The largest part of Namibia receives little or almost no rain. These areas are interspersed with riverbeds which only carry water sporadically, after good rainfalls. The larger ones are the Hoanib, Ugab, Swakop, Kuiseb, Tsauchab and Fish River. In the Caprivi Strip in the north-east, however, you will hardly believe your eyes: water and juicy greenery abound, one perennial river follows the other – the Okavango, Kwando, Linyanti, Chobe and the mighty Zambezi.

In spite or perhaps because of the aridity of most parts of the country, there are many species of plants and animals which occur nowhere else in the world. There are more than 600 endemic plants (out of a total of 4,000 plant species recorded in Namibia), 14 birds (out of 658), 66 reptiles (out of 258) and 15 mammals (out of 217). Namibia is famous for its desert elephants, Oryx antelope or cheetah. Of course, Namibia is also the home to many other animals of the African bush savannah, including the 'Big Five' – elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo. At the coast, near Lüderitz and Walvis Bay, you can watch flamingos, seals and dolphins. More recently, even whales have occasionally been spotted. Celebrities of the plant kingdom are the Baobab Tree in the north, the Quiver Tree (a member of the aloe family) in the south and the ancient Welwitschia mirabilis in the west and north-west.

Nature conservation is spelt in capital letters in Namibia. About 15 percent of the country are conservation areas, of which the Etosha National Park and Namib Naukluft Park are probably the most well known.

Travelling by plane is the most convenient option to get to know Namibia's nature in all its contrasting facets. Spotting Oryx antelope, herds of springbuck, giraffe or even desert elephant in the barren landscape is an experience you will never forget.

About 500 years ago Namibia was very sparsely populated by Bushmen (San) and Damara. Then Herero, Ovambo and Kavango groups moved in from the north, followed by Nama groups from the south approximately 300 years ago. Explorers, hunters, missionaries and traders of European origin started to arrive 200 years ago. 1884 saw the beginnings of colonisation by Imperial Germany. In 1915 South Africa took over the rule and in 1920 was given a mandate by the League of Nations to administer the country. Namibia was only declared as an independent state in 1990.

With a history as eventful as this it is hardly surprising that the population of 1.8 Million consists of many peoples. The largest group are the Ovambo, most of whom live north of Etosha Pan in the Cuvelai Basin. Extensive depressions (Oshanas) run through this area, which is suitable for agriculture. The Ovahimba, a subgroup of the Herero, live in the more arid north-west; the Herero live mainly in the central parts. The many groups of the Nama people are scattered across the south, whereas the Bushmen can be found in the east and north-east.

Different people, different languages, of which the six main ones are Oshivambo, Khoekhoe, Caprivian, San, Kavango and Herero, in addition to another four languages of European origin – Afrikaans, English, German and Portuguese. Nevertheless, Namibians understand each other, communicating mostly in the widely used common denominator Afrikaans and the official language, English.

You will encounter members of almost all the population groups in the capital Windhoek. If, however, you want to experience them and their culture in their original settings, you have to travel to the north to visit the Ovahimba, the Ovambo, the Kavango and the Bushmen. Preferably by plane, of course, as part of an unforgettable fly-in safari...