Namibia Travel Facts

Namibia is located in southwest Africa, bordering Angola , Botswana and South Africa . Characterized by the Namib desert along the Atlantic coast and a diverse range of wildlife, the country is an attractive travel destination for Africa fans. Numerous national parks and exciting landscapes quickly captivate visitors.

Source: Destination Explorer

Fast facts to know

• Namibia is one of the most beautiful and pleasant travel destinations in Africa.
• The country is strongly influenced by the German colonial rule.
• In Namibia there are breathtaking, wide landscapes.
• 80% of Namibia’s area is desert.
• At 43 million years old, the Namib Desert is the oldest desert in the world.
• Namibia is also often referred to as the rainbow state due to its many ethnic groups.
• The mix of African culture and European influences is unique in the world.
• Weather and landscape are strongly influenced by the low amounts of precipitation.
• Namibia is home to the largest cheetah population in the world.
• 80% of the inhabitants are Christians.
• A passport valid for at least 6 months is required for entry.
• Less than 2 million people live on the huge area of ​​over 800,000 km².
• The careful treatment of nature and the preservation of wildlife are anchored in the constitution.
• Great value is placed on “gentle” tourism.
• Traffic drives on the left in Namibia.
• Many shops close between 1pm and 2pm and are only open until 5pm.
• With 1.5 million members, the Ovambo are the largest tribe in Namibia.

Exciting cities in Namibia

• windhoek
• Swakopmund
• Luderitz
• Walvis Bay
• Keetmanshoop
• round
• Opuwo

History of Namibia

• Settled probably 2000 to 2500 years ago by the immigrated San.
• Discovered by the Portuguese for Europe in the 15th century.
• In the 19th century, European settlers began to immigrate – mainly from Portugal, England and the German-speaking area.
• In 1884/85 almost the entire country came under the rule of the German Reich and became the colony of German South West Africa.
• Conflicts follow between the representatives of German colonial rule and the Herero.
• 1904 and 1908 Herero and Nama uprisings lead to the annihilation of tens of thousands of Herero and Nama.
• Taken by British troops from South Africa during World War I.
• Subsequently handed over to the administration of the South African Union as a mandate area and occupied by them until 1990.
• Decades of asymmetric war against domestic and foreign opponents of apartheid and liberation movements in Namibia and Angola.
• Independent, democratic state since 1990 after more than 100 years of foreign rule.

Climate & travel weather in Namibia

• High, daily and seasonally fluctuating temperatures.
• Hardly any precipitation in the west.
• Namib desert: very warm all year round.
• Inland highlands: generally wetter, hot summers, mild winters.
• Caprivi Strip: Periodically humid tropics, hot, humid climate.
• Main rainy season: December and March.
• Recommended travel time:
  • April, May and August to October.
  • Wildlife Viewing: June to October.
  • Whale sightings: July and November.

Ideas for trips in Namibia

• Kolmanskop ghost town.
• Visit Living Museum.
• take a boat tour.
• Go on Big Five Safari.
• enjoy the starry sky.
• Find centuries-old desert plant Welwitschia Mirabilis.
• Vingerklip.
• Spitzkoppe.
• go on a desert tour.
• Duwisib Castle.
• Sandwich Harbour.
• Marvel at the Hoba meteorite.
• Find Bogenfels.
• Skeleton Coast National Park.

Eating & drinking in Namibia

• Based on influences from different ethnic groups in the country, South African and German cuisine.
• Staple cornmeal in the form of pap (“polenta”).
• Most dishes are based on meat.
• Popular types of meat: beef, lamb, antelope, zebra, ostrich, crocodile.
• Liked to eat: biltong (dried meat), droewors (dried sausage), boerewors (farmer’s sausage) and smoked meat (smoked game meat).
• Vegetarian dishes are not widespread.
• Fruit and vegetables play no role in large parts of the country.
• Herbs and spices used liberally.
• Liked to drink: Rooibos tea.
• In coastal regions there are many fish restaurants.
• Water is often contaminated, it is better to only drink it from filled bottles.
• Good beers due to the German Purity Law.
• First class South African red and white wines.
• Typical dishes:
  • Omagungu (fried mopane caterpillars).
  • Oshiwambo chicken.
  • Bobotjie (stew with lots of meat, millet, potatoes, root vegetables).
  • Omajova (mushrooms that grow on termite mounds during the rainy season).

Particularly scenic

• Etosha National Park
• Namib-Naukluft National Park
• Mudumu National Park
• Khaudum National Park
• Twyfelfontein Valley
• Sossusvlei and Deadvlei dune landscape
• Camel thorn trees in Deadvlei
• Fish River Canyon (second largest canyon in the world)
• Ruacana and Epupa Falls
• Kalahari desert