FACTS OF NAMIBIA
| Safaris in Namibia, offers a rich cultural and wildlife experiences. Namibia is definitely an African destination not to be overlooked! Approximately 13.6 percent of the country’ s surface area, is protected to defend as its nature reserve as its wildlife. | |
| In 1486, the Portuguese navigator Diego Cão, planted a stone cross or a padrão, at Cape Cross, about 130 Km north of Swakopmund. Two years later, in 1488 Bartholomew Dias also a Portuguese navigator land in the bay of Angra Pequena (Little Bay) the Luderitz of today. Namibia was proclaimed a German protectorate by Bismarck in 1884. As result of the end of the first World War, Namibia becomes under administration by South Africa. | |
| In 1989 the implementation of United Nations Resolution 435, becomes the first free elections and SWAPO coming to the legislative power. On 21 Mars 1990, after 106 years of foreign rule, Namibia achieve independence. The regime is democratic and multiparty. Namibia has a population about 1 850 000 million, being one of the lowest countries in world with less population density (two people per square Km). The currency in Namibia is the Namibia Dollar, witch is fixed to and equals the South Africa Rand. | |
| The general standard of accommodation facilities are very good, from guest houses, guest farms, hotel /pensions with the presence of luxury hotels. Namibia offers since the luxury Lodge until the comfortable, but always in mind, the Namibian hospitality. Many restaurants, coffee- and-cakes venues, pubs, and night clubs. International credit cards are accepted. | |
| Namibian cuisine is rich and varied. Top grade locally produced beef ad mutton, game meat such as (ostrich, oryx, springbok), fresh seafood (Kabeljou , lobsters and oysters). Traditional German style is available in most restaurants and Portuguese and Angolan style in some restaurants. | |
| Namibia’ s charms are well known in neighboring, but many tourists all over the world come to visit Namibia, so tourism is becoming an increasingly important foreign exchange, being the third income of Namibia’ s economy. Blessed with rich natural resources, mainly the mining industry (diamond and uranium), international fishing industry and agriculture, are the pillars of Namibia’s economy. | |
| More than 13 tribes and ethnic groups by order of size are: Wambo 46%, Kawango 9%, Herero and Damara both 7%, Whites 6 %, Coloreds and Caprivians 4%, San 3%, Basters 2%, Tswana 1 %. English is the official language but Afrikaans and German widely spoken. The African languages and dialects are in two main groups, Bantu (spoken by Owambos,Hereros, Kavangos, Caprivians and Tswanas) and Khoisan (spoken by the Bushmen)San) and Nama/Damara. | |
| Namibia’s climate is typical of semi-desert terrain, with hot days and cool nights. Two main seasons: Summer (middle of October until middle may) average day temperatures from 20º C-38 º C and Winter (middle of May until middle October ) average day temperatures from 10º C-23º C. Winter nights are cooler with temperatures 0º C. At north with its abundant summer rains and at south the arid southern desert and semi-desert areas. Cold Benguela current is the prime determinant of the Namibia’s climate as it reduces rainfall and causes the omnipresent fogs. | |
| Over 120 species of trees grow in Namibia. Welwitschia mirabilis the famous desert plant and one of the oldest plants know to man. | |
| Drive in Namibia is by left side. The road network consists in tarred roads +- 5 450 Km and gravel and earth roads +- 37 000 Km well-established. Out of towns speed limited is 80 Km/h. | |
| Namibia offers a high standard medical assistance. In smaller towns the network medical assistance is operated by the Ministry of Health and Social Services. | |
| Windhoek |  |
| Capital of Namibia, is with its 150,000 citizens, the biggest city in the country. Very modern and pretty, one of the most cleaned of Africa, combines the architecture of a modern city with numerous buildings most of them in the style of the German era. | |
| The international airport is situated round 40 Km. Windhoek offers a great variety of hotels, guest houses, banks, travel agents, rent a cars, safari and tour operators, restaurants, pubs and night clubs. Windhoek has three private hospitals, each with very well fully equipped: Medi Clinic, Roman Catholic and Rhino Park Hospital. | |
| Sossusvlei | |
The gigantic dunes of Sossusvlei with its color deep red, called the highest in the world, becomes one of the most spectacular sights in Africa. Located in the Namib Naukluft park, the largest conservation area in Africa and fourth largest in the world. |
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| To be in touch with nature , visit the Dead Pan, game drives through the mountains in 4*4 or quad bike and why not, by air a trip in a hot air balloon. Sossusvlei is an excellent reason to visit Namibia. | |
| Walvis Bay | |
| Walvis Bay, bathed by the Atlantic Ocean lies some 30 Km of Swakopmund. The landscape over the road between Walvis Bay to Swakopmund is wonderful : one side you can admire the blue Ocean and the other side the Namibia Desert. |  |
| Walvis Bay counts about 50.000 citizens, most of them developing the fishing and tourism industry. Another production branch is processing of sea salt. The salt fields of Walvis Bay have a size of 3.500 hectares and produce annually 400.000 tons of high quality of salt. For medical assistance you can find private Welwitschia Hospital. | |
| Swakopmund | |
| Swakopmund, very pretty small town is a true holiday resort. A lot of adventure activities into the desert by 4*4 or scenic flights are offered by tour operators. It disposes of a number of good restaurants, cafes and bars as well hotels, guest houses and self catering hotels. |  |
| There are two private hospitals: The Cottage Hospital and the Bismark Medical Centre. Compulsory stop over when you traveling around Namibia. | |
| Namibia’ s Etosha National Park is a huge salt pan surrounded by flat bush land. The water- holes, scattered throughout this area, are the basis of life for countless game. Be it a lion or an elephant, a giraffe or a zebras, almost animal species are represented. |  |
| The huge nature reserve has approximately 22.000 square Km in size. There are three entrances : Namutoni, Halali and Okakuejo. Accommodation inside and out side of the park is available. | |
| Damaraland is one of the most scenic areas in Namibia, so you must visit it. Prehistoric water courses with open plains and grassland, massive granite koppies and distant mountains create the Damaraland landscape. |  |
Miles of miles of deserted beaches, littered with ghostly ship wrecks, real mirages, historical rock paintings, game species include desert elephant, black rhino, ostrich and springbok joining us into Damaraland. |
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| The Kalahari desert is part of the huge sand basin that reaches from the Orange River up to Angola, in the west to Namibia and in the east to Zimbabwe. The sand masses were created by the erosion of soft stone formations. The dunes of Kalahari are stable and not wandering and in springtime sandy plains are covered in carpets of flowers and green grass. |  |
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| One of the largest canyons in the world; think of it as the Grand Canyon of Southern Africa and you ‘ re not far off. It’s situated on the lower parts of the Fish River near the southern border of Namibia. Not only is it visually spectacular as become a magnificent view for all our life. | |
| Kalkfeld has everything and more than its fair share of the unusual: Dinosaur footprints judged to be 185 million years old and have been declared a national monument. |  |
| Cape Cross /Skeleton Coast | |
| Cape Cross is the biggest reserve of seals along of the coast of South Africa and Namibia. During November and December breeding season as many 340.000 seals gather at Cape Cross at one time. The reserve is situated approximately 130 Km north of Swakopmund, by gravel road. | |
| Skeleton Coast covering an area of 16.400 Km2. The mystery of the presence of many shipwrecks, a lot of myth stories, mixing with untouched profile of its landscapes, become Skeleton Coast one of the most attraction of Namibia. | |