The town was founded as an outpost to supply ships on their way to India and the islands in the Western Pacific. The town quickly became a multicultural centre. On Robben Island, located in the bay, Nelson Mandela was kept as a prisoner.

Part of the R303 regional road runs from Paarl, over the Limiet Mountains, to Ceres, northeast of Paarl. This stretch of road, with its highest point at 1,950 feet, is an historical monument in itself. It was built in 1853 by Andrew Geddes Bain, a Scottish settler with no formal engineering training. It is still regarded as one of the best passes in the country and an unspoiled nature reserve, which forms a part of Cape Nature Conservation.

Out of the springs of Ai-Ais bubbles hot water. It is around 140° F and rich in sulphates, chlorides and fluorides. 'Ai-Ais' means 'burning water' in the language of the Nama. The thermal source is a popular winter recreation center. The water is reputed to be especially beneficial for rheumatism.

The Fish River Canyon is up to 1,805 feet wide and 100 miles long. It is the second largest canyon in the world. Only the Grand Canyon in the USA is considered to be larger. Through the canyon flows the 405-mile-long Fish River, which, over millions of years, has washed out and created today's stunning natural landscape. Undoubtedly, the Fish River Canyon is one of the most spectacular sights in Namibia. It is protected by several national parks.

The Quiver Tree Forest (Kokerboom Woud in Afrikaans) is a well-known tourist attraction in southern Namibia. It is located north of Keetmanshoop on the road to Koës, in the Gariganus farm. It contains about 250 specimens of Aloe dichotomy, a species of aloe that is also locally known as quiver tree (Afrikaans: kokerboom) because bushmen use its branches to make quivers. The forest is spontaneous; the highest quiver trees are 2-3 centuries old. The forest was declared a Namibian national monument on June 1, 1995.

Mariental is located 160 miles south of Windhoek on the B1. The small town provides supplies to the surrounding farms and Nama communities. The Hardap Dam, built in 1962, became a boost for the region, making irrigation-farming possible, which also gave a significant lift to the town of Mariental. Melons, alfalfa and corn are grown below the dam today. The Hardap Dam is the largest dam in Namibia.

Created in 1963 while Namibia was under South African occupation, Hardap Dam is the largest dam in the country. The reservoir dams the Fish River (yes, the same river of the Canyon) and is home to numerous examples of wildlife and also provides water to irrigate 2500 ha of wheat, maize, lucerne, cotton, grapes and vegetables, all cultivated on small holdings. As you can imagine, its presence gave a real boost to the economy of Mariental, but the town was also flooded a few times. So since 2006 the dam's water level is kept at a maximum of 70% of its capacity.
The Hardap Dam was first proposed in 1897 by German geologist Dr Theodor Rehbock but it took a number of surveys and a further 63 years before construction began!

Sossusvlei is possibly Namibia’s most spectacular and best-known attraction. Characterised by the large red dunes (some of the highest in the world, reaching almost 400 meters) that surround it, Sossusvlei is a large, white, salt and clay pan where the dunes come together preventing the Tsauchab River to flow any further, some 60km east of the Atlantic Ocean.
During an exceptional rainy season the Tsauchab fills the pan, drawing animals from all around... and visitors from all over the world to witness this spectacular site. When the pan fills, it can hold water for as long as a year.
The Sossusvlei is part of the "Namib Sand Sea", a Unesco Word Heritage Site considered "an outstanding example of the scenic, geomorphological, ecological and evolutionary consequences of wind-driven processes interacting with geology and biology".

The Giant's Playground is a bizarre, rocky landscape near Keetmanshoop and the Quiver Tree Forest in the south of Namibia. The towering dolerite rocks look as if they were the work of giants. The boulders are made of 170 million year old volcanic basalt, which is often coated with desert varnish, polished to a shine by sand. The vertical white stripes on the rocks are urine stains from the resident hyraxes. The Playground of the Giants, like the Quiver Tree Forest, belongs to the Gariganus farm and they can be visited together. A 45-minute walking path leads you through the 3 square mile area.

Sesriem Canyon is the second most important tourist attraction in the area after Sossusvlei. It is a natural canyon carved into the local sedimentary rock by the Tsauchab River. The name Sesriem is Afrikaans and means six belts, given by settlers returning from the Dorsland Trek who had to combine six belts (made of oryx hides) to lower buckets down into the canyon to scoop up water. The Sesriem Canyon is only 6.5 feet wide in some places, and has a portion that permanently contains water, which many animals use.

Swakopmund was once a port of great importance, despite the lack of a sheltered bay, the shallowness of the coastal waters, and the strength of the surf. Lüderitz was too far away, however, and had no fresh water; and the seaport of Walvis Bay was back in British hands. Several years ago it was extensively restored and converted into an entertainment center, with a casino and luxury hotel. The town of 30,000 inhabitants is still characterized by numerous colonial buildings, including the striking Woermann House from 1905. The former trading house in Bismarck Street. With its Damara Tower and its courtyard bordered by arcades, it houses the municipal library and art gallery today.

The delta is about 12,430 square miles, and its special feature is certainly the water level, which reaches its climax when the surrounding area has its dry season. Consequently, extremely diverse and dense wildlife has settled in the area. To date, 71 species of fish, 33 of amphibians, 64 of reptiles, 444 of birds and 122 of mammals have been identified. The Delta is home to water-living species such as hippopotamus and Nile crocodile, to swamp-living species like sitatunga, lechwe and waterbuck, and to land- and air-based creatures that depend on water solely for drinking. Even species that can survive long periods without water, such as the gemsbok, are found in the Delta. Many species hike during the dry season, when the delta has its peak, from the surrounding countryside into the delta, including elephants, buffalo and wildebeests. You will also find a dense population of predators, including African wild dogs, hyenas, lions, leopards and other big cats. The marsh and water areas are also home to hundreds of some very rare birds.

The first European to discover the falls was David Livingstone, Scottish missionary and African traveler. He heard them in 1851 and discovered them four years later, on November 16, 1855. In honor of Queen Victoria, he named them “Victoria Falls.” The local Kololo called the falls Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders). The name comes from the mist that rises up to 985 feet and can be seen as much as 20 miles away. During high water flow, up to 2,641,720 gallons/second of water cascade over the falls. The flow slows to a mere 44,910 gallons/second during the dry season. Victoria Falls includes a rain forest, which owes its existence to the moisture from the ever-present spray. In February and March, when the Zambezi River runs full, the largest curtain of water on earth is produced.

Ngorongoro Crater is just a small part of a 3,200 square mile conservation area. Together with the neighboring Serengeti National Park, the game reserves of Maswa and Ikorongo, and the Maasai Mara National Reserve across the border in Kenya, the combined protected areas measure around 12,000 square miles, more than the state of Maryland! The crater itself is about 12 miles wide and more than 2,000 ft. deep and is said to be the largest intact and unflooded caldera in the world. The views from the crater rim, where the lodge happens to be, are stunning! Inside, the full lineup of wild animals waits to be observed and photographed: elephants, lions, zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, ostriches, warthogs, buffaloes and even rhinos. There are, of course, birds of every conceivable color and size. No wonder this is one of Africa's most popular wildlife-viewing destinations.

This ancient mountain range (about 100 million years old) is very bio-diverse and home to about one third of Tanzania's flora and fauna species. It also features outstanding scenery, picturesque villages with colorful markets and some great motorcycle roads. The main town is Lushoto, which was known as Wilhelmstal during the German era. High in the hills is Irente View Cliff Lodge, an amazing place with an end-of-the-world feel and breathtaking views. This is a highlight in itself!

You can reach the summit of Table Mountain, 3,440 ft., within a few minutes, but be warned; when it’s stormy it is a 3 hour climb. Sometimes when you reach the summit of Table Mountain, it is covered with a tablecloth, which means there is no view!