Nearly 15% of all land in Namibia is protected by government decree. A far greater portion is protected in private reserves.

Two thirds of the country is made up of savannah type vegetation characterised by open plains, dotted with hardy trees. The remaining third, but for the thin strip of sub-tropical woodlands in the Caprivi wetlands, is the true desert of the Namib spanning the entire 1,500-km length of the coastline from South Africa to Angola.

Namibia has about 250 indigenous mammals and several rare and unique species including Damara dik-dik, cheetah, desert-adapted elephant, desert-adapted rhino and Hartmann's mountain zebra.

Birdlife is prolific. Of over 900 species in southern Africa, about 660 have been recorded in Namibia the majority of these are residents. Namibia has 16 endemics and over 90 of its birds are southern African endemics and near endemics.

Of the 17 National Parks in Namibia, Etosha ranks among Africa's greatest. There are several enormous private reserves around the park that extend to the Skeleton Coast - itself a massive conservation area. The Namib-Naukluft is one of the largest conservation areas in the world. The other 15 are no less spectacular in their own right and each offers something different to the wildlife and nature enthusiast.