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Fish River Canyon, Namibia Namibia Travel Fast Facts Getting there: regular flights from major cities to Hosea Kutako International Airport, near the capital city Windhoek. What to see: Windhoek, Etosha National Park, Skeleton Coast National Park, Waterberg Plateau, Caprivi Game Reserve, Fish River Canyon Currency: Namibian dollar Language(s): English, Africaans

Formerly a colony of Germany, Namibia was Involved in a tug-of-war among various European powers for decades, followed by an ultimate struggle for autonomy with South Africa in the late 20th century.

Today, Namibia is a relatively new country which only gained its independence in 1990.

Still one of the least populated countries on the continent, today Namibia is a favorite destination for off-the-beaten track Africa, offering vacationers & holiday-goers travel adventures of spectacular variety.

Most visitors enter the country through the capital city, Windhoek, as the major jumping-off point for safari tours in national parks throughout the country.

Perhaps the most famous of these takes place on the country's northern reaches at the Etosha National Park home to enormous herds of antelope, zebra, and elephants.

Along the Atlantic coast, nearby Skeleton Coast National Park is another area recommended only for the most intrepid traveler. Here, visitors who traverse the rugged terrain are justly rewarded with unique glimpses of mysterious beauty in the regional flora and fauna "where the desert meets the ocean".

In an area swept by non-stop pounding surf and enveloped in a dense fog, the thousands of seals that make the Skeleton Coast their home don't seem to mind, however!

Other notable spots to view wildlife are Waterberg Plateau Park and the Bwabwata National Park.

For more awesome natural wonders, head for the country's southern reaches to experience the spectacular Fish River Canyon, second in size only to the Grand Canyon in the U.S.

DID YOU KNOW? Namibia Travel Fun Facts

Still roaming free.

• Numbering more than 2,000, the population of free-roaming cheetah is the largest in the world.

• Namibia is one of the few countries in the world with desert elephants. They have adapted to the dry hot climate with less body mass but longer legs.

• Sossusvlei Sand Dunes are some of the highest in the world. One of them, appropriately called Big Daddy, is the largest dune measuring more than a thousand feet high.

• Dragon's Breath Lake in Hariseb is the world's largest underground lake. It is located in mysterious Dragon Breath Cave, so named for the warm, moist air emitted from the cave entrance situated in the middle of the Kalahari Desert.

More about Namibia travel & tourism on the Web:

Namibia Tourism Board - The official site, offering a colorful overview, guides to major attractions by region, star-rated hotels, bed & breakfasts and other lodging, photo gallery, maps, and practical travel tips.

Namibia Travel Online - Browse for maps, photos and guides to hotels, guest farms, lodges & camps, safari & tour operators, car rentals, shopping. In English and German.

Namibia travel guide - Get an in-depth look at cultural customs & etiquette, top attractions and other things to see and do, getting around by car, train or bus, plus practical safety & travel tips, from Wikitravel.