Namibia

Discover Untamed Namibia
Namibia, a country in southwest Africa, is distinguished by the Namib Desert along its Atlantic Ocean coast. The country is home to diverse wildlife, including a significant cheetah population. The capital, Windhoek, and coastal town Swakopmund contain German colonial-era buildings such as Windhoek’s Christuskirche, built in 1907.
Namibia is world famous for the highest dunes in the world at Sossusvlei and for the Etosha National Park, one of world’s greatest conservation areas. Few countries, if any, can claim limitless horizons, stark landscapes, harsh environs and untamed wilderness, complemented by rare beauty, great scenery, a pleasant climate, few people, a beautiful coastline, one of Africa’s greatest game parks and, the world’s oldest desert.
Interesting Facts About Namibia
Geography
Namibia is bordered by Angola in the north (1376 km), Zambia in the northeast (233 km), Botswana in the east (1360 km), South Africa in the southeast and south (855 km) and the Atlantic Coast in the west (1572 km). Note that the border rectangle or quadripoint (where four countries meet) which is unique worldwide. Namibia can be divided into five natural regions:
The Namib Desert in the west
The Great Escarpment
The Central Plateau
The Kalahari basin in the east
The Kavango-Caprivi Region
History
A long lineage of various groups including San Bushmen, Bantu herdsmen and finally the Himba, Herero and Nama tribes among others have been making this rugged land home for thousands of years. Their history can be found carved into rock paintings in the south and in Twyfelfontein, some dating back to 26,000 B.C.
However, as Namibia has one of the world’s most barren and inhospitable coastlines, it wasn’t until the middle of the nineteenth century that explorers, ivory hunters, prospectors and missionaries began to journey into its interior. European powers only looked to Namibia in the end of the 19th century when it was colonized by Germany.
There were many conflicts and rebellions by the pre-colonial Namibia population until WWI when it abruptly ended upon Germany’s surrender to the South African expeditionary army.
In 1966 the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) launched the war for liberation for the area soon-named Namibia. Independence from South Africa was agreed upon in 1988. Democratic elections were held in 1989 and Namibia became an independent state on March 21, 1990.
To date, Namibia boasts a proud record of uninterrupted peace and stability for all to enjoy.
Languages
Most guided safaris are usually conducted in English or German.
Other spoken languages: German, Afrikaans, Oshiwambo, Rukwangari, Silozi, Otjiherero, Damara, Nama, Khisan and Setswana.
Climate
Namibia has 300 days of sunshine a year and each season has its unique qualities, so there really is no bad time to visit!
Summers (Jan-March) are hot and fairly damp with average maximum temperatures around 25–35°C (77-95°F) and average minima around 10–20°C (50-68°F). On a typical day during the rains, you will have blues skies in the morning and by early afternoon the clouds will appear. In the late afternoon there will be an
hour’s torrential rain on some days.
By May the rains have generally ceased, with abundant sunshine and the summer’s plants still lush and green. Typical winters (June-August) have average maximum temperatures of around 15–25°C (59-77°F) and the average minima are around 0–10°C (32-50°F). That said you will still find yourself wearing shorts
and a T-shirt during the day and getting sunburnt if you are not careful. Clouds will be a rare sight for the next few months and sunsets are spectacular.
By September the green vegetation has completed faded and the heat begins to return.
Electricity
The current used is 220 volts AC, 50hz. Outlets are of the round three-pin type.
Telephones and dialling codes
Namibia’s International Dialling Code is +264. Calling to Namibia, you need to dial 00 264, followed by an area code); calling from Namibia, you need to dial the relevant country code (e.g. +44 for the United Kingdom, or +1 for the United States of America).
Time difference
Namibia no longer operates daylight saving time and is two hours in the advance of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2) during the entire year.
Customs allowances
- A maximum of 50 cigars or 250 grams of pipe tobacco or maximum of 400 cigarettes for persons 18 years and older.
- 1 litre of spirit or other alcoholic beverages or 2 litre’s of wine for person 18 years and older.
- 50 ml of perfume and 250ml Toilet water.
- New or used goods to the value of N$ 1250.
Prohibited Items
You are not allowed to bring into Namibia prohibited goods such as narcotics, illegal drugs in any form, automatic weapons, military weapons, unnumbered weapons, poison and toxic substances.
Driving
Getting around Namibia is remarkably easy for all levels of travellers. Roads are generally good, routes well marked, and Namibia is full of friendly, helpful people to guide you along the way.