While on a business trip a few years ago, my Mom had the opportunity to visit Namibia whose surreal landscapes left her awestruck. I listened intently, mesmerized as she shared about her experience driving through the Skeleton Coast, detailing what it felt like to witness the meeting point where the staggering sand dunes of the Namib Desert juxtaposed against the piercing blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It was a description that struck a major chord within me. After securing a killer deal on a flight late last year, my opportunity to visit finally came. Elated, I spent several hours combing through every blog, forum, and article online hoping to absorb as much information on the country as I could. Thanks to my research I found that, like all African countries, Namibia is extremely diverse – boasting a rich cultural history and a plethora of contrasting landscapes made up of deeply colored deserts and sand dunes, vast plains, massive salt pans, boulder-like hills and pristine beaches. Not to mention its friendly people, astounding night skies, and expansive wildlife.