Namibia is one of those destinations you go to remind you of your place in the world.

Most of the country is an uninhabited landscape of vast parched salt pans, thorny plains, petrified forests, craggy canyons, towering sand dunes and crashing waves. Traveling across the hot, unmoving landscape on our self drive safari was like driving through a still life painting. Even the animals – rhinos, lions, kudus and jackals – were slow or motionless in an effort to conserve energy in their bone dry environment.

The sobering solitude of Namibia is what makes it so unique. On days traveling across the country you can go hours without passing another vehicle. Many visitors say that the country is reminiscent of another world.

Plus, it is a perfect place for the adventure traveler — visitors to Namibia can sky dive or hot air balloon over rolling sand dunes, kayak with seals and dolphins, traverse the world’s second largest canyon, and rock climb the Spitzkoppe.

From great swirling desert dunes to epic wildlife stalking, here are 14 photographs that will make you want to book your next trip to Namibia. 

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Sleeping under the crystal clear skies of Namibia.

One of the many abandoned ship wrecks off the Skeleton Coast Namibia

One of the many ship wrecks along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.

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Forging our own trail while exploring the Namib desert.

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Catching the light perfectly to capture the razor sharp lines of the Namib dunes.

White Rhino on the Etosha Game Reserve

An up close and personal with the endangered black rhino of Etosha National Park.

Lions at Etosha Game Reserve Self Drive Namibia

Staring down a pride of lions at an Etosha National Park watering hole.

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Enjoying the awkward gangly giraffes as they take turns drinking at Okaukuejo watering hole.

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Witnessing two male elephants of Etosha engage in a playful joust.

A daily earth scorching sunset over the Namib desert.

Just another day under Namibia’s earth scorching sun.

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The wide open dirt roads of Namibia – not another soul in sight.

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Perfectly layered color in the sunset skies over the Namib desert.

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Hiking the lunar landscapes outside of Swakopmund, Namibia.

Dunes and petrified trees of Deadvlei Namibia

The bizarre dunes and petrified trees of Deadvlei, Namibia.

The blue skies, orange dunes and petrified trees of Deadvlei.

The blue skies, orange dunes and petrified trees of Deadvlei.

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Meeting one of the sleepy cheetahs at the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

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SEE ALSO:

Namibia Self Drive Guide: Our Game, Our Rules

Namibia Self Drive Guide 1: How Much Does it Cost?

Namibia Self Drive Guide 2: Choosing Between Self Drives and Guided Tours

Namibia Self Drive Guide 3: Our 10-Day Itinerary

Sunset Safari at Onguma Game Reserve

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