Distribution maps of Buprestidae and Cetoniinae from the areas surrounding the Namib Desert are used to investigate the limits of the Namib by excluded taxa. It emerges that the Namib north of 24°S is bordered by a recent savanna fauna as well as savanna relicts, apparently of various ages. In the south the Namib is bordered by a coastal Cape-Namaqualand fauna near 29°S latitude. This Namaqualand fauna has recently isolated relatives along the inselbergs of the eastern Namib edge. It is suggested that the Namaqualand fauna extended along the coast north of 29°S, and was recently displaced from the Namib proper by dunefield expansions. Keywords: Namib desert fauna, Insect fauna, Namib desert, Namibia, Lower Kuiseb River vegetation, Neoroptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Plants, Lepismatidae.