The pace of change in Saudi Arabia recently is giddying with locals embracing never-before-seen levels of freedom. Local women, in particular, are being relieved of the burden that was the draconian laws regarding dress, driving, observance, overseas travel and seem to be rushing headfirst into a new era with gusto.

Planning an adventure always sounds full of excitement, a daring-do attitude and just a hint of spontaneity. However, planning a trip into the inhospitable reaches of Namibia puts one on the edge of one's seat. We had avoided dwelling upon the strong probability of getting deeply and irretrievably stuck in the fine, red sands of the Namib desert, that stretches for 81,000 km, or of running out of water in probably the oldest and most deceptive deserts in the world...