Namib Desert, Namibia by Matthew Barker

Extends some 1930 kilometres over southern Africa, before merging with the Kalahari. The Estosha National Park is famed for its safari tours; a nicely temperate desert (can get quite foggy at times), this is one of the few really adventurous deserts that is safely accessible.

They say: “Up at 6am to search for desert elephants. We head for a manmade waterhole, spot fresh dung and then, within minutes spot a 50-year-old bull elephant casually enjoying a breakfast of acacia trees” (The Times)

We say: Lions, antelope, elephants, rhinos and the occasional zebra patrol the inner plains. A really magnificent desert, still far enough away to deter the armchair travellers.