Namibe Province

Unique, atmospheric, and enthralling are some of the words often used to describe the Namibe Province of Angola, located in the southwestern corner of the country. Vast stretches of golden desert along the Skeleton Coast give way to the azure waters of the Atlantic, while on land strange ancient plants and an abundance of wildlife thrive. The rare ‘Welwitschia mirabilis’ or ‘long-haired thing’ is a living fossil, with some plants being up to 5000 years old. The spectacular Iona National Park, part of the Mocamedes Desert (the oldest desert in the world) is brimming with Cretaceous fossils, while a range of birdlife as well as zebra, oryx, springbok, cheetahs, leopards, and brown hyenas can be spotted alive and well. Make sure to visit ‘Ghost Island’ (Tigres Island), where a fishing village was reclaimed by the desert.