Namibia Travel Guide

Namibia Flag

Guide to Namibia Safari

• Location: Namibia lies in Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa.
• Governance: Democratically elected
• Surface Area: 824,292 sq km (318,261 sq miles)
• Population: 2 million (UN estimate 2005)
• Capital: Windhoek with Population: 223,364 (2001)
• Main harbors: Walvis Bay and Lüderitz
• Independence: on 21 March 1990.
• Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0900-1300. Some bigger supermarkets are also open Sun 1100-1300 and 1600-1900. Craft vendors sell their goods every day of the week.
• Language: English (official language but the first language of only 7 % of the population).
• Religion: Christian 80% to 90% (mostly Lutheran) and indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%.
• National airline: Air Namibia.
• Other Airlines to Namibia: British Airways, South African Airways, LTU and TAAG
• Working Hours: Government Departments: Monday to Friday: 9 am – 4 pm

Private Business: Monday to Friday: 8.30 am – 4.15 pm Saturday: 9am -noon (Some

Organizations)

• Geography: Fundamentally an arid country with contrasting landscapes. The barren Namib Desert is the oldest in the world, with high dunes. The central plateau, with its thorn bush savannah and rugged mountains, rising abruptly from the plains, gives way to the majestic Fish river Canyon in the south. In the north of the country, landscapes range from dense bush and open plains of the great Etosha Pan, to woodland savannah and lush vegetation.
• Climate: Namibia has a desert climate, it is hot, dry and rainfall is very sparse and erratic. The coolest temperatures are found along the coast. The hottest months are December to March. Rainfall (if there is any) usually falls between October – April.
• Main Attractions: Etosha National Park,  Fish River Canyon Park, Brandberg Nature Reserve, Caprivi, Daan Viljoen, Khaudom, Mahango, Skeleton Coast National Park, Mamili, Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibrand and Waterberg Plateau Park.
• Economy: Heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export.
• Currency: The official currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD) divided into 100 cents.
• Namibia airports: Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH), Swakopmund Airport (SWP) and Walvis Bay Airport, Eros Airport, Windhoek (ERS), Rooikop Airport, (also known as Walvis Bay airport) Walvis Bay (WVB), Luderitz Airport (LUD), Mpacha Airport (MPA). There are over 300 known airfields, of which only 16 are licensed.
• When to Go: The best time to travel in Namibia is from May to October when the weather is a condusively cooler.