NAMIBIA WILDLIFE GUIDE

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in southern Africa bordered by Angola to the north, Zambia to the northeast, Botswana to the east, South Africa to the south and southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The region that is now Namibia has been inhabited by various indigenous groups for thousands of years. The San, Damara, and Nama people were the earliest known inhabitants of the region.

In the late 19th century, Namibia became a German colony known as German South-West Africa. The Germans established a series of forts and trading posts throughout the region, and they also implemented policies aimed at exploiting the natural resources of the area. This included the forced labor of the indigenous population.

During World War I, South African forces invaded Namibia and drove out the German colonial authorities. After the war, Namibia became a mandate territory of the League of Nations, under the administration of South Africa. South Africa refused to grant independence to Namibia and instead implemented apartheid policies, which were aimed at segregating the population and maintaining white minority rule.

In the 1960s, the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) was formed, with the goal of ending apartheid and achieving independence for Namibia. SWAPO launched a guerrilla war against South African forces, and the conflict lasted for over 20 years. In 1988, South Africa agreed to grant independence to Namibia, and a ceasefire was declared. In 1990, Namibia became an independent country, with SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma becoming the first president.

Since independence, Namibia has made significant progress in terms of political stability and economic development. However, the country still faces challenges related to poverty, unemployment, and inequality. Despite these challenges, Namibia has a rich cultural heritage and is home to a diverse population with a vibrant arts and music scene.

Country Code: +264.

Crime: Crime in Namibia is a concern, particularly in urban areas such as Windhoek, Walvis Bay, and Swakopmund. The most common types of crimes in Namibia include theft, burglary, robbery, carjacking, and assault.

According to the Namibian Police, the overall crime rate in the country has been decreasing in recent years. However, some types of crimes, such as carjacking and housebreaking, have increased. Violent crime is also a concern, particularly in the form of domestic violence, sexual assault, and murder.

Tourists are sometimes targeted for theft, especially in crowded areas, and are advised to take precautions such as not carrying large amounts of cash or wearing flashy jewelry. Carjacking is also a concern, particularly on isolated roads, and travelers are advised to keep their car doors locked and windows closed at all times.

There are also issues with poaching and wildlife crime in Namibia, particularly in regards to the illegal hunting of rhinos and elephants for their valuable tusks and horns.

Overall, Namibia is generally considered a safe country to visit, and tourists are advised to exercise common sense precautions such as avoiding walking alone at night and staying in well-lit areas. It’s also a good idea to stay up-to-date on the latest travel advisories from your home country’s government and to follow local news and safety alerts while in Namibia.

Currency: Namibian Dollar.

Electricity: Type D (3-pin round, triangular pattern), Type M (3-pin round).

Language: English is the official language but the majority of the population speaks Oshiwambo as a common language.

Latitude and Longitude: 22.9576° S, 18.4904 ° E.

LGBT: Namibia is a country located in southern Africa that has made some progress in recognizing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. However, homosexuality remains illegal in Namibia under the country’s colonial-era sodomy law, which criminalizes “unnatural” sexual acts. The penalty for engaging in homosexual activity in Namibia is up to seven years in prison.

In recent years, there have been efforts to repeal the sodomy law in Namibia. In 2019, the Namibian High Court ruled that three transgender women could change their legal gender without undergoing sex reassignment surgery, marking a significant step forward for transgender rights in the country.

Furthermore, in 2020, the Namibian government announced that it would include LGBTQ+ people in its national HIV/AIDS policies, which could lead to improved access to healthcare and support services for LGBTQ+ individuals living with HIV.

However, there are still many challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Namibia, including discrimination, harassment, and violence. LGBTQ+ activists have called for further legal reforms to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people and to promote greater social acceptance and inclusion.

Population: 2.53 million (2021).

President: Hage Geingob.

Embassy of Germany, Sanlam Centre, 7th Floor, Independence Avenue P.O. Box 2300, Windhoek, Namibia.

Embassy of the United States of America, Lossen Street, Private Bag 12029, Ausspannplatz, Windhoek, Namibia.

High Commission of the Republic of South Africa, 7 General Murtala Muhammed Avenue, Private Bag 12010, Ausspannplatz, Windhoek, Namibia.

High Commission of India, 61-63 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Ausspannplatz, Windhoek, Namibia.

Embassy of France, 61 Robert Mugabe Avenue, Windhoek, Namibia.

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, 36 Ludwig Koch Street, P.O. Box 23018, Windhoek, Namibia.

Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is one of the largest and most popular national parks in Namibia, covering an area of 22,270 square kilometers. The park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, and many more. The park’s unique salt pan is a major attraction, attracting a wide variety of birdlife. Visitors can enjoy game drives, guided tours, and self-drive safaris, as well as camping and lodging within the park.

Skeleton Coast National Park

Skeleton Coast National Park is a remote and rugged wilderness area stretching along the Atlantic Ocean, covering an area of 16,845 square kilometers. The park is known for its desolate landscapes, shipwrecks, and seal colonies. Visitors can explore the park on guided tours or self-drive safaris, as well as take scenic flights over the area.

Namib-Naukluft National Park

Namib-Naukluft National Park is the largest national park in Namibia, covering an area of 49,768 square kilometers. The park is home to some of the highest sand dunes in the world, including the famous Sossusvlei dunes. Visitors can enjoy hiking and climbing up the dunes, as well as exploring the nearby Sesriem Canyon and Deadvlei pan. The park also offers a variety of wildlife, including ostriches, antelopes, and hyenas.

Bwabwata National Park

Bwabwata National Park is located in the Caprivi Strip region of Namibia, covering an area of 6,274 square kilometers. The park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and buffalo, as well as over 400 bird species. Visitors can enjoy game drives, guided tours, and boat trips along the Kwando and Okavango Rivers.

Waterberg Plateau National Park

Waterberg Plateau National Park is located in central Namibia, covering an area of 41,400 hectares. The park is known for its scenic landscapes, including the towering red sandstone cliffs of the Waterberg Plateau. Visitors can enjoy hiking and exploring the park’s trails, as well as wildlife viewing opportunities such as white rhinos and sable antelopes.

Khaudum National Park

Khaudum National Park is located in northeastern Namibia, covering an area of 3,840 square kilometers. The park is a wilderness area known for its rugged landscapes, including savannas, woodlands, and riverine forests. Visitors can enjoy game drives and camping within the park, as well as viewing a variety of wildlife, including elephants, lions, and wild dogs.

Mudumu National Park

Mudumu National Park is located in the Caprivi Strip, covering an area of 1,000 square kilometers. The park is known for its wetlands and floodplains, home to a variety of wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and buffalo. Visitors can enjoy game drives, guided tours, and boat trips along the Kwando River.

Dorob National Park

Dorob National Park is located along the central coast of Namibia, covering an area of 1,600 square kilometers. The park is known for its coastal and desert landscapes, as well as its wildlife, including hyenas, jackals, and ostriches. Visitors can enjoy hiking and exploring the park’s trails, as well as visiting nearby attractions such as the Cape Cross Seal Reserve.

Sossusvlei

Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan surrounded by towering red sand dunes, located in the Namib Desert. Visitors can climb up the dunes for stunning views of the desert landscape, explore the nearby Deadvlei pan with its dead trees, and enjoy hot air balloon rides over the dunes.

Fish River Canyon

Fish River Canyon is a 160 kilometer long and 27 kilometer wide canyon located in southern Namibia. The canyon offers breathtaking views of the rugged landscape and is a popular hiking destination. The five-day Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail is one of the most famous hikes in the country.

Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a charming coastal town with a strong German colonial history. The town offers a range of activities such as quad biking, sandboarding, and skydiving, as well as scenic drives along the nearby Skeleton Coast.

Damaraland

Damaraland is a remote and sparsely populated region known for its rugged and beautiful landscapes. It is home to ancient rock art sites, as well as the rare desert-adapted elephant, which can be seen on guided safaris.

Skeleton Coast

The Skeleton Coast is a stretch of barren coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, known for its shipwrecks, seal colonies, and unique landscape. Visitors can take scenic flights over the area or explore it on 4×4 safaris.

Caprivi Strip

The Caprivi Strip is a narrow region in the far northeast of Namibia, bordered by Angola, Zambia, and Botswana. It is known for its lush vegetation, rivers, and wildlife, including elephants, hippos, and crocodiles. Visitors can enjoy boating trips, fishing, and birdwatching in the region.

Kolmanskop

Kolmanskop is an abandoned diamond mining town located near the coastal town of Lüderitz. Visitors can explore the eerie ruins of the town and learn about its history, as well as take guided tours of the area.

Twyfelfontein

Twyfelfontein is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Damaraland. It is home to one of the largest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa, with over 2,500 engravings and paintings dating back thousands of years.

Cape Cross Seal Reserve

The Cape Cross Seal Reserve is located on the Skeleton Coast and is home to a large colony of Cape fur seals. Visitors can watch the seals frolic in the ocean, as well as learn about their behavior and habitat.

Brandberg Mountain

The Brandberg Mountain is the highest mountain in Namibia and is located in Damaraland. The mountain is known for its unique rock formations and is home to over 45,000 rock paintings, including the famous “White Lady” painting.

Himba Village

The Himba are a semi-nomadic tribe who live in the northwestern part of Namibia. Visitors can visit their villages and learn about their culture, traditions, and way of life.

Namibia has a desert climate characterized by hot days, cool nights, and very little rainfall throughout the year. The climate is influenced by the cold Benguela current that flows along the Atlantic coast, as well as the high pressure system that dominates the region.

The country can be divided into three climatic regions: the desert regions along the coast, the central plateau, and the northern regions. The coastal regions are generally cooler and more humid, while the inland regions are hotter and drier.

The rainy season in Namibia typically occurs between November and April, although rainfall is generally low and erratic. The central plateau receives the most rainfall, with an average of around 300mm per year, while the northern regions can receive up to 600mm per year.

Temperatures in Namibia can vary widely depending on the season and location. The coastal regions are generally cooler, with average temperatures ranging from 15°C to 25°C, while the inland regions can be much hotter, with average temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C or higher. During the winter months (June to August), temperatures can drop significantly, especially in the desert regions, with nighttime temperatures sometimes falling below freezing.

Travelers to Namibia should be prepared for hot, dry conditions throughout much of the year, with sunscreen, hats, and plenty of water recommended. It is also important to be aware of the risks of heatstroke and dehydration, especially during the hotter months.