About Namibia

Republic of Namibia

Namibia, officially known as the Republic of Namibia, is a country located in Southern Africa. It has a western coastline along the Atlantic Ocean and shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east, and South Africa to the east and south. While it does not share a direct border with Zimbabwe, less than 200 meters (660 feet) of the Botswanan right bank of the Zambezi River separates the two countries. The capital and largest city of Namibia is Windhoek.

More About Namibia

Namibia, the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, has a history of habitation by the Khoi, San, Damara, and Nama people. In the 14th century, Bantu peoples, including the Ovambo, arrived and now form the majority of the population. With 3,022,401 people, Namibia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.

Colonized by Germany in 1884, Namibia experienced the first genocide of the 20th century against the Herero and Nama. German rule ended in 1915, and South Africa administered the territory under a League of Nations mandate. Namibia gained independence on March 21, 1990, though Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands remained under South African control until 1994.

Namibia is a stable parliamentary democracy with an economy based on agriculture, tourism, and mining. Despite significant GDP growth, poverty and inequality persist, with 40.9% of the population affected by multidimensional poverty. Namibia has one of the world’s highest income disparities. It is a member of the United Nations, the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, and the Commonwealth of Nations.

Namibia Geography

Covering an area of 825,615 km² (318,772 sq mi), Namibia is the world’s thirty-fourth largest country, following Venezuela. It lies predominantly between latitudes 17° and 29°S (with a small portion north of 17°) and longitudes 11° and 26°E.

 

Population

Namibia, with a population of 3,022,401 people, is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Historically inhabited by the Khoi, San, Damara, and Nama people, Namibia saw the arrival of Bantu peoples around the 14th century as part of the Bantu expansion. Since the late 19th century, Bantu groups, particularly the Ovambo, have formed the majority of the population.

Ethnic Groups: 87.5% African, 6.5% Coloured (including Baster), 6.0% White, 0.5% others
Religion (2013): 87.9% Christianity (43.7% Lutheranism, 22.8% Catholicism, 17.0% Anglicanism, 4.4% other Christian), 10.2% traditional faiths, 1.6% no religion, 0.3% others
Population Density: 3.7/km² (9.6/sq mi) (235th)
Demonym(s): Namibian

 

Climate

Namibia’s climate spans from Sub-Humid to Hyper-Arid zones, influenced by the Sub-Tropical High Pressure Belt. It boasts over 300 sunny days annually with a dry winter (June-August) and two rainy seasons: a small one (September-November) and a larger one (February-April). The coastal region, cooled by the Benguela Current, is cold, foggy, and receives minimal rainfall. Inland, temperatures vary widely, with seasonal flooding impacting northern areas due to rains from Angola.

Economy

Namibia’s economy blends a developed market sector with a significant informal economy, influenced by its apartheid legacy. Key sectors include mining, public administration, manufacturing, and education. The country’s banking and financial services are advanced, featuring online and cellphone banking facilitated by five commercial banks. Challenges persist, including high unemployment rates, with youth unemployment at 38.4%. Poverty affects 40.9% of the population, exacerbated by income inequality, reflected in a Gini coefficient of 59.1. Despite these challenges, Namibia has attracted foreign investment, facilitated by business-friendly reforms and a strategic geographic position supporting regional trade through ports, airports, and highways

 

Drinking water

Most tap water is purified and safe to drink, Visitors should exercise caution in rural areas.

Education

Namibia’s education system encompasses free primary and secondary education, with grades 1-7 considered primary and grades 8-12 as secondary. In 1998, primary schools enrolled 400,325 students, and secondary schools enrolled 115,237 students, with a pupil-teacher ratio of 32:1. The National Institute for Educational Development (NIED) oversees curriculum development and teacher training. Namibia boasts one of sub-Saharan Africa’s highest literacy rates, with 91.5% of the population aged 15 and over literate as of 2018. State-run schools dominate, complemented by private institutions. Higher education includes four teacher training universities, three agriculture colleges, and three universities: University of Namibia (UNAM), International University of Management (IUM), and Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).

Infrastructure

  1. Road: 5450 km tarred roads, 37 000 km gravel roads
  2. Harbours: Walvis Bay, Luderitz
  3. Main airports: Hosea Kutako International Airport, Eros Airport, 46 Airstrips
  4. Rail network: 2382 km narrow gauge, Direct-dialling facilities to 221 countries
  5. Mobile communication system: GSM, CDMA, Agreement with 117 countries/255 networks
  6. Medical practitioners: 24-hour Medical Emergency Service

 

 

Religion

Namibia’s religious landscape is predominantly Christian, comprising 80%–90% of the population, with the majority being Protestant. Lutherans, influenced by historical German and Finnish missionary efforts, constitute the largest Christian denomination. Indigenous beliefs are practiced by 10%–20% of Namibians. Additionally, there is a small Muslim community of around 9,000 people, primarily among the Nama ethnic group, and a small Jewish community of about 100 individuals. Other Christian denominations, including Roman Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, African Methodist Episcopal, Dutch Reformed, as well as groups like the Latter-day Saints and Jehovah’s Witnesses, also have a presence in the country.

Personal safety

Tourists in any country are preferred target, therefore we urge you to be on the alert for handbag snatchers and pick-pockets. Keep your vehicles locked, never leave valuables/bags visible in the vehicle, use registered car guards when parking in town. Leave cameras, electronic equipment, tickets, passports and excess cash in the safe at your hotel when out sight-seeing.

Languages

Here are the main languages spoken in Namibia:

– Oshiwambo Languages: 49.7%
– Nama/Damara Languages: 11.0%
– Kavango Languages: 10.4%
– Afrikaans: 9.4%
– Herero Languages: 9.2%
– Zambezi Languages: 4.9%
– English: 2.3%
– Others: 3.1% (including San Languages, German, other African and European languages)

 

 

Safety

Here are the emergency telephone numbers in Namibia:


Headquarters Fire Station: 211 111

Namibian Police: 10 111

State Hospital: 203 9111

City Police Emergency: 302 302 (Toll Free)

Comfort Tours and Safaris is proudly Namibian company that plans, organize Tours and Transfers for tourists and Namibian. We also covers Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe on request.

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