Facts at a
Glance
Full country name:Republic of Namibia
Area: 824,290 sq
km (321,473 sq mi)
Population: 1,660,000
Capital city:
Windhoek
People: 85% black (Ovambo 45%), 7.4% white settlers
(German and Afrikaan), 7.6% mixed
Language: Afrikaans, German,
English, Ovambo, Bantu, Khoisan
Religion: 75% Lutheran, 10%
Animist
Government: Democratic Republic
President Sam
Nujoma
Namibia is on Africa's south-western coast, bordering
South Africa in the south, Botswana in the east, and Angola in the north.
The skinny eastern appendage, the Caprivi Strip, connects Namibia to
Zambia and Zimbabwe. The country is largely arid, but encompasses broad
geographical variations and is usually divided into four regions: the
Namib Desert and Coastal Plains along the coast; the scrubby,
eastward-sloping Central Plateau; the Kalahari sands along the Botswana
and South African borders; and the dense bushveld (woodland) of the
north-eastern Kavango and Caprivi regions. The northern border is flush
with rivers that provide water to most of Namibia.
The Namib Desert, the world's oldest arid region, has been around for
over 80 million years. It extends along Namibia's entire Atlantic coast.
Namib landscapes range from the mountainous red dunes in the south to the
centre's interior plains and flat-topped, steep-sided, isolated mountains
called inselbergs. The desert is scored by a number of rivers that
rise in the Central Plateau but seldom carry water. East of the desert the
altitude increases and the dunes give way to gravel plains. In the north
these plains are honeycombed with caves and rock shelters that once
harboured early humans.
Namibia has some of Africa's most diverse natural habitats. Even in the
desert you'll find elephant, giraffe and zebra; lions once came down to
the sea, but have been pushed out of the dunes by poachers. Flocks of
flamingo live in Etosha National Park in the north. The Cape Cross Seal
Reserve on the central coast is home to 100,000 Cape fur seal.
Although it's predominantly a desert, Namibia enjoys regional climatic
variations. The most arid climate is found in the central Namib, where
summer daytime temperatures climb to over 40°C (105°F) but can fall to
below freezing at night. Daytime temperatures in the mountainous and
semi-arid Central Plateau (including Windhoek) are generally lower than in
the rest of the country. Fog is common on the coast. December is the
hottest month everywhere, when daily temperatures hit an average high of
30°C (86°F). There are two rainy seasons: the 'little rains' from October
to December and the main rainy period from January to April. Low-lying
areas in the eastern part of the country are generally much hotter than
the Central Plateau and, except for Kavango and Caprivi in the north-east,
receive little rain.
History
Southern Africa's earliest inhabitants
were the San, nomadic people organised in extended family groups who could
adapt to even the severest terrain. San communities later came under
pressure from Khoi-Khoi groups. The Khoi-Khoi were a tribal people who
raised stock rather than hunted, and who were among the first pottery
makers in the archaeological record books. They came from the south,
gradually displacing the San, and remained in control of Namibia until
around 1500 AD. Descendants of the Khoi-Khoi and San people still live in
the country, but few have retained their original lifestyles. Between 2300
and 2400 years ago, the first Bantus appeared on the plateaus of
south-central Namibia. Their arrival marked the first tribal structures in
southern African societies. Other tribes either retreated to the desert or
the swamps of the Okavango Delta or were enslaved into Bantu society.
Because Namibia has one of the world's most barren and inhospitable
coastlines, it was largely ignored by European explorers. The first
European visitors were Portuguese mariners seeking a way to the Indies in
the late 15th century, but they confined their activities in Namibia to
erecting stone crosses at certain points along the coast as navigational
guides. It wasn't until the last minute scramble for colonies towards the
end of the 19th century that Namibia was annexed by Germany, except for
the enclave of Walvis Bay, which was taken in 1878 by the British for the
Cape Colony. In 1904, the Herero people, who were Bantu-speaking cattle
herders, launched a rebellion, but it was brutally put down. Meanwhile, in
the south, diamonds had been discovered east of Lüderitz by a South
African labourer. In the blink of an eye, the German authorities branded
the entire area between Lüderitz and the Orange River a
sperrgebiet, or 'forbidden area'. German rule came to an end during
WWI when German forces surrendered to a South African expeditionary army
fighting for the Allies.
At the end of WWI, South Africa was given a mandate to rule the
territory (then known as West South Africa) by the League of Nations. The
mandate was renewed by the United Nations following WWII but the
organisation refused to sanction the outright annexation of the country by
South Africa. Undeterred, the South African government tightened its grip
on the territory and, in 1949, granted parliamentary representation to the
white population. The bulk of Namibia's viable farmland was parcelled into
6000 farms owned by white settlers, while black workers and their families
were confined by law to 'reserves'.
Forced labour had been the lot of most Namibians since the German
annexation, and was one of the main factors which led to mass
demonstrations and the development of nationalism in the late 1950s.
Around this time, a number of political parties were formed and strikes
organised. By 1960 most of these parties had merged to form the South West
Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), which took the heated issue of South
African occupation to the International Court of Justice.
The court's outcome was inconclusive but in 1966 the UN General
Assembly voted to terminate South Africa's mandate and set up a Council
for South West Africa to administer the territory. SWAPO adopted guerrilla
tactics at the same time, but the organisation's failure to establish an
internal government in Namibia made it easy for South Africa to assert
control. South Africa refused to negotiate on a UN-supervised programme
for Namibian independence unless an estimated 19,000 Cuban troops were
removed from neighbouring Angola. In response, SWAPO intensified its
guerrilla activities, severely restricting movement in the north of the
country.
The Namibian population grew tired of the war and the economy suffered
badly. By 1985, South Africa was also feeling the pinch and was distracted
by internal problems of its own. A UN-sponsored deal ensured Cuban troops
left Angola if South African troops exited Namibia. UN-monitored elections
were held in November 1989 and SWAPO won a clear majority of the votes. A
constitution was adopted in February 1990 and independence granted the
following month under the presidency of SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma. Nujoma
was re-elected in 1994 and embarked on a reconstruction programme for the
country based on the retention of a mixed economy and partnership with the
private sector. Nujoma tied Namibia's currency to the South African rand
in March 1998.
Economic
Profile
GDP: US$6 billion
GDP per head: US$3700
Annual
growth: 1.5%
Inflation: 8%
Major industries:
Mining (diamonds and uranium), livestock, agriculture, fishing
Major trading partners: UK, South Africa, Spain, Japan
Culture
Namibia's population includes at least 11
major ethnic groups, ranging from hunter-gatherers to rural farmers and
town dwellers, and the country still bears the influences of its German
and Afrikaner colonisers. The 650,000-strong Ovambo make up the largest
group and live mainly in the north. Other significant tribes include the
Kavango, Herero, Himba, Damara, Nama and Basters. A tinier group, the San,
once had their own land division system and in the early 19th century were
responsible for one of the most extensive pre-colonial trade networks in
the region.
Although the country is still developing a literary tradition, music,
dance, and the visual and architectural arts have long been part of the
local culture. Namibia's earliest musicians were the San, whose music
emulated the sounds made by animals and was played to accompany dances and
storytelling. The early Nama used drums, flutes and stringed instruments;
and the later arriving Bantu people added marimbas, gourd rattles and
animal horn trumpets. Missionaries established local religious choral
groups. Township art, which develops sober themes in a colourful and
generally lighthearted manner, first appeared in the townships of South
Africa during the apartheid years. It has taken hold in Namibia and is
rapidly developing into a popular art form; names to watch for include
Tembo Masala and Joseph Madisia.
Each ethnic group within Namibia has its own pantry of preferred foods.
The staple for the Ovambo people is mielie pap, a cornmeal
porridge, or mahango (millet), also made into a porridge or soup.
Both mielies and mahangos are typically eaten with fish, goat, lamb or
beef stew. Pumpkins, peppers and onions also feature prominently. The
desert-living Nama people have revered the spiky !nara melon for
tens of thousands of years, and its yearly harvest is a significant event.
Endemic to the desert, some say that the !nara made human existence
possible in the Namib. The Herero subsist mainly from milk products such
as curds and butter. The leftover European cuisine is mostly German, and
big on boerewors, a huge 'farmers sausage'. Pastries, breads,
cakes, fruit and cold cuts also derive from the Germans. Traditional brews
include mataku (watermelon wine) and walende, a
distilled-palm spirit that tastes like vodka.
Events
A big event to watch for is Maherero Day, towards the end of
August, when the Herero people gather in traditional dress at Okahandja
(just north of Windhoek) for a memorial service to the chiefs killed in
the Khoi-Khoi and German wars. In October there's a similar event for the
Hereros in Omaruru (north-west of Windhoek) to honour their chief Zeraua.
Independence Day on 21 March is celebrated with feasts and
festivities all over Namibia. The Windhoek Carnival held over a
week in late April is a big social event for city sophisticates, as is the
Küste Karnival at Swakopmund in late August or early September, and
the Windhoek Agricultural Show in late September.
Oktoberfest, with all its beer swilling and sausage sizzling, is
vigourously celebrated throughout the country in late October.
Visas: Most visitors to Namibia do not require a visa
Health
risks: Bilharzia (in the east), malaria (in the
north-east)
Time: GMT/UTC plus two hours
Electricity:
220V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric (see conversion
table)
Money &
Costs
Currency: Namibian dollar
Exchange rate: US$1 =
N$4.9685
see Namibian money
Relative costs:
- Budget room: US$15-25
- Moderate hotel: US$30-40
- Top-end hotel: $50 plus
- Budget meal: US$6-8
- Moderate restaurant meal: US$10-15
- Top-end restaurant meal: $25 plus
Namibia is a relatively
inexpensive country to visit. Budget travellers need only spend about
US$25 a day if they camp or stay in backpackers' hostels, self-cater and
use public transportation. A mid-range budget of around US$60 a day
secures inexpensive hotels and a couple of daily restaurant meals. Better
hotels, habitual restaurant meals, guided tours and a rented 4WD requires
at least US$100 a day.
Major foreign currencies and travellers' cheques can be exchanged in
any bank. Rates for travellers' cheques are better than cash. When
changing money, you can choose between Namibian dollars or South African
rand; for changing leftover money after your trip, rand is better. Credit
cards are widely accepted in shops, restaurants and hotels.
An 11% sales tax is applied to most purchases, including meals and
accommodation, but it's not normally included in marked prices. Tipping is
only expected in up-market restaurants, and only if a service charge
hasn't already been added to the bill. Tipping is prohibited in national
parks and reserves. Bargaining, particularly in rural markets, is a local
way of life, especially for arts and crafts.
When to Go
The dry winter
season (May to October) is the most pleasant time to visit Namibia. It's
best to avoid Namib and Etosha national parks in the extreme heat between
December and March. Resort areas are busiest over both Namibian and South
African school holidays, which usually take place from mid-December to
mid-January, late-April to early June, and late-August to mid-September.
Scenic Photo Tour
Environment
Facts
for the Traveller
Attractions
Activities
Getting There &
Away
Getting Around
Recommended Reading
Lonely Planet Guides
Travellers' Reports
On-line Info