Namibia

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Overview

Although not as well known as some of its African neighbours, Namibia is a gem for those in search of wildlife and wilderness.

Once governed by Germany and South Africa, Namibia has been independent since 1990. Germanic influence can still be found in the country's well-maintained towns, roads and rest camps. Namibia is peaceful and more prosperous than many nearby countries because of its productive mining, farming, fishing and tourism industries. However, with half the country's agricultural land owned by a few thousand white farmers, land reform is a burning issue.

Essentially a desert country, Namibia offers contrasting landscapes. The Namib Desert is a vast swathe of high dunes and desolate plains with an awe-inspiring sense of space. The thorn bush savannah and rugged mountains of the central plateau give way to the majestic Fish River Canyon in the south. In the north of the country, landscapes range from the dense bush and open plains of the great Etosha Pan, to woodland savannah and lush vegetation. Etosha National Park, the third largest in Africa, owes its unique landscape to the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow depression edged by waterholes to the south which guarantee rewarding game viewing.

Area
824,292 sq km (318,261 sq miles).

Population
2.04 million (UN estimate 2006).

Population Density
2.5 per sq km.

Capital
Windhoek. Population: 237,000 (UN estimate 2003).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from South Africa in 1990.

Language
English is the official language but is the first language of only 7% of the population. Afrikaans, the lingua franca, is the first language of most of the white population. German, Herero, Kavango, Nama and Ovambo are also spoken.

Religion
Christian (80 to 90%) and indigenous beliefs (10 to 20%).

Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from the first Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April).

Social Conventions
In urban areas, western customs prevail; normal courtesies should be shown when visiting someone's home. In rural settlements, visitors should follow the advice of a local guide.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50hz. Outlets are of the South African three-pin type (two small round pins over one larger round pin).

Head of Government
Prime Minister Nahas Angula since 2005.

Head of State
President Hifikepunye Pohamba since 2005.

Culture

Food and Drink
Restaurants and cafes reflect the German influence on Namibia, and most dining rooms offer a reasonable choice of local and continental cuisine.
National specialities:
o Biltong (air-dried meat).
o Rauchfleisch (smoked meat).
o Game such as antelope, ostrich or zebra cooked on a braai (barbecue).
o Potjiekos (one-pot bush stew).
o Seafood, especially oysters, on the coast.

National drinks:
o Tafel lager.
o Windhoek lager.

Legal drinking age: The legal age to drink in bars is 18.

Tipping: 10% is customary.

Nightlife
In the central area of Windhoek, there are restaurants, cafes, cinemas and theatres.

Shopping
Windhoek has a selection of fashionable shops. Local crafts can be bought in some specialised shops and at the Windhoek Street Market, held every second Saturday. Good buys include diamonds and semi-precious stones, Herero dolls, hand-carved wooden objects, jewellery, karosse rugs, liqueur chocolates made in Windhoek and Swakara garments.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0900-1300. Some bigger supermarkets are also open Sun 1100-1300 and 1600-1900.

Environment

Climate
The cold Benguela current keeps the coast of the Namib Desert cool, damp and free of rain for most of the year, with a thick coastal fog. Inland, all the rain falls in summer (November to April). January and February are the hottest months, when daytime temperatures in the interior can exceed 40ºC (104ºF), but nights are usually cool. Winter nights can be fairly cold, but days are generally warm and pleasant.

Required Clothing
Light cottons, with slightly heavier cottons or light woollens for evening. Inland, shoes are essential during the day as the ground is very hot.

Namibia is in southwest Africa. It is a large and mainly arid country sharing borders with Angola to the north, Botswana to the east, South Africa to the south and, in the Caprivi Strip, a narrow panhandle of Namibian territory jutting from the northeast corner of the country, with Zambia and Zimbabwe. To the west is 1,280km (795 miles) of some of the most desolate and lonely coastline in the world. Along the entire length of the country, the vast shifting sand dunes of the Namib Desert spread inland for 80 to 130km (50 to 80 miles). In the interior, the escarpment of a north-south plateau slopes away to the east and north into the vast interior sand basin of the Kalahari. In the far northwest, the 66,000 sq km (25,500 sq miles) of the Kaokoland mountains run along the coast, while further inland lies the Etosha Pan (a dried-out saline lake), surrounded by grasslands and bush which support a large and varied wildlife. The Etosha National Park & Game Reserve is one of the finest in Africa, in that it remains, to a large extent, free of human influence.

Money

Currency
The Namibian Dollar (NAD; symbol N$) is in note denominations of N$200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of N$5, N$1, 50 cents, 10 cents and 5 cents. It is linked to the South African Rand (R) on a 1:1 basis (South African Rand = 100 cents). The South African Rand is also acceptable as currency in Namibia.

Currency Exchange
Available in banks and at bureaux de change.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Credit cards are not usually accepted at petrol stations.

Traveller's Cheques
To avoid additional exchange rate charges, take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or South African Rand.

Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 0900-1530, Sat 0900-1100.

Duty Free
The following may be imported into Namibia by persons over 16 years of age without incurring customs duty:
o 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco.
o 2l of wine and 1l of spirits.
o 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette.
o Gifts to the value of N$50,000 (including value of imported duty-free items).

Note: Hunting rifles need a permit, issued by customs when entering the country.

Prohibited Imports
Handguns are not allowed.

Traveller's Guide

Passports
Passport valid for a minimum of six months after the date of departure from Namibia required.

Visas
Not required for stays of up to 90 days except the following:
nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia who do require a visa.

Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business and Transit: £20

Validity
Valid up to three months from date of issue for stays of up to three months from date of entry. Extensions for a further three months are available from the Ministry of Home Affairs in Windhoek.

Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at high commission); see Contact Addresses.

Working Days Required
Three to four.

Contact Addresses

High Commission for the Republic of Namibia in the UK
6 Chandos Street, London W1G 9LU, UK
Tel: (020) 7636 6244.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

Namibia Tourism in the UK
Suite 200, Parkway House, Sheen Lane, London SW14 8LS, UK
Tel: 0870 330 9333.
Website: www.namibiatourism.com.na

Embassy of the Republic of Namibia in the USA
1605 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
Tel: (202) 986 0540.
Website: www.namibianembassyusa.org

Health Care
Health insurance is essential. It is advisable to consult your doctor well in advance of travelling about immunisations and assembling a first aid kit.

Note
* Malaria risk exists in the entire northern third of the country (Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati, Ohangwenga, Otjozondjupa and Omaheke) from November to June and along the Kunene river and in Kavango and Caprivi regions throughout the year.

** A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from an infected area.

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