Namibia tours & travel

 

Capital city	Windhoek
Population	2.1 million
Language	English, Afrikaans
Currency	Namibian Dollar (NAD)
Time zone	(GMT+02:00) Windhoek
Electricity	Type D (Old British 3-pin) Type M (see D)
Dialling code	+264

 

Namibia is a small country in terms of population, and has the world’s second lowest population density. There are dozens of ethnic groups living here, and about half of them are Ovambo. Close to 90% of the population are Christian, with the remainder practicing indigenous beliefs. Namibia is still home to the San people, also known as the Bushmen, as well as some of the regions oldest nomadic tribes. These groups live their original hunter -gatherer lifestyle. For the most part however, most areas and cultures of Namibia has been westernised by modern influences. 

Namibia sits on the southeastern coast of the African continent, beside Zambia, Angola, Botswana and South Africa. South Africa ruled Namibia until 1990, when the latter won its independence. Much of Namibia is covered in desert and arid highlands. There are two deserts here, the Namib and the Kalahari. The central plateau is a mountainous and arid area in the centre of the country, and the Great Escarpment is where the terrain dramatically rises. Namibia is nourished by the Orange River and also has an area of bushvelt, or low scrub bushland, in the northeast. 

Along your Namibia travel you’ll find a variety of Western-style malls to makeshift markets along roadsides. Local vendors tend to sell African arts and crafts of varying quality, which include wooden masks, sculptures, traditional pottery and items made from animal hide. Namibian wool is considered high quality, and its made into attractive clothes and rugs by local craftsman. You can also get cheap and stunning diamonds here, just be sure to purchase form a licenced vendor. Please also avoid buying items made from ivory or reptile skins, as these are produced illegally and unethically. 

Africa Day

This event commemorates the end of apartheid in southern African countries, and encourages further peace and cooperation between the various ethnicities that live there.

Bank Windhoek Arts Festival

Held in the capital, this arts festival is a way of promoting Namibia’s budding art scene. Catch all variety of exhibitions and performances, from folk music to theatres and beyond.

Kuste Karneval

It’s a vestige of Namibia’s past under German rule, but today the festivities have a more contemporary feel. After the parades and market stalls, street parties continue into the night.

 

Namibian cuisine is influenced by its indigenous traditions, western colonisers and the arid climate. Livestock are largely free to graze on the savannah and scrublands, so the quality of meat is very good. Braaivleis (barbecues) are both traditional and popular. Outdoor cooking in general is traditional and plays an important part in Namibian culture. The black, cast iron, three-legged pot is an iconic cooking instrument, used to make spicy stews with vegetables and fish or meat. Mopane worm, or catepillars, are fried to a crispy texture and make for a tasty treat. 

• The Place of Stunted Ironwood Trees by David P Crandall
• Soul of a Lion by Barbara Bennett
• The Elephant's Secret Sense by Caitlin O'Connell
• Blood Rose by Margie Orford
• Histories of Namibia by Colin Leys and Susan Brown