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Namibia is a land of wonderful contrasts - the icy Benguela current sweeps up its western shore, home to an abundance of fish life. Ghostly fog floats from the shore to lie suspended over the brooding Namib Desert, providing much needed moisture to desert-adapted flora and fauna. The haunting Skeleton Coast hides shipwrecks in its misty waters and crumbling bones in its sandy shores, while the well-adapted desert elephants and rhinos roam the rocky hills of Damaraland and Kaokoveld further to the north. Revel in the game-rich Etosha Park or follow the meandering Zambezi and Chobe Rivers through the Caprivi Strip, home to glorious sunsets, vast elephant populations and honking hippos.
Further south, the ochre dunes of Sossusvlei- highest dunes in the world, cast a fiery glow at sunset against a cobalt sky. The Fish River Canyon, second in size only to the Grand Canyon, bears among its crevaces and strata secrets to bygone millennia. Windhoek, the capital is an attractive and bustling city, framed by the towering Auas and Eros Mountains. English is the official language. Cultures include European (English, Afrikaans, German), Herero, Himba, Kavango, Ovambo, Nama and Damara. The local currency is the Namibian Dollar. Please consult your local embassy with regard to visa requirements. Namibia is two hours ahead of GMT.
| HISTORY: |
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The San peoples may have inhabited what is now Namibia more than 2,000 years ago. The Bantu-speaking Herero migrated there in the 1600s. The Ovambo, the largest ethnic group today, migrated in the 1800s. In the late 15th century, the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias became the first European to visit Namibia. Formerly called South-West Africa, the territory became a German colony in 1884. Between 1904 and 1908, German troops massacred tens of thousands of Herero, who had revolted against colonial domination. In 1915, during World War I, Namibian territory was taken over by South African forces. In 1921, it became a mandated territory of the League of Nations, under the administration of South Africa. Upon the dissolution of the League of Nations in 1946, South Africa refused to accept United Nations authority and replace its mandate with a UN trusteeship. A black Marxist separatist group, the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO), formed in 1960 and began small-scale guerrilla attacks aimed at achieving independence. In 1966, the UN called for South Africa's withdrawal from the territory, and officially renamed it Namibia in 1968. South Africa refused to obey. Under a 1974 Security Council resolution, South Africa was required to begin the transfer of power or face UN action. Prime Minister Balthazar J. Vorster rejected UN supervision, claiming that his government was prepared to negotiate Namibian independence, but not with SWAPO, which the UN had recognized as the “sole legitimate representative” of the Namibian people.
South Africa handed over limited powers to a new, multiracial administration in 1985 (the previous government had enforced South Africa's apartheid laws). Installation of the new government ended South Africa's direct rule, but South Africa retained an effective veto over the new government's decisions. Finally, in 1988 South Africa agreed to a plan for independence. SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma was elected president, and on March 21, 1990, Namibia achieved independence. Nujoma was reelected in 1994 and again in 1999, after the constitution was amended to allow him to seek a third term. Nujoma announced in Nov. 2001 that he would not seek reelection when his term expired in 2004. In Nov. 2004, Hifikepunye Pohamba of SWAPO was elected president with 76% of the vote. He took office on March 21, 2005.In 2004, Germany issued a formal apology for the massacre of Herero by German colonial troops between 1904 and 1908.
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| ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: |
All visitors to Namibia must be in possession of a valid passport, and temporary residence permits for visitors are issued on arrival and allow tourists a period of 90 days in the country. Bona fide tourists and business travelers of the following countries are exempted from visa requirements: Angola, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Mozambique, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zimbabwe. Visitors are, however, advised to confirm visa requirements with their travel agent.
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| ECONOMY: |
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Because of inadequate rainfall, crops are not widely raised and pastoralism forms the backbone of the agricultural sector. Goats and sheep are raised mainly in the south, and cattle are herded chiefly in the north. About half the people make their living by agriculture, mainly from Karakul pelts, livestock, and dairy goods. Unemployment is high, and much of the land remains in the hands of several thousand white farmers; this has led to pressure for increased land redistribution, a process that began, albeit gradually, in mid-2004. The country's few manufactures are made up mostly of processed food. There is an extensive mining industry, run principally by foreign-owned companies. Namibia is a major producer of gem-quality diamonds, the country's principal export. Other important minerals are uranium, copper, lead, gold, zinc, silver, tin, and tungsten. Fishing fleets operate in the Atlantic. Unrestricted fishing by commercial companies severely depleted the country's supply of certain types of fish, but stocks are being replenished. The central part of the country is served by roads and rail lines that are linked with those of South Africa, its largest trading partner. Namibia is a member of the Southern African Development Community.
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| 1st January |
New Year's Day |
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| 21st March |
Independence Day |
| 1st May |
Worker's Day |
| 21st May |
Ascension Day |
| 25th May |
Africa Day |
| 26 August |
Heroes Day |
| 10th December |
Human Rights Day |
| 25th December |
Christmas Day |
| 26th December |
Boxing Day |
| Variable holidays |
Good Friday and Easter Monday |
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| GAME PARK: |
Dann Vilijoen:
The smallest park in Namibia, Dann Vilijoen lies just 18 kms west of Namibia's capital city, Windhoek, making it popular with day and weekend visitors. Animals to be spotted include including kudu, red hartebeest, springbok, klipspringer, steenbok, eland and oryx antelopes, baboons, blue wildebeests and giraffes and over 200 bird species including helmeted guineafowl, red billed francolin, yellow billed hornbill, rock runner. The park has no large predators so walking around the park is permitted and there is a network of walking tracks to explore. |
Etosha National Park:
Located in northern Namibia approcimately lies 500 kilometers north of Namibia's capital, Windhoek. Ethosha covers an area of approximate 23 000 square kilometres and is one of Namibias most famous parks and one of the largest preserves on the African continent.
The park encompasses a vast salt pan which covers an areas of approximately 5,000 square kilometers
It is home to elephant, both Burchell's and Hartmann's zebras , giraffe, lion, leopard, black rhinoceros , red hartebeests, blue wildebeests, cheetah, hyena, eland, kudu, springbok, gemsbok, black-faced impala and many other types of antelope as well as over 340 species of birds, including large flocks of flamingoes and white pelicans which come to breed in years of good rainfall. Also spotted are ostrich, kori bustard, which can weigh over 30 pounds, and Yellow-billed hornbills.
The salt pan is off limits but there is a road network running along its edge. Game viewing is good for most part of the year but the best time to visit is in the winter, which is also the dry season, from May through September. During this period, wildlife gather around the waterholes. There is a large network of fairly well maintained roads running through the park.
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Fish River Canyon National Park:
Located in the Southern part of Namibia, Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. With a depth of up to 550 metres in parts, the enormous gorge winds along a distance of approx. 160 kilometres through the fissured Koubis Massif all the way down to Ai-Ais. The canyon starts near Seeheim, is 161 kilometres long and ends at Ai-Ais.
The Fish River Hiking trail is one of the most famous hikes in Southern Africa. The hike covers a distance of just over 80km in the base of the canyon and takes over 5 days with absolutely no facilities whatsoever. To undertake the hike you should be in reasonable fitnees and obtain a hiking permit. In the summer (Nov to mid March) temperatures can reach some 50° Centigrade, resulting in the canyon being closed to the public for hiking during that time
Ais-Ais hot springs can be found within the Fish River Canyon conservation area. These sulphurous springs originate deep underground and are rich in minerals, which have been reported to be beneficial for those with rheumatic or nervous disorders. Ais-Ais hot springs are a public facility, attached to a resort that includes an indoor spa with Jacuzzi. The resort is closed from November to mid March.
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Namib -Naukluft National Park:
The park is a combination of the Namib Desert Park and the Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park as well as sections of the Diamond Area. There are four sections in the park: Sossusvlei and Sessriem, Naukluft, Namib section and Sandwich Harbour.
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Rain is rare - the raining season is between Feb and April. The months of November to March are the hottest when day time temperatures seldom drop below 35°c. During the months of June/July and August night time temperatures can drop to below 5°c. At almost 50,000 km² it is the largest conservation area in Namibia and 4th largest in the world . The area is home to some of the rarest plant and animal species in the world. The animals of this harsh landscape include the oryx, springbok. Welwitschia Mirabilis, large lichen fields and Hartmann's Mountain Zebra. The park's main attractions are Sossusvlei; the world's largest sand dune. Sandwich Harbour; a paradise for ornithologists and nature lovers visiting Namibia. The Naukluft region is a favourite for hiking and four wheel drive. trails.
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| HEALTH & SAFETY: |
Visitors to the northern and eastern parts of the country are advised to take prophylactics against malaria, preferably throughout the year but especially during and immediately after the rainy season. It also helps to apply an insect repellent to exposed skin, wear long-sleeved shirts, long trousers and closed shoes with socks at night and, if possible, sleep under a mosquito net.
Sleeping sickness, a parasitic disease transmitted by the bite of the tsetse-fly, occurs in the north-east. The incidence is low, but visitors to Okavango and Caprivi should use insect repellent, dress in dull colours and cover as much of the body as possible. Bilharzia is another disease which occurs only in the north-east. The parasite is found in stagnant, still and slow-moving water, especially downstream from human settlements. It is therefore wise to avoid swimming or washing in rivers and dams in Okavango and Caprivi. If possible only purified water from taps or bottled water should be drunk. When the use of river water is unavoidable, it should first be thoroughly boiled.
Tap water in proclaimed towns is purified and may be consumed without fear of ill effects. In rural settlements it is just as well to exercise caution. Blood and blood products used for medical purposes in Namibia are routinely screened for transmissible diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis in strict compliance with world standards. The incidence of HIV positive cases and AIDS is high.
Perennial rivers in the north are infested with crocodile. It is extremely dangerous to swim in them or camp on their banks. It is also unwise to camp in or beside ephemeral rivers in the Kaokoveld as elephant and rhinoceros move along the rivercourses when they feed and drink. Waterholes are particularly dangerous places. To throw stones or shout at elephant and rhinoceros in the wild is to take a potentially fatal risk.
Visitors to Etosha National Park are forbidden to get out of their motor-vehicles because of danger from large predators such as lion. While the rule is not enforced in wilderness parks, it is sensible to be alert to such danger at all times.Hikers and backpackers are advised to wear sun hats and use block-out lotion to prevent sunburn both in summer and winter. In addition boots or closed shoes are necessary in case of encounters with snakes or scorpions.
On the Namibian coast visitors are advised to protect themselves against sunburn even in overcast weather as the sun is much fiercer than it seems. Medical rescue and evacuation services are available with intensive-care facilities in their aircraft and ambulances. It is advisable to obtain insurance cover from one of them.
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| TRANSPORTATION: |
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Hosea Kutako International Airport is situated 42 km outside Windhoek and the smaller Eros Airport in the city. International and regional flights are available between Windhoek and Germany (Frankfurt-am-Main, Munich & Düsseldorf), Britain (London/ Heathrow), South Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town), Botswana (Maun), Zimbabwe ( Victoria Falls) and Angola (Luanda). Domestic destinations are Katima Mulilo, Lüderitz, Mokuti, Ondangwa, Oranjemund, Rosh Pinah, Sesriem, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. |
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Motor coaches operate between Windhoek and Swakopmund/Walvis Bay & Tsumeb as well as South Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town) and Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls via Rundu & Katima Mulilo.
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| FACT INFORMATION: |
Geography
Area: 318,261 square miles
Capital: Windhoek (pop 216,000)
Environmental concerns: Very limited natural freshwater resources; desertification.
Geographical features: mostly high plateau; desert along coast and in east
Climate: desert
People
1,821,000 people; 50% Ovambo; 9% Kavango; 7% Herero, 7% Damara; 27% others
Annual growth rate: 1.19%
Major languages are English; Ovambo; Kavango; German; Afrikaans
Religions: Christian (80-90%), indigenous beliefs (10-20%)
Health and social issues
Life expectancy: Men, 44 years; women, 41 years
Infant mortality: 72.4 deaths per 1000 live births
1 physician per 4,594 people
HIV/AIDS rate in adults 19.54%
38% of adults are literate
Compulsory education 6-16 years
Communication and transportation
111,000 land-line telephones
65,000 Internet users (2002)
39,220 miles of highway
1,429 miles of railroad
137 airfields
128,000 motor vehicles
Government
Namibia is a republic that became independent on March 21, 1990
President Hifikepunye Pohamba is head of state
Prime Minister Nahas Angula is head of government
4+ political parties
Universal suffrage at 18
Military
Military expenditures are 2.6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Current disputes: border dispute over at least one island in the Linyanti River
Economy
Currency: Namibian dollars
Per capita GDP: $4,500
GDP: $8.1 billion
GDP growth rate: 4%
Inflation rate: 8.8%
Unemployment rate: 30-40%
Labor force: 47% agriculture; 33% services; 20% industry
Resources and industry
Natural resources: diamonds; gold; tin; copper; lead; zinc; uranium; salt; cadmium; lithium; natural gas; possible oil, coal reserves; fish; vanadium; hydropower
Agriculture: millet; sorghum; peanuts; livestock; fish
Industry: meat packing; dairy products; fish processing; mining
Exports: $1.58 billion
Imports: $1.7 billion
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