21 extraordinarily beautiful destinations

Stretching 1,200 miles along the Atlantic coast of Namibia in South Africa and reaching inland some 100 miles, the Namib Desert is a vast and unforgiving landscape. Almost totally uninhabited except for a few towns here and there, the Namib Desert is also the world’s oldest desert. Its name means “an area where there is nothing” in the local Nàmá language, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to explore.

Home to a surprising amount of wildlife, the Namib Desert is a remarkable place to traverse. From desert-adapted elephants and two-leaf succulents that can live for more than 1,000 years to the soaring red dunes and rugged mountains that rise majestically above the valley floor, the beauty of this 55 million-year-old (at least) desert is a must for any traveler looking for a unique place to visit.