The country has previously been governed by both Germany and South Africa, although it has been independent since 1990. There is however strong Germanic influence across the country, especially in the country’s capital Windhoek, where you will see grand colonial structures such as Tintenpalast (Parliament Building) and Christus Church.

Namibia is a country boasting lush wilderness, imposing sand dunes and an abundance of wildlife. Yet it is not as well known as many of its African neighbours and can sometimes get overlooked. It is wedged between the Kalahari Desert and the South Atlantic Ocean, and it is this location which is partly responsible for its diverse terrain. The rich natural resources combined with a modern infrastructure and traditional values create a country full of contrasts.

Essentially a country of desert landscapes, Namibia offers visitors the chance to travel through barren sand dunes, bush savannah and rugged mountains. The Namib Desert is a vast area of high dunes and desolate land that offer an overwhelming sense of space, whereas the rugged savannah offers lush jungle and craggy mountains. This gives way to the enormous Fish River Canyon in the south of the country.

Etosha National Park is the third-largest national park in Africa and owes its distinctive landscape to the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow hollow which is surrounded by waterholes to the south and jungle to the north. The park guarantees the chance to see big game every day.

Namibia has steadily grown over the last 10 years to accommodate the rising number of tourists. Accommodation is plentiful and ranges across all spectrums of affordability and service. You will find small bed-and-breakfasts next door to comfortable mid-range hotels and even luxurious game lodges of the highest quality.

Many farmers have had to resort to tourism as droughts have ruined their crops. Because of this, rural accommodation has flourished and farmhouses are now being converted into home-style establishments offering excellent food, stunning surroundings and plenty of activities to partake in.

Since tourism plays an important role in Namibia’s economy, hotels are generally of good quality. The infrastructure put in place under administration from South Africa before 1990 has continued to uphold good standards as it piggybacks off the much larger South African hotel industry. Many of the staff are trained there and Windhoek has a good selection of three- and four-star hotels. Outside of the capital you are most likely to find Safari lodges, and a few options in Swakopmund which still have German favourites on the menu thanks to their former colonial masters.

Namibia is a year-round sunny destination. The country sees an average of 300 days of sunshine every year, although rainfall can be heavy in the summer months. Summer lasts from November through February, during which time thunderstorms are common. The usually dry riverbeds fill up with muddy water and the scorched land literally springs back to life. The days are however extremely hot with temperatures reaching highs of 40°C and high levels of humidity.

The northeast of the country experiences a sub-tropical climate throughout the year and summers can often be stifling. The best time to visit the country is from April to June when the temperatures average at a cooler 25°C. The skies are blue almost every day and the nights are cool enough for you to enjoy a good night’s sleep.

The winter months are also dry with temperatures often reaching the low 20s (°C). However, if you are considering visiting the Central Plateau or the Namib Desert, you should be aware that temperatures drop to below freezing during the night.

Due to its desolate coastline, Namibia was one of the last African countries to be colonised by the Europeans. The country was founded by a German merchant and adventurer, Adolf Luderitz. He purchased the Bay of Angra Pequena and 30 kilometres surrounding it, in 1883. Today, this bay is known as Luderitz Bay.

In 1884, the German Empire decided that they would start to ‘protect’ the bay and in doing so, arranged for a small corps of the Kaiserliche Marine to land in the bay and turn the area between Oranje and Kunene into a German colony. From 1884 to 1914, Namibia was a German Protectorate which was known as ‘Deutsch Südwestafrika’. German settlers were then persuaded to buy land and establish farms. As a result, the indigenous people such as the Nama and Herero were conquered.

Initially, the colonisation process moved forward peacefully, treaties were signed and protection agreements enabled both native groups to be assured of military support if it was required. In return for this support, the Nama and Herero people agreed to let German settlers take possession of their land for agricultural purposes.

However, it was not long before the natives realised that German colonisation threatened their livelihoods as cattle and goat herders as well as their very survival. Both the Nama and Hereros began an armed rebellion. This conflict lasted until 1908 and resulted in the total defeat of the native population.

At the beginning of WWI, South Africa occupied the area, having been awarded it in a mandate drawn up by the League of Nations. This mandate was abolished in 1966 by the United Nations and saw South Africa rebel and the start of decades of military struggle between South Africa and the Namibian liberation movement, SWAPO.

On 21 March 1990, political independence in Namibia was finally granted and a democratic constitution was drawn up. SWAPO won the first free elections and was very soon the only dominating party. Its leader Dr Sam Nujoma became the first Namibian President. Namibia opened its doors to tourists and today has become an extremely popular destination for adventure seeking tourists as well as those looking for warmer climates.