Toast Coetzer is a Cape Town-based travel journalist best known for his long association with the popular South African travel magazine Go (and its Afrikaans version, Weg). “Because Namibia is such a popular road trip destination among South Africans, I’ve been lucky enough to visit the country at least once a year, sometimes even two or three times,” Toast says.

He has travelled extensively elsewhere in Africa too – with countries as diverse as Senegal, Mali, Rwanda and Uganda on his list – but believes that Namibia is the continent’s number one road trip destination.

“Namibia is perfectly suited to the self-drive, adventurous traveller,” he says. “The roads are generally good, and even without a 4×4 you can reach truly spectacular destinations like Spitzkoppe, the Sesriem Canyon, Brandberg and even Epupa Falls.”

Toast usually camps when he visits Namibia. “Sleeping in a tent or, even better, under the stars, gives you a far more intimate experience of a place – you can hear the jackals howling, or the calls of the nightjars,” he says.

Photographically, his favourite areas are the Erongo and Kunene regions with their laid-bare geology, open roads and unique wildlife photo opportunities. “Nothing beats seeing a giraffe or elephant walking in a stark, strange landscape like the Palmwag Concession,” Toast says. “Every animal, even something which might elsewhere be common like a springbok or gemsbok, becomes special and rare.” TNN

Toast occasionally leads photographic tours – contact him (here: ✉️ ) if you are interested to come along or follow him on Instagram @toastcards to see what he is up to.