Namibia Travel Directory, Safaris and information

THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Namibia, a country located in Southern Africa in the Sub-Saharan Africa region can be divided into four regions.The desert coastal plains and dunes of Namib, the wooded bushveld of Kavango and Caprivi, the Kalahari Basin and the Skeleton Coast.
The country is bordered by Botswana in Southeast, South Africa to the South, Angola to the north, South Atlantic Ocean to the west and Zambia in the northeast and has a Latitude of 17.5o-29o South and Longitude of 12o-25o East.

PRACTICAL DETAILS:
Currency: Namibian Dollar=100 cents
Time: GMT +2 (GMT +1 from April to August)
Major Airport: Hosea Kutako International Airport and Eros Airport.(Windhoek)
Ports and Harbours:Walvis Bay and Lüderitz
Electricity: 220V running at 50Hz
Main Health risk: Malaria.
International telephone country code: 264

GEOGRAPHY:
Capital: Windhoek
Rainfall: 0 mm-600mm and main season ranges from January – April.
Temperarture: sub-tropical dry winters May to September with temperatures from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius; to temperatures between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius (October to April).
Land Area:825,418 sq. km. (320,827 sq. mi.); the size of Texas and Louisiana combined.
Altitude: 5748 feet
Vegetation:Desert: 16%, Savannas: 64% and Woodlands:
Natural Resourses: Diamonds, copper, gold, uranium, lead, tin, zinc, salt, vanadium, fisheries, and wildlife.
Land use:forested 22%, pastures 46%, agricultural-cultivated 1%, other 31%
Major National Park: Etosha National Park
Main Exports:diamonds, copper, lead, uranium, beef, cattle, fish, karakul pelts
Climate:Semidesert and high plateau
Natural hazards: Prolonged periods of drought

HUMAN STATISTICS:
Language:English (official); Afrikaans, German, Oshivambo, Herero, Nama/Damara, other indigenous languages.
Population:1.8 million.
Nationality: Namibian(s).
Density: 1.6 persons per sq km (4.2 persons per sq mi)
Life expectancy: 42.77 years
Religion: Predominantly Christian; also indigenous beliefs.
Ethnic groups: Black 87%; white 6%; mixed race 7%.
Income per capita: $2,370.
Education: primary, secondary, higher

ADMINISTRATION/POLITICS:
President: Hifikepunye Pohamba
Prime Minister:Nahas Angula
National Flag:Red represents Namibia's people.White refers to peace and unity, Green symbolises vegetation and agricultural resources, Blue - represents the clear Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; and the golden-yellow sun represents life and energy.
Government: Unitary Multiparty Republic
Administrative divisions:13 administrative regions.

WHEN TO VISIT:
Namibia is a pleasant country to visit all year round.

GETTING THERE AND AWAY:
Namibia has several flights, both domestic and international. There are several flights to Namibia like the British Airways,KLM - Royal Dutch Airlnes. Domestic flights are provided by Compion Aviation Namibia (Pty) Ltd within the country.
The country has several Airports in major towns like Hosea Kutako Intl, Eros Airport, Windhoek (ERS) Rooikop Airport, Walvis Bay (WVB) Swakopmund Airport (SWP) Luderitz Airport (LUD) Mpacha Airport (MPA) and many more, which recieve and dispatch different flights.

VISA AND PASSPORT GUIDELINES
All visitors to Namibia should have valid passports for a minimum period of 6 months after the expected date of departure.
Several countries however do not need Visas to enter Namibia for stays of up to 3 months . These include Nationals of South Africa, Mozambique, Singapore, Swaziland, Angola, Tanzania, USA, Switzerland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Norway, Brazil, Australia, Botswana, Britain, Iceland, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho,Canada, Malawi, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russian Federation,Cuba and Liechtenstein.

It is advisable to check with your nearest Namibia Embassy/Consular before you travel.

FLIGHTS TO NAMIBIA:
Namibia has several Tourist offices/travel and Tour companies which offer Airline tickets and also offer other tourist services.

GETTING AROUND
Namibia has good tarmac roads linking the country to Botswana, South Africa, Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Car hire services are available, and there are share-taxis or minibus services between the different towns from luxury to basic and these run every day.
There is a railway line that crosses several towns and the train service operates daily between Windhoek and other towns. A car ferry operates across the Zambezi River to Zambia.
Traffic drives on the left and a Namibia driving license must be obtained for stays.

NAMIBIA HOTELS
Namibia has many accommodation facilties ranging from 5 star hotels, camping sites, lodges, tented camps,inns, country houses and cottages. Major hotels include Windhoek Country Club, Swakopmund Hotel which provide several facilities like Restaurants, Parking facilities, Rooms are fitted with Air Conditioning, Safe Deposit Boxes,Telephones and Televisions with satellite channels.All Naftional parks have accommodation facilities ranging from Luxurious to Basic like Namutoni Camp, Halali Camp and Okaukuejo Camps in Etosha National Park.

ATTRACTIONS
There are several attractions in Namibia like the National Parks and reserves that include Daan Viljoen Game Park, Etosha National Park, Fish River Canyon National Park, Hardap Dam Recreation Resort & Game Park, Khaudom Game Reserve, Mahango Game Reserve, Mamili National Park, Mudumu National Park, Namib-Naukluft Park, Skeleton Coast Park, Waterberg Plateau Park and Private Parks/Game Farms which offer game viewing and Bird watching.

Other attractions include The fish River Canyon whose main attraction is its isolated and otherworldly landscape and wealth of interesting xerophytes plants, Spitscope reffered to as the matterhorn of Namibia with series of granitic inselbergs, desert dunes and coastal plains of Namib, the Skeleton Coast with an Aura of mightiness and mystery, the Kalahari Basin, the wooded bushveld of Kavango and Caprivi and the Windhoek attractions which comprise of Architecture like Old Georges Cathedral, The Old station, The Art College and other several attractions.

MONEY
The country has several banking services in most major towns. Autobanks are found in most towns and operate on a 24-hour basis and Some ATM's give cash advances.There is howerver a surcharge for using credit cards and cashing travellers checques.
Credit and charge cards like Barclays are widely accepted in facilities like hotels and restaurants in larger towns.Travellers cheques are also accepted.