First of two parts

The public will finally be allowed access to one of the world's last and largest wilderness areas — the Sperregebiet diamond region.

Day one in the deep south of Namibia and the view does not entice. What started as high winds has developed into the mother of all sand storms. Gale-force grit pummels our vehicle, visibility is reduced to only a few meters, and as we advance along the gravel track, ragged tumbleweeds scream past as if fired from a cannon.