Do It Yourself: A Safari Destination Guide

Namibia

(PhotoDisc)

Etosha National Park

One of the largest game parks in the world, Etosha is the wildlife spectacular that Kenya and Tanzania were 25 years ago. Centered around the Etosha Pan, a 72-mile lake bed, the park contains a number of spring-fed water holes that attract a variety of animals throughout the year. You'll find populations of kudus, wildebeest, oryx, and zebras in very large numbers, along with elephant, lions, springbok, giraffes, ostrich, cheetahs, and leopards. With less human intrusion in their environment, the animals are relaxed, affording excellent photo opportunities.

Namib Desert/Damaraland
The otherworldly landscape of the Namib desert is quite unlike anything else in Africa. Here you'll find a landscape of massive dunes, high mesas and giant rock formations. The world's tallest sand dunes, hundreds of feet high, are found at Sossusvlei. At Sandwich Harbor, huge red sand hills tower over a lagoon where thousands of flamingos, pelicans, and other species congregate. North of the Kuiseb River, the sand gives way to the windswept isolation of the Skeleton Coast. Farther inland is Damaraland. A land of stark contrasts—desert, grasslands, and high mountains—it is home to elephants, springbok, rhino, and the rare Hartmann's mountain zebra.