional cultures, Namibia is a beautiful country of vast potential.