Namibia – country information

Country name	Namibia
Official name	Republic of Namibia
Capital	Windhoek
Continent	Africa
Area	824,292 km2
Population	2,113,077 (2011)
Foundation of a state	21/03/1990
The highest mountains	Brandberg 2606 m
Longest rivers	Okavango (about 500 km inland)
State system	a pluralist republic with a bicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Windhoek (capital) 160,000
Official language	Afrikaans and English
Ethnicity/National Composition	groups Ovambo 51%, Kavango 9.5, Herero 7.5%, Damara 7.5%, Europeans 6%, Nama (Khoi-khoi, Hottentot) 4.5%, others 14%
Religious affiliation	Lutherans 52%, Roman Catholics 20%, Dutch Reformed 6%, Anglicans 5%, others 17%
Currency	1 rand = 100 cents
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$7,800 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	43.39 years (2006)

Namibia – Neighboring States

State	Capital	Area	Population
Angola	Luanda	1,246,700 km2	20,609,294
Botswana	Gaborone	581,730 km2	2,024,904
South Africa – JAR	Pretoria	1,221,040 km2	52,981,991
Zambia	Lusaka	752,618 km2	14,580,290

Country overview

The recently declared independent state of Namibia is located on the southwest coast of Africa. Its narrow Caprivi Strip reaches in the northeast as far as Zambia and Zimbabwe. The most important port, Walvis Bay, has been jointly managed with South Africa since 1994.

According to Abbreviationfinder, Namibia is a country in South Africa. Common borders in the north – with Angola, Zambia, in the east – with Botswana, in the southeast, in the south – with South Africa.

The capital is Windhoek. Currency – Namibian dollar. The official language is English. Religion – Christianity.

The climate is tropical, desert. The average temperature is +25*С, in some places +34*С. There are 365 sunny days a year here!

Arriving in Namibia for the first time, you find yourself a little disappointed with nature. It is too monotonous – the sands and the sea. But after staying there for a while, you can understand that behind the monotony lies a deep meaning. Here you can see sand dunes of pink color and great height. The nature of Namibia is revealed only to the discerning tourist. Namibia is especially remembered by fishermen. The Orange and Fish Rivers are full of fish. And fishing for sharks from the shore will be remembered for its uniqueness.

Namibia in the west is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The name of the country is derived from the Namib Desert. Area – 824,270 sq. km. Most of the territory is a plateau with a height of 900 – 1500 meters, composed of ancient rocks, which are associated with deposits of valuable minerals. In Namibia, ancient species of desert flora have been preserved, there are several national parks.

National parks – Etosha, Skeleton Coast, Sossusvlei, Damaraland.

Resorts and attractions in Namibia

This wondrous country takes its name from the name of the most impressive Namib Desert in the world, which is a unique geological formation, stunning in its untouchedness and memorable landscapes. This desert is that tourist magnet, surprising guests with its huge dunes and surreal landscapes. Namibia is a true desert land. In addition to the sandy sea – the Namib desert, there is also the Kalahari, which is a little more modest, but still a desert.

It is landscapes and landscapes that are the most striking features of this country, which are most clearly found in such tourist attractions as Sandwich Harbor, Sossusvlei (part of the Namib Naukluft National Park, considered the most photogenic place in Namibia) and Skeleton Coast Park.

Namibia is a unique country with the richest flora and fauna, a rare combination of landscapes and geological structures. There are 365 sunny days a year, a long ocean coastline, endless desert sands, green foothills, rich hunting grounds, an original population and many natural monuments.

Interesting facts

Since ancient times, the territory of present-day Namibia was inhabited by Bushmen tribes. Europeans first arrived in Namibia in 1878.

Citizens from Russia do not need a visa to visit Namibia for up to 90 days.

Country data

Location: South Africa

Time zone: CET + 1

Total area: 824,292 km²

Land area: 823,290 km²

Water area: 1,002 km²

Length of the state border: 3,936 km

Bordering countries:
Angola: 1,376 km
Botswana: 1,360 km
Zambia: 233 km
South Africa: 967 km

Coastline: 1,572 km

Capital: Windhoek

Regions: 14
Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi

Telephone code: 00 264 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Königstein 2,606 m

Population

Population: approx. 2.2 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 0.7% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 3

Life expectancy: 52 (male), 51 (female)

Official language: English

Religions:

• 80% Christian
• 20% other

Climate

The seasons in Namibia are opposite to those in Europe.

In summer, which lasts from November to February, it is very warm and very dry at the beginning. The main rainy season begins at the beginning of January and lasts until mid-March.

The winter months from June to the end of August are very mild during the day. During the night, however, it can cool down very strongly, so that sometimes extreme temperature differences can occur within just a few hours.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Namibia dollar (NAD)

Division: 1 dollar = 100 cents

ATMs: There are few machines available in the big cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted by many hotels and shops.

Regulations: The import and export of the local currency is limited to 2,000 NAD. An unlimited amount of foreign currencies can be imported and exported up to the amount of the declared import.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• small quantities of tobacco products
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

The exemption limits are valid for a period of 30 days when entering any country in the South African Customs Union.

The following articles and goods may not be imported or exported:

• drug
• Drugs
• living animals
• flesh
• Plants and plant seeds
• agricultural products of all kinds
• pornographic writings / materials

Travel advice

The border with Angola is not or only very poorly marked in various places.

Anyone who illegally crosses this border, even for a few meters, can expect to be arrested by the police.

Subsequent fines and prison sentences are the rule.

Behavioral advice

After dark, you shouldn’t take any more cross-country trips and you shouldn’t be traveling alone.

You should never show valuables and money openly, as theft and robberies have often occurred recently.

Economy

The main industries are mining, fishing and processing, agriculture and tourism.

In order to obtain foreign currency, mining is strongly promoted and the products obtained are almost entirely exported.

Mainly lead, diamonds, gold, copper, uranium and tin are mined.

Industries: mining, natural gas extraction, fishing, light industry

Natural resources: lead, diamonds, natural gas, fish, gold, copper, salt, uranium, hydropower, tin, zinc

Land use:

• Usable land: 1%
• Grain cultivation: 0%
• Pasture area: 46%
• Forests: 22%
• other: 31%

Plants

The best known is the baobab tree, Bordering countries there are specimens in Namibia, the age Bordering countries is estimated to be over 4,000 years.

Animals

Due to the frequent dry seasons, there are only very adapted animal species in Namibia. These include antelopes, buffalo, hippos, cheetahs, crocodiles and warthogs.

Small animals such as chameleons, snakes, scorpions and several species of spiders can be found in the desert plains.