Namibia: useful information


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Useful information on Namibia, including all the things to know before leaving for a trip or vacation in this state of Africa.


Namibia in a nutshell

  • Capital: Windhoek
  • Area in square kilometers: 825,418
  • Population: 2,171,137 (2010)
  • Religion: mostly Christian, especially Lutheran

Where is it

Namibia flag Namibia, a state of southwestern Africa, faces the Atlantic Ocean to the west, borders Angola to the north, south and south-east with South Africa, east to Botswana, while to the north-east, with an extension of the territory known as the Caprivi finger, it reaches Zimbabwe, narrow in the north between Angola and Zambia, and in the south Botswana.

The territory of Namibia, which has a largely tabular structure, is occupied in the center by a vast plateau, whose altitude is between 1000 and 2000 meters above sea level, but in some cases also reaches higher altitudes.


The tabular complex to the west ends with a raised rim that descends through a steep escarpment towards the Namib desert, before meeting the Atlantic Ocean, while in the east it slopes gently towards the Kalahari desert.

On the north-western edge there is the Brandberg Massif, which with the highest point, the Koenigstein Peak, reaches the highest altitude of the country (2573 m.).

The almost circular massif preserves numerous graffiti and cave paintings, which mainly represent hunting scenes, with animals and warriors equipped with bows and arrows, made in various eras by the people of the Bushmen.


The most famous graffiti is the "White Lady". The territory of Namibia offers very suggestive landscapes ranging from ancient deserts with very high and spectacular dunes, to parks populated by a great variety of animals, such as the Etosha national park, to arid soils, deeply furrowed by now disappeared rivers, such as the Fish River , a canyon where once abundant waters flowed, located in the southern part of the country.

Hydrography

Namibia is scarce of waterways. The only perennial rivers are located along the borders of the country, in the far north and far south, and concern the Cunene and Orange basins.

For the rest, the internal rivers are all of little importance, many times they remain dry for long periods, or are collected in closed basins, such as the Etosha Pan.


Climate

Namibia's climate is typically arid. The coastal strip, where the Namib desert is located, is characterized not only by the low rainfall, by the cold ocean current of Benguela, responsible for the formation of fog that invades the mainland from the sea, bringing humidity and promoting the survival of a fauna and a flora formed largely of endemic species that have adapted to this very hostile environment.

The area of ​​the central highlands has a dry tropical climate, temperatures are high, especially in summer and there is a wide daytime temperature range, especially in winter.

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As for the rains, they occur in summer, from late October to early March, but they can sometimes be scarce. The rainiest area is the "Dito di Caprivi", in the north-east of the country.

Population

Most of the population belongs to ethnic groups of the Bantu group, the most numerous being the Ovambo ethnic group.

The minority of whites (approx. 8%) is made up largely of Boers, Anglo-Saxons and Germans.

There are also two groups of mixed origin, the coloreds and the basters.

Time zone

The time zone of Namibia is the same as that of Italy. The time difference comes from the time of summer time, as Namibia has the seasons reversed from ours, so during our summer it is 1 hour behind, during our winter it is 1 hour ahead.

Spoken language

Namibia's official language is English. Furthermore, Oshiwambo, Afrikaans (the most understood language), German, and other languages ​​belonging to the numerous ethnic groups are spoken.

Economy

Namibia has good development prospects, as it has a very mineral-rich subsoil, it is among the first world producers of diamonds and uranium, has many environmental resources that favor tourism, and compared to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa has a higher per capita income.


Unfortunately, wealth is distributed in a non-homogeneous way, the majority of the population lives in conditions of poverty and is dedicated to agriculture and subsistence farming, using the few fertile soils due to the arid climate of the country.

When to go

The best time to visit Namibia is during their winter season which runs from May to October.

Necessary documents

To enter Namibia you need a passport with a residual validity of at least 6 months from the moment you arrive in the country, and a return and return flight ticket or to continue your journey.

For tourism, an entry visa is not necessary up to a maximum of 90 days of stay in the country.

Phone

- The international prefix for calling from Italy to Namibia is: 00264

- The international prefix for calling from Namibia to Italy is: 0039


The coverage of the GSM network is good.

Electricity

The electric current is 220 V 50 Hz. Three-pole sockets.

It is advisable to have a plug adapter.

Currency

The official currency of Namibia is the Namibian dollar.

It is possible to make withdrawals by debit and credit cards, which are accepted in the main hotels and restaurants of the cities, but in service stations and in rural areas, cash is required to pay.

How to get

There are no direct flights from Italy to Namibia.

The flag carrier Air Namibia flies direct flights from Frankfurt International Airport to Windhoek International Airport.

With South African Airways it is possible to reach Windhoek via Johannesburg, making a European stopover.

Vaccinations

No mandatory vaccinations are required to enter Namibia. The yellow fever vaccination certificate is required only from travelers over the age of one year from areas at risk of transmission of this disease.

The following vaccinations are however recommended after medical consultation: Typhus, Hepatitis A and B, Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria, Tetanus and Meningitis.

As regards antimalarial prophylaxis, it should be borne in mind that malaria rice occurs from November to May-June in the northern regions, in Otjozondjupa and Omaheke, while it is present all year round in the valley of the Kavango and Kunene rivers.

It is also advisable to follow some hygienic measures, drink only bottled water without adding ice, eat only cooked meats and vegetables, fruit only if peeled personally.


Before departure, it is recommended to take out health insurance that covers medical costs and those for a possible repatriation.

Namibia Road Trip day 13: I slept in Duwisib castle in the desert Namibia (March 2024)


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