Namibia is a relatively new country, gaining full independence from South Africa only in 1990. The name is derived from a Nama word “Namib” (“vast place”). It is the driest country in Sub-Saharan Africa and one of the least densely populated in the world.
I had been to Namibia several times, but this was my first vacation there. I set off on my journey to visit the Namib Desert (the oldest desert in the world), the Etosha Pan (the largest salt lake in Africa; “Etosha” means “Great White Place”) and Himba people, who are known for keeping their traditional lifestyle and clothing, including their distinctive usage of ochre pigment on their hair and skin. However, the country was much more than I expected – so vast and beautiful, with extremely diverse landscapes.
ナミビアは1990年に南アフリカから独立した比較的新しい国。「ナミビア」という国名は「ナミブ」（ナマ語で「広大な土地」の意）から。巨大なナミビ砂漠を擁するナミビアは、サハラ砂漠以南のアフリカで最も乾燥した国であり、世界でも最も人口密度の低い国のひとつである。
ナミビアには数回行ったことがあったが、休暇で訪れたのは今回が初めて。訪問の目玉はナミブ砂漠（世界最古の砂漠）、エトーシャ塩湖（アフリカ最大の塩湖。「エトーシャ」とは「大きな白い場所」の意）、それに、伝統的な生活や服装を今でも守り続けていることで知られるヒンバ族。しかし、ナミビアの凄さは予想を大きく上回った。壮大で美しく、ひとつの国でこれほど多彩な風景があるのかと驚く。
Sunset near Sossuvlei, Namibia, April 2018
Dune near Deadvlei, Namibia, April 2018
Dunes near Deadvlei, Namibia, April 2018
Deadvlei, Namibia, April 2018
Deadvlei, Namibia, April 2018
Deadvlei, Namibia, April 2018
Toilet sign near Sossuvlei, Namibia, April 2018
Sunset near Sossuvlei, Namibia, April 2018
Full moon near Sossuvlei, Namibia, April 2018
Kuiseb Canyon, Namibia, April 2018
On the way to Walvis Bay, Namibia, April 2018
In spite of its squirrel-like appearance, dassie rat (Petromus typicus) is a rodent found among rocky outcroppings. ダシーラット。一見リスですが、実は岩場に住むネズミの仲間。
Enormous rock looking like human face, Vingerklip, Namibia, May 2018
Flamingos, Walvis Bay, Namibia, April 2018
Herero lady with her son, Onjowewe Village, Namibia, May 2018
Himba girl, Onjowewe Village, Namibia, May 2018
Himba girl, Onjowewe Village, Namibia, May 2018
Martial eagle, Etosha, Namibia, May 2018
Flowers, Etosha, Namibia, Namibia, May 2018
Plains zebras, Etosha, Namibia, May 2018
Plains zebras, Etosha, Namibia, May 2018
Northern black korhaan, Etosha, Namibia, May 2018
Blue cranes, Etosha, Namibia, May 2018
Juvenile pale chanting goshawk, Etosha, Namibia, May 2018
Dark chanting goshawk, Etosha, Namibia, May 2018
Pair of shaft-tailed whydah, Etosha, Namibia, May 2018
Lone tree, Etosha, Namibia, May 2018
Black-shouldered kite, Etosha, Namibia, May 2018
White rhino, Okapuka Ranch, Greater Windhoek, Namibia, May 2018
Ostrich, Okapuka Ranch, Greater Windhoek, Namibia, May 2018
Masako Osada Visual Arts 
A beautiful variety of photos and some of them really captured my heart. Thank you. (For example, I really love your photo of the white rhino).
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