1. The Namib Desert
The Namib Desert, which gives Namibia its name, stretches along the Atlantic coast for about 2,000 kilometers—from northwestern South Africa up to Angola. In Namibia, the desert extends up to 150 kilometers inland, with an average width of around 100 kilometers. It is divided into several protected areas: Sperrgebiet National Park, Namib-Naukluft Park, Dorob National Park, and Skeleton Coast National Park.

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The northern Namib is mostly made up of rocky gravel plains, while the central region is famous for its towering sand dunes, some of the highest in the world. Covering roughly 95,000 square kilometers, the Namib is believed to be the oldest desert on Earth. Despite extreme temperatures—soaring up to 50°C during the day and dropping below freezing at night—many plants and animals have remarkably adapted to survive in this harsh environment over millions of years.

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2. The Great Escarpment
The Great Escarpment is a prominent geographical feature that separates Namibia’s coastal Namib Desert from the higher Central Plateau. It formed around 80 million years ago when the southern edge of Africa was uplifted following the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. Essentially, it can be described as a mountain range reaching heights of up to 1,000 meters. It runs from northern to southern Namibia but isn’t continuous, as erosion over millions of years has created large gaps in the range.

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Several mountain ranges are part of the Great Escarpment, including the Hartmann, Baynes, and Joubert Mountains in the north; the Khomas Highlands, Gamsberg, and Naukluft in the central region; and the Tsaris and Tiras Mountains in the south. However, some well-known mountains like the Brandberg (home to Namibia’s highest point, Königstein at 2,579 meters), the Erongo Mountains, and the Spitzkoppe are not part of the Great Escarpment. These belong to the Damara Formation and have volcanic origins.

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3. The Central Plateau
The Central Plateau is Namibia’s largest geographical region. It lies between the Great Escarpment to the west and the Kalahari Basin to the east. The plateau ranges in elevation from around 1,000 to 2,000 meters above sea level.

In the northern part of the plateau, you'll find the Etosha Pan at roughly 1,000 meters. The capital city, Windhoek, is centrally located on the plateau at about 1,700 meters, with nearby mountains rising over 2,000 meters. As you move further south, the land gradually slopes down to an elevation of around 1,200 meters.

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4. The Kalahari
To the east of Namibia, beyond the Central Plateau and toward Botswana, lies the Kalahari region. Although it's commonly referred to as a desert, the Kalahari actually receives more rainfall than a true desert and is better described as a semi-desert. After periods of good rain, the area becomes lush with vegetation and supports a wide variety of wildlife.

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Summer temperatures can soar above 40°C, while winter nights often drop below freezing. The Kalahari is especially known for its striking red sand dunes that stretch in long parallel ridges.

This region is part of the much larger Kalahari Basin, which spans across seven countries: Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The entire basin covers more than 1.2 million square kilometers.

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5. The Kavango-Caprivi Region
The Kavango-Caprivi Region, located in northeastern Namibia, stands out from the country’s typically dry landscape due to its warm, subtropical climate. This narrow strip of land extends deep into central Africa and is much more humid than the rest of Namibia.

Thanks to the moisture and favorable conditions, the region supports a rich variety of wildlife. As a result, many parts of the Kavango-Caprivi have been designated as national parks or conservation areas to protect its natural biodiversity.