Namibia (officially Republic of Namibia) is a country in southern
Africa between Angola, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa and the
Atlantic Ocean. A four-country corner in the northeast is just
missed, as the border with Zimbabwe is about 40 meters away.
The capital and largest city of Namibia is Windhoek. The country has
been a member of the United Nations (UN), the Southern African
Development Community (SADC), the Southern African Customs Union
(SACU), the African Union (AU) and the Commonwealth of Nations since
1990 (Resolution 652).
The arid landscape was originally
inhabited by the San ("Bushmen") and Damara peoples. From around the
14th century, Bantu migrated to the country as part of the Bantu
migration. The area of present-day Namibia became a protectorate of
the German Empire in 1884 and remained a German colony called
Deutsch-Südwestafrika until the end of World War I. In the years
1904 to 1908, the German colonial power violently suppressed the
Herero and Nama uprising and committed genocide in the process. In
1920 the League of Nations placed Namibia under a South African
mandate - effectively a South African colony - which introduced its
own laws, such as those on apartheid, into Namibia.
In the
course of the Namibian liberation struggle on March 21, 1990,
Namibia gained independence from South Africa – with the exception
of Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands, which were under South
African control until 1994. March 21 has been the country's national
holiday ever since.
Due to the large area of the Namib,
Namibia is only sparsely populated. The country has about 2.3
million inhabitants. 18 percent of the population live below the
Namibian poverty line (as of November 2016), compared to 28.7
percent in 2009. Namibia has a stable parliamentary democracy.
The Namibian economy is strongly characterized by agriculture,
tourism and mining (uranium, gold, silver and base metals).
The country can be divided into the following geographical regions
according to its climatic and cultural characteristics:
Northern
Namibia. This area was known as “Ovamboland” during South African rule
and is divided into five administrative units: Ohangwena, Omusati,
Oshana, Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa. The current name for the region is
“Owambo”. It is the most densely populated area in the country but still
rural. Namibia's largest Bantu ethnic group, the Wambo, live here. It
represents the absolute majority of the population.
Northeast
Namibia. with the Caprivi Strip and the Kavango region - with the main
rivers, northwest Namibia is more tropical and rich in vegetation, but
also more hygienically difficult than the rest of Namibia.
West
Namibia (western Namibia). is the desert and coastal region of Erongo
and Kunene, which is suppressed by rain due to the cold Benguela Current
(the latter also referred to as northwest Namibia and further divided
into Kaokoland - the land of the Himba and Damaraland - with the
destination Twyfelfontein, which is interesting because of its many rock
carvings)
Central Namibia. around the capital region of Khomas and
the city of Windhoek itself, as well as the western part of the
Otjozondjupa region.
Eastern Namibia. especially the Omaheke region,
also known as the land of the Herero. The landscape is characterized by
the Kalahari and is otherwise more developed for agriculture than
tourism.
Southern Namibia. includes the Karas and Hardap regions with
interesting destinations such as the Fish River Canyon and the city of
Lüderitz.
1 Karasburg
2 Keetmanshoop. small town on main railway line and
road; Fish River Canyon access point.
3 Lüderitz. old German coastal
town. More parts of the Tsau-ǁKhaeb (Diamond Restricted Area) National
Park have been opened since 2008-12.
4 Mariental
5 Oranjemund
6
Rundu
7 Swakopmund. largest coastal city and a mecca for local
tourists.
8 Walvis Bay (Walvis Bay, Walfish Bay)
9 warm bath
10
Windhoek (Windhoek) . Capital and largest city at the same time.
1 Brandberg. at 2,573m the highest mountain in the country.infoedit
2 Fingerklippe (Vingerklip)
3 Quiver Tree Forest. and “Playground of
the Giants”
4 Cape Cross. with seal sanctuary.infoedit
Overview: National parks in Namibia
6 Cape Cross Seal Reserve. The
Cape Cross Seal Sanctuary is part of the Skeleton Coast.
7 Etosha
National Park (Etosha National Park) . The national park with the Etosha
pan.
8 Fish River Canyon. The largest canyon in southern Africa and
one of the largest (160 km) in the world.
9 Kgalagadi Transfrontier
National Park (Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park)
10 Namib-Naukluft
National Park (Namib-Naukluft National Park) . the area with the highest
dunes in the world.
11 Skeleton Coast. in the northern part of the
Namib Desert. Named in connection with the dozens of ships stranded here
in the thick fog.
12 Waterberg. The Waterberg is a table mountain
measuring approximately 50 × 16 km. The 405km² Waterberg Plateau Park
was established in 1972 to protect the Elan antelope. The last Cape
Vultures in Namibia also lived here, but they probably died out in 2014.
Through reintroduction, white and black rhinos were made at home here.
In total there are ninety mammal species and almost five hundred plant
species.
Entry requirements
For tourists from Western Europe (mainly the EU
before the eastward expansion, excluding the European dwarf states),
Swiss and Liechtenstein residents, there is no visa requirement for a
stay of up to 90 days per year. Travelers must be able to provide proof
of their re-exit (return flight or onward travel ticket).
A visitor
entry permit is stamped into the passport at the entry border crossings
and airport. It is usually only issued for the planned period of stay.
Here you should immediately check whether the time period is sufficient
for the planned trip. (Extensions can be applied for at the Ministry of
the Interior in Windhoek.) This also applies to holders of diplomatic
passports. A visa is required for all other purposes, including short
business trips. Eastern Europeans who can get a visa-on-arrival can
obtain one at the international airports and the border crossings of
Ariamsvlei, Noordoewer, Oranjemund, Trans-Kalahari, Katima Mulilo and
Oshikango.
The passport must be valid for at least six months. An
ID card is not sufficient for entry. Damaged documents (kinked, torn)
can lead to rejection.
As in neighboring South Africa,
unaccompanied minor children require the consent of both parents
(“affidavit” in English) to enter and leave the country that the child
can travel alone. The certified copies of both parents' passports must
be attached to the affidavit. For children traveling with only one
parent, the consent of the other must also be carried.
Consular
Department of the Namibian Embassy, Reichsstr. 17, 14052 Berlin.
Responsible for residents of: Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey and the
Vatican who require a visa. Since 2019, the first three can also receive
a visa-on-arrival for a price of N$ 1000. Price: Tourist, one entry €80,
multiple entry €130, express €220.
Consular Department of the
Namibian Embassy, Zuckerkandlgasse 2, 1190 Vienna. Tel.: +431 402 937-1.
Also responsible for residents of: Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia,
Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary who require a
visa. Hungarians, Romanians and Bulgarians have also been able to obtain
a visa-on-arrival since 2019. Open: Mon.-Thurs. 9.30-12.45.
Anyone who comes from an area infected with yellow fever, e.g. B. over
the land border from Angola, requires proof of vaccination.
Please
also note the sometimes somewhat unusual conditions for traveling to
South Africa.
Customs
Namibia belongs to the Customs Union of
Southern Africa (with South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini). There
are no restrictions here.
Local currency may be imported in cash
up to the equivalent of N$ 50,000, but must be declared from N$ 5,000.
Hunting travelers must present their weapons at a separate counter
upon entry. A hunting license from your home country is not required, as
hunting in Namibia is only permitted if accompanied by a local hunting
guide.
The export of hunting trophies and furs is subject to a permit
requirement. The local organizer will normally take care of this too.
When returning to the EU, please note that the import of lion and
elephant parts is prohibited even if there is a corresponding CITES
certificate from the country of origin.
Regarding diamond exports
to Europe, see the EU directive on the “Kimberley Process”.
Free
quantities
400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
1 liter
of schnapps or 2 liters of wine
50ml perfume
Gifts up to N$1250
By plane
Windhoek is usually the first place you arrive by plane.
There are two airports near Windhoek. Husea Kutako International Airport
is served by Eurowings Discovery non-stop from Frankfurt. The smaller
Eros Airport offers connections to destinations within the country and
is the starting point for most fly-in safaris.
By train
Traveling to Namibia by train is not possible.
By bus
The most
convenient international bus connections run from Cape Town and Victoria
Falls to Namibia. There is also a connection from Johannesburg.
Intercape Mainliner provides information on timetables and prices. You
can also get to Namibia from anywhere in Botswana by combining bus rides
and hitchhiking.
On the street
Maximum speeds: 60-80 km/h in
urban areas, 120 km/h on country roads.
Leaving the roads is
prohibited when driving through national parks. A round traffic sign
with a red circle and a crossed out S means “No stopping on the
shoulder.” There is a ban on cell phones and wearing a seat belt.
Drinking and driving is prohibited, i.e. 0.0 per mille!
Anyone
planning to rent a vehicle or drive their own must carry an
international driving license or an English translation of the German
one.
If you enter the country with your own vehicle, a road tax
will be charged. The receipt must be kept for police checks.[1] Anyone
coming from Zambia or Angola must also show proof of ownership. For
rental cars from South Africa you need a letter of permission to cross
the border from the rental company, which is often subject to a fee.
You can travel by car from South Africa. Some tourists rent a car
there and return it to Windhoek after their trip.
The
TransCaprivi Highway, completed in 2004, allows driving on tarred roads
from Walvis Bay to Luanda.
The Trans-Kalahari Highway takes you
from Maputo in Mozambique via Pretoria to the Botswana border at
Lobatse, then through Jwaneng to Windhoek and Walvis Bay.
Botswana border crossings
Entry from Botswana is also possible. The
main route here is the Trans-Kalahari Highway (A2), which leads east to
the Indian Ocean. The 7 a.m.-midnight crossing is Mamuno (Charles Hill)
/ Buitepos (22° 16′ 51″ S 19° 59′ 56″ E).
On the Namibian side, just
before the border, is the East Gate Rest Camp.
In the Caprivi
Strip the posts are manned from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
Mohembo (18° 15′
35″ S 21° 45′ 42″ E).
Ngoma Bridge (17° 55′ 17″ S 24° 43′ 15″ E).
Angola
Visiting tourist attractions in the border area with
Angola: “In various places the border with Angola is not marked at all
or is only marked by a low wire fence. Anyone who crosses the border
illegally (even for just a few meters) must expect arrest by the
Namibian or Angolan border police, a fine and/or imprisonment.”
All five border posts close at 7 p.m. at the latest.
The
Ongwediva / Omahenene border crossing (17° 23′ 30″ S 14° 34′ 2″ E) is
located between the Namibian Ruacana and the Angolan Naulila.
Zambia
The only land border between countries opens 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It is at Wenela (Katima Mulilo) / Sesheke (17° 28′ 40″ S 24° 14′ 47″ E)
across the Zambezi.
Border crossings South Africa
The posts
are closed at night. Opening hours vary from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. at smaller stations (often an hour shorter in winter).
The crossing at Rietfontein (26° 45′ 22″ S 20° 0′ 3″ E) is remote.
From Upington (RSA) or in the opposite direction from Karasburg (NAM):
Directly on the N10/B3 Nakop / Ariamsvlei (28° 5′ 41″ S 19° 59′ 57″ E),
open 24 hours. The posts here are at some distance from the actual
border.
On the N14 towards 11 Springbok (29° 39′ 58″ S 17° 53′
46″ E), after 211km in Pofadder turn off over the Oranje at Onseepkans
(28° 44′ 22″ S 19° 18′ 13″ E) then 103km to Karasburg.
Coming from
Cape Town on the N7 via Springbok, to the Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier
Park via Vioolsdrift (28° 45' 57" S 17° 37' 34" E) or in the park with
the Ochta ferry across the Oranje near Sendelingsdrif (28° 7 ′ 22″ S 16°
53′ 23″ E).
Near the coast is the border bridge (28° 34′ 6″ S 16° 30′
21″ E) over the Orange between Alexander Bay (RSA) and Oranjemund (in
the diamond restricted area, accessible since October 2017).
By
boat
Sailors with their own yacht can clear in the port of Lüderitz
or Walfischbucht. The formalities are minimal and the fees are moderate.
There are shipyards in both ports, but the facilities in Walvis Bay are
better. Trade winds usually blow constantly, strongest from October to
January; the cold Benguela Current also drifts north. It is often foggy
off the coast.
The coast south of Lüderitz is a restricted area
to protect the economic interests of the DeBeers diamond monopoly.
Between the two, 265 nautical miles apart, the best ports are in
Hottentot Bay (26° 6′ 8″ S 14° 57′ 4″ E) or on Mercury Island (Spencer
Bay) (25° 43′ 8″ S 14 ° 49′ 58″ E) to make intermediate stops.
Our own vehicles are shipped from Europe with Mafratours -
www.mafratours.eu
Namibia has a good road network. In addition, public transport
between the few towns is also quite well developed. Due to the sometimes
long distances, airplanes are also an ideal means of transport.
Car and motorcycle
The main roads are paved or excellent gravel
roads. The most important connecting routes are tarred (A and B roads)
and you can drive around 120km/h. However, most roads consist of gravel
or sand tracks (C and D roads) which allow a maximum speed of 80km/h.
However, four-wheel drive is generally not required, but can be useful
in the rainy season as rivers, which are dry most of the year, have
water at times; bridges are only common on category B and C roads. Since
off-road vehicles are more robust than cars, they are less likely to
break down on bad roads. If you have to drive in soft sand, it makes
sense to reduce the tire pressure.
An international driving
license is required. Although credit cards are widely used, cash is
usually required to fill up the tank.
Fuel prices are set by the
government but are frequently adjusted. Gasoline costs NS$ 12.05 (95
octane) in Walvis Bay in January 2019, diesel costs N$ 13.1 and
therefore NR$ 1.2 less than in the previous month. Away from the big
cities (especially in the (JHlb) desert areas in the west, you should
take advantage of every opportunity to refuel, as there are not open gas
stations in every small town.
When renting a car locally, you
should read the conditions carefully, as many clauses differ from
European practice. In some cases, the burden of proof is reversed in
comprehensive insurance, i.e. H. the driver must prove that he was not
negligent. Accident and theft protection (“Collision Damage Waiver” and
“Theft Loss Waiver”) are often separate policies. The companies that
belong to the CARAN industry association are generally more reputable;
here too, the condition of the vehicle (2 spare wheels, brakes) should
be checked carefully before cross-country journeys.
Bicycle
The paved roads outside the cities are dangerous for touring cyclists
because truck and car drivers are not used to bicycles and often
overtake closely. For touring on slopes, the bike should be very stable
and have tires that are as wide and coarse as possible. Wild camping is
sometimes difficult because the landscape is open and the terrain is
often rocky. Some national parks in the north are not allowed to enter
bicycles. Helmets are compulsory for cyclists in the country.
By
plane
Air Namibia offers flights between most major locations (Katima
Mulilo, Lüderitz, Walvis Bay) in the country, with its hub in Windhoek.
Air Namibia has been bankrupt since 2021. There are also a number of
charter airlines that operate depending on your wishes.
Railroad
The rail connections correspond to those that the German colonial
administration had built at the beginning of the 20th century. The hub
is Windhoek train station from there to Swakopmund, Tsumeb in the north
and in the south to Aus/Lüderitz.
The railway is a rare means of
transport for travel within the country; the routes are primarily used
for freight transport and are only served once a day by passenger trains
or wagons attached to freight trains.
By bus
The lines serve
the population centers, but to see the scenic attractions you have to
rely on cars.
Intercape Mainliner buses are comparatively fast,
cheap and well-equipped. Routes traveled include: Windhoek - Swakopmund,
Katima Mulilo, Walvis Bay and Grootfontain. In addition to Intercape
Mainliners, among others, run NamVic Shuttle (Windhuk - Victoria Falls)
and Ekonolux Liner (Windhuk - Cape Town). Trans-Namib also travels to
Outjo, Khorixas, Lüderitz, Henties Bay, Oshakati, Rundu and
Grootfontain.
Many routes are served by 15-seater minibuses that
leave when full.
Motorcycle
Motorcycling in Namibia is easy.
It is important that there are often long stages between refueling
options. This applies in particular to journeys off paved roads. The
range should be at least 300 kilometers. This is particularly true when
traveling to more remote regions of the Kaokoveld, Damaraland and the
Kunene region. Here it is advisable to check the refueling options in
advance.
Away from tarred roads, a motorcycle with sufficient
off-road capability (travel enduro, enduro) makes sense. Easier,
well-maintained gravel roads are also possible with a road machine. The
supply of spare parts is not as easy as in Germany, as many parts have
to be imported from South Africa. The best care is in Windhoek, for
example in the Bike and Quad Clinic. In the north in Grootfontain at the
gas station is Northern Bikes and Quads, according to owner Johan
Spangenberg “The last decent motorbike shop before Cairo.” There is a
workshop in Kamanjab that also maintains and repairs motorcycles.
Your own motorcycle can be brought to Namibia via air freight or sea
freight. Attention, a carnet de passage stamped for the entire South
African Customs Union is required. Entry by land is easy. Liability
insurance is not required as it is included in the price of petrol.
However, a road tax is charged if you enter with your own motorcycle.
The official language is English. German and Afrikaans are also
widespread. The African languages Ovambo, Herero and Damara. There are
also numerous other languages and dialects such as the Khoisan (“click
language”) of the Bushmen and the dialects of the Caprivians in the
Caprivi Strip.
If you speak English, it shouldn't be a problem
getting around most parts of the country. German is also spoken on many
farms and in the towns founded in colonial times. Many farm owners are
descendants of German settlers and have retained their dialect. It can
happen that you have a chat with a “Hesse” who has never been to
Germany. Knowledge of Afrikaans is helpful, but not necessary here.
Anyone who speaks a few words of English in addition to German will be
able to communicate well in Namibia. If you speak to someone in English
(with a German accent), they will often answer in German.
Many
black Namibians, especially in rural areas, do not speak English, but
only Afrikaans and their own tribal language. As long as you are in the
cities and tourist areas, you can get by with German and English, but
even in the Etosha National Park many of the black employees only speak
Afrikaans.
The carnival in Namibia plays a particularly important role for the
German Namibians. There are seven major carnivals throughout the year,
which are based on the traditions of the Cologne Carnival and the Mainz
Carnival.
The largest carnival is the Windhoek Carnival, which is
celebrated in March and April in numerous places in Windhoek.
The
Swakopmund Carnival takes place for four weeks in June.
The Tsumeb
Carnival takes place over two to three days at the end of July/beginning
of August.
The Lüderitz Carnival takes place over two to three days
in September.
The Otjiwarongo carnival is the smallest in Namibia and
is celebrated a few days in July.
The Eastern Carnival takes place
every two years in even years in the small town of Witvlei.
The
Walvis Bay Carnival takes place in mid-March
The local currency is the Namibian dollar (N$; NAD), which has the
same value as the South African rand. The Rand is a valid means of
payment in Namibia. You often get South African currency back as change.
Exchange rate: €1 = N$18.4 (March 2021)
In almost all cities
there are several banks with ATMs, most of which also accept EC cards.
International credit cards are also accepted in many accommodations,
although not at gas stations. Credit card fraud does occur, so you
should keep an eye on staff payment processing. The last day of the
month is “pay day,” and then and the following day there are huge crowds
at bank counters and ATMs with corresponding waiting times. With effect
from June 30, 2019, the acceptance of checks in the country has been
completely abolished.
Lunch break is usually 1:00 p.m. - 2:00
p.m., this also applies to authorities. In larger cities there are not
only small shops but also large supermarkets. It's advisable to stock up
there before tours, the big chains are Checkers and Shoprite, although
the former has the better selection. Almost all goods available there
come from South Africa, including fruit and vegetables. In some cities
there are souvenir stalls on the streets where Namibians sell homemade
items. The objects are often very artistic and not expensive by German
standards. The same articles can be seen e.g. Sometimes also at the
international airport for a significantly higher price. However, the
operators of the stands often make strolling difficult because they want
to act immediately. The suggestion that one just wants to look is
answered with even more energetic action.
VAT refunds for
tourists are processed rather slowly, so ask for a second copy of the
invoice to be on the safe side.
Alcohol sales in supermarkets are
severely restricted. Not later than 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, or Saturday
after 1:00 p.m., or on Sundays and public holidays. Anyone who still
needs something has to rely on shebeens - unlicensed sellers, especially
in black areas.
In 2018, a cup of coffee or a beer (with service) costs no more than
N$30, a full meal costs a maximum of N$300, usually significantly less.
In Namibian cuisine you can roughly distinguish between three
styles:
Southwestern cuisine. Southwestern cuisine is the name given
to the cooking style of the Germans in Namibia. Black Forest cherry cake
is just as much a part of everyday life as pork knuckle with sauerkraut.
Other meat dishes that seem a little more African also have German names
(Oryx steak Baden-Baden, zebra in cranberry-pepper sauce with
croquettes), German baked goods (e.g. rolls) can be found in almost
every city, as well as all kinds of sausage specialties Beer according
to the German purity law. The former colonists cultivate their cuisine
and it is still very popular in the country today.
Traditional
African cuisine. This section includes dishes such as Mealie Pap (white
corn porridge) served with various sauces. Other dishes have also found
their way into everyday life: grilled warthog skin or mopane
caterpillars (are grilled or dried). However, such dishes are usually
not served in urban restaurants. The “white kitchen” still predominates
here.
Modern Namibian recipes. In the years since Namibia's
independence, a modern style has emerged that mixes Southwestern cuisine
with African cuisine and also has South African influence. (e.g. ostrich
carpaccio, potjiekos.)
There are also many fish dishes on the
coast, although the majority of them have white (German) influences.
Antelope steak is part of the standard repertoire in many
restaurants and accommodations. Springbok, oryx or kudu steak, which can
be fried in different ways as desired, are very popular. Occasionally
you can also find ostrich fillet and crocodile meat on the menu.
Nambrew and Windhuk Beer is the local brewery that traces its origins
to the Felsenkellar [sic]. Their local brands are Hansa (this brewery in
Swakopmund was closed), King Lager, the thin Windhuk Draught and others.
As a subsidiary, it also sells Heineken and Erdinger as well as the
South African Stellenbrau, as well as a number of soft drinks. The small
business Camelthorn was also bought up and the brand lives on as a wheat
beer. Desert Lager is produced by a microbrewery that began operations
in Dec. 2018. The preferred beer in the Caprivzipfel is Munati.
Omalodu-iilya is a fermented drink made from various types of millet.
Amerula liqueur is a creamy drink that is also popular in South
Africa, especially for women, and is made from the fruits of the
elephant tree. (That wild animals get drunk from its fermenting fruits
is an “urban myth” that persists.)
At Aussenkehr, a wine-growing
area has been created using artificial irrigation, the products of which
are exported primarily to South Africa.
Nightlife has declined since the 2014 smoking ban and increasing social media use.
There are campsites in many areas of Namibia, which are certainly the
cheapest option for overnight accommodation. Under no circumstances will
you pay more than N$ 400 for 3 people, plus a vehicle in 2018. Meat and
wood for grilling (braai) are often sold locally.
There are state and
private rest camps, although the latter are generally cleaner and more
lovingly maintained. In national parks, e.g. B. in the Fish River
Canyon, in Sossusvlei or in Etosha National Park you have no choice, you
have to make do with the less comfortable state campsites.
Cheap
home accommodation is offered by so-called “backpackers” where several
people share a room. The prices are N$ 200-300 per night (2018). It is
also possible to stay overnight in so-called guest farms; the prices
vary greatly depending on the facilities and location in the country.
The most luxurious option is lodges, which are also widely available. It
should be noted that guest farms and lodges usually only have a limited
number of rooms, so it is advisable to make a reservation before the
start of the trip - if possible a few months before the start of the
trip.
There are numerous guesthouses and hotels in the cities.
Overall, prices depend not only on comfort but also on location.
Accommodation near the Etosha National Park or near Sossusvlei is
significantly more expensive than in regions with fewer tourist
attractions.
National holidays include January 1st: New Year; May 1: Labor Day;
May 4th: Cassinga Day, commemorating the bombing of a refugee camp
during the civil war; May 25: Africa Day; July 9: Constitution Day; Aug.
26: Hero's Day; Dec. 10: Human Rights Day. If a public holiday falls on
the weekend, it will be “made up” on Monday.
There are also the
religious festivals: Good Friday (March 29, 2024), Easter Monday (April
1, 2024), Ascension Day (May 9, 2024) and two Christmas holidays, with
December 26th being called “Family Day”.
Police (nationwide): ☎ 10111
The police demands for bribes
from tourists that are common in the rest of Africa do not occur.
“The number of theft crimes against foreigners remains high both in
Windhoek and in the province. There is an increasing number of armed
robberies, including in guesthouses.” Crime in the cities, especially in
Windhoek, should not be underestimated, so tourists are repeatedly
advised not to go out on the streets there after dark and for the Take a
taxi on the way home. A trip usually costs less than two euros. The
street scene at least confirms this: the houses of the economically
middle and upper classes of the population are almost without exception
fenced in, mostly even surrounded by walls on which barbed wire or
electric fences are also attached. The economic dependence and proximity
to South Africa is certainly also important. Many insurance companies
whose headquarters are in South Africa are adapting the stricter
contract conditions from South Africa, so that electric fences are
practically mandatory.
There is usually no danger during the day.
In general, as with many other travel destinations, the advice is not to
display valuables conspicuously. However, the same applies here: use
common sense. Don't leave the main streets at night, then nothing will
happen!
Homosexual acts are punishable, but are not actively
prosecuted. Drug offenses are severely punished; 1-3 years in prison are
common for personal use.
Since 2014, there has been a ban on
smoking in public, at work, in publicly accessible buildings (including
bars and restaurants) and at a distance of two meters from appropriate
windows. Penalty range N$500 or one month imprisonment.
Tap water cannot be drunk everywhere. It's no problem in Lüderitz. In
Walvis Bay there are e.g. at the yacht club there are different taps for
drinking and process water.
There is no compulsory vaccination
when entering Namibia; vaccination against hepatitis A/B is recommended;
variant E occurs in the north. Tropical diseases such as yellow fever or
cholera do not occur. For the northern parts of the country, Owambo and
Caprivi Strips, malaria prophylaxis is recommended. In any case, a
mosquito gel and protection with appropriate clothing are necessary in
the evening hours. There is rabies in some parts of the country, but
vaccination is only advisable if you are staying in these areas for a
long time. Anthrax also occasionally occurs in this region. Current
recommendations for malaria prophylaxis and vaccination recommendations
for Namibia can be found on Tropeninstitut.de
In the extreme
north of the country (e.g. Caprivi), there is a risk of malaria and
schistosomiasis (also called schistosomiasis) all year round. The latter
disease is caused by small flukes called schistosomes, whose larvae are
released by freshwater snails, especially into stagnant water. You
become infected through skin contact with fresh water, whereby the worms
enter the body through the skin and travel to the liver via blood and
lymph vessels. From here, the adult pair of flukes then make their way
again via the bloodstream to the lungs, the bladder wall and the brain.
AIDS is very widespread in Namibia, the rate in 2016 is up to 17% of
15-49 year olds, higher in the north of the country and among
prostitutes.
The rescue service is not very developed in Namibia,
which is probably due to the considerable distances and the sparse
population. There is no dense network of emergency medical vehicles and
ambulances like in Europe. The private hospitals in the big cities are
world class, outside there are at best medical bases. In serious
emergencies, a large rescue helicopter stationed in Windhoek (which is
responsible for the entire country in 2012) comes if the emergency
occurs between around 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. - the helicopter must be able to
reach one of the large hospitals in daylight. Cross-country trips in the
dark , especially on gravel roads, are acutely life-threatening and
should therefore be avoided as much as possible.
Snake bites
represent a serious danger, on the one hand because of the extremely
long distances to the nearest rescue station, and on the other hand
because tourists cannot tell the dozens of snake species apart. This
means that the use of special antisera is not possible and is usually
not even attempted, so that even in well-equipped clinics the treatment
extends to symptomatic measures: infusions, medicinal circulatory
support, if necessary dialysis, ventilation, etc.
When taking portrait photographs of people, permission should always
be asked beforehand; occasionally a fee is required. However, you
shouldn't force money on someone without asking. This is particularly
true for the Herero people, where the women, who present their
traditional costumes very conspicuously, can be clearly seen in the
street scene.
The people are very proud of themselves and their
country. When you hear the national anthem, you should definitely stand
up.
Dust can be a problem. A shemagh around the head also protects
against the scorching sun and dust.
The postal service works
well between cities, delivery usually takes place within two working
days. Airmail letters to Europe cost N$ 9.60 per 10 grams in 2019 (fee
overview, valid until October 30, 2019).
The area code for Namibia is +264. The two mobile phone providers in
Namibia are called Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) and TN
Mobile, with MTC being more widespread and widespread. Their starter
pack Traveler costs (2018) N$ 19.95, of which N$ 19.00 is credit. The
Aweh packages with a relatively small, bookable data volume are more
expensive. It can be much cheaper to buy additional data volume via SMS
than to purchase cards. International calls can also be booked,
30-minute packages to China or Europe, for example. B. N$95.
The
mobile network is mainly available in cities and along main routes. In
rural areas, where GSM is still standard in 2019, reception ends no
later than 30km from the nearest town. Some car rental companies also
offer satellite phones, but these are very expensive and only necessary
for special purposes.
Due to the high roaming fees charged by
European mobile phone providers, it makes sense to purchase a Namibian
prepaid SIM card locally. These are available, for example: B. at
Windhoek airport in the arrivals terminal, they are called “air-time”
cards in Namibia.
There are only internet cafes in larger cities.
But you shouldn't expect speed miracles; at the end of 2017, the
nationwide download speed was ⌀ 12.5 Mbits. DSL is now available and
Paratus has started expanding 100 MBit lines in Windhoek. TelecomNA
wanted to increase the connection rate from 31% (2017) by abolishing all
connection fees.
There are numerous private providers who plan hunting safaris in special game reserves. These are only permitted when accompanied by a local approved carer. The organizer also takes care of hunting licenses and the animal-dependent shooting fees.
The dry lands of South West Africa have been a habitat and home for
the San and Damara peoples for thousands of years. Portuguese sailors
first discovered the country for Europe in the 15th century. However,
there was no significant settlement for a long time due to the
inhospitable conditions in the coastal regions. In the course of
numerous African migrations, starting in the 17th century, Herero, Nama,
Orlam and Ovambo tribes invaded the country. It was not until the 19th
century that a large immigration of European settlers began. These came
primarily from Portugal, England and the German-speaking area.
By
1884/85 the country, with the exception of Walvis Bay, which remained
under British influence, came under the rule of the German Empire and
became the colony of German South West Africa. The first German
officials arrived in May 1885, including Reich Commissioner Heinrich
Ernst Göring. With the help of local missionaries, he formed a
protective alliance with the Herero. The Herero were promised protection
from the Nama under Hendrik Witbooi; in return they had to agree to
grant the Germans freedom of trade and not to sell any land without
German consent. When it became apparent that the German administration
was unable to provide such protection, the Herero terminated the
agreement and expelled the officials under Göring. As a result, around
20 soldiers were sent under Curt von François, representing little more
than a symbolic presence. Curt von François and these soldiers acted
with ruthless severity against the Herero and turned them against him
within a very short time. As a result, the “protection troops” had to be
continually reinforced.
In 1894, the German Reichstag deposed
Curt von François and appointed Theodor Leutwein governor of German
South West Africa. Leutwein only had a very limited military budget and
therefore tried to consolidate German rule as cheaply as possible and
with little use of his own military resources by getting various local
leaders to cooperate. In 1897, rinderpest decimated the Herero's large
livestock populations. The white settlers were much less affected
because they were able to vaccinate their livestock. With the cattle
herds, the Herero lost the foundations of their autonomous and
self-sufficient way of life and increasingly had to work as wage labor
for the whites.
The goal of many white settlers was to buy land
from the Herero chiefs. They therefore often sold the Herero European
consumer goods on credit for several years. Much later, they presented
the bills and collected the debts, which had to be paid with livestock
and land. It also happened that traders simply threw goods that the
Herero were not interested in off the wagons in the villages and
insisted on payment later. These approaches led to conflicts between the
representatives of German colonial rule and the peoples of the colony.
Between 1904 and 1908 there was an uprising of the Herero and Nama and
the extermination of tens of thousands of Herero and Nama.
During
the First World War, the country was taken by the British troops of
South Africa and, at the end of the war, was handed over to
administration by the League of Nations in 1920 as a mandated territory
of the Union of South Africa. This held the country occupied until its
independence on March 21, 1990, despite intensive international efforts
and a two-decade-long armed struggle against the South West African
People's Organization (SWAPO), founded in 1960.
The area of today's Namibia was probably first settled 2000 (to 2500)
years ago by the San people who immigrated from Central or even North
Africa. Although rock engravings have been found in Namibia that
indicate a settlement that is significantly older than 2,000 years, the
rock paintings in Twyfelfontein are probably over 10,000 years old, but
they cannot be assigned to the San with the necessary certainty. Some of
their clearly identifiable rock paintings are well over 1000 years old
and were only discovered in the 19th and 20th centuries. century
completely discontinued.
In the course of the African north-south
migration of peoples, the cattle-breeding Herero, who belonged to the
Bantu tribes, first came from Bechuanaland (today's Botswana) between
the 17th and 18th centuries, then the Nama from the Cape Province in the
19th century and then the Nama from the same direction Africans to
Namibia. They all waged a campaign of destruction against the San and
pushed them east into the Kalahari, where they were reduced to a forager
economy. The San still live there today - more tolerated than welcomed
by the governments of South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, as they have
so far stubbornly resisted all “civilization efforts”.
The
settlement by German immigrants began a good hundred to a hundred and
fifty years after the first immigrants from the black tribes living
there today and two hundred years after the settlement by Dutch people,
the so-called Boers or Afrikaners, in the Cape and the surrounding area
and the founding of Cape Town in 1652, or almost 400 years after its
discovery by the Portuguese (Bartolomeu Diaz, 1488) and the later
establishment of a colony. However, the latter did not last due to
increasing difficulties with the Khoi Khoi and was abandoned after a
punitive expedition by the Portuguese viceroy, which never returned,
including himself, and was later replaced by the Dutch.
After the German merchant Franz Adolf Eduard Lüderitz succeeded in
acquiring large areas of land through contracts with local tribal
leaders (“Lüderitz Bay”), the land from the Orange to the Kunene was
declared a “protected area” of German South West Africa in 1884 and then
a German colony. The news of legendary diamond discoveries triggered a
“gold rush atmosphere” in the Imperial German Empire. In the Lüderitz
Bay you could pick up the cliff gravel, as the diamonds were called, in
the sand of the beach and in the hinterland in the dunes of the desert.
As a result, the diamond mining town of Kolmannskuppe was founded ten
kilometers from Lüderitz inland. The resulting influx of traders and
farmers and their seizure of land met with increasing resistance from
the local Herero and Nama. The settlers' rude actions met with
resistance, particularly among the Herero.
The economic situation
of the Herero deteriorated dramatically at the end of the 19th century,
forcing them to sell more land and ultimately to work as wage labor for
German settlers. Ongoing conflicts between the settlers and the local
population could not be resolved by the Herero captain Samuel Maharero
and the governor of German South Africa Theodor Leutwein. As a result,
there was a German colonial war against the Herero and Nama, which
lasted from 1904 to 1908 and grew into a war of extermination that cost
the lives of an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 men, women and children.
In January 1904, there was an uprising of the Herero and Nama led by Samuel Maharero. With a total of around 15,000 men under Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha, the Herero uprising was crushed in the Battle of Waterberg by August 1904. Most of the Herero then fled to the almost waterless Omaheke. Von Trotha had it sealed off and the refugees chased away from the few waterholes there, so that thousands of Herero, along with their families and herds of cattle, died of thirst. Von Trotha had the so-called extermination order inform those who had been chased into the desert: “The Herero are no longer German subjects. […] Within the German border, every Herero is shot with or without a rifle, with or without cattle. I no longer take in women or children, drive them back to their people or have them shot at. […] and shooting at women and children is to be understood as shooting over them in order to force them to run. I assume with certainty that this decree will lead to no more male prisoners, but will not degenerate into cruelty against women and children." The survivors were dispossessed, locked up in concentration camps and forced to do forced labor. The mistreatment, inadequate nutrition and poor hygienic conditions in these camps led to the deaths of half of all prisoners in this second phase of the Herero genocide.
Following the Herero War, the Witbooi rose up in the south of the country in October 1904 - an Orlam tribe that had fought on the German side during the Herero War. The Fransman-Nama joined this uprising; After the Witbooi capitulated in 1905, the Nama continued the guerrilla struggle under Simon Kooper and Jakobus Morenga until 1908, which gave this uprising the name Nama Uprising.
The news of the outbreak of the First World War reached German South
West Africa on August 2nd via the Nauen - Kamina radio link and the
large radio station in Windhoek, which was still under construction.
After the outbreak of war became known, Governor Theodor Seitz ordered
the general mobilization of the troops on August 7, 1914. There were
various battles with the Union troops of South Africa, but also clashes
with the Portuguese in Angola. Some Boer units from South Africa that
had fought against their government were partly destroyed and withdrew
across the Orange River to join the German troops. Early in the war,
German troops managed to inflict heavy casualties on the South Africans,
but they lost ground and were eventually forced to give up.
On
July 9, 1915, the commander of the Schutztruppe, Lieutenant Colonel
Franke, as well as the imperial governor Seitz and the general commander
of the South African Union Louis Botha signed a ceasefire agreement that
amounted to a surrender.
German South West Africa was occupied by South Africa during the
First World War and assigned to the South African Union as a mandate
territory by decision of the League of Nations in 1920. In the years
that followed, the South African administration succeeded in sustainably
reducing the previously strong German influence and “South Africanizing”
Namibia - including extending apartheid policy to the mandated
territory. Namibia's white voters were guaranteed representation in the
South African parliament from 1947 to 1977. After the Second World War,
South Africa's behavior triggered numerous, albeit unsuccessful,
attempts by the UN to withdraw South Africa's former League of Nations
mandate; This was demanded before the UN General Assembly because South
Africa did not fulfill its obligations to inform the body about the
area. Only after the International Court of Justice in The Hague
declared the South African administration illegal in 1971 was South
Africa prepared to give South West Africa independence in 1972 after an
appropriate transition period.
However, South Africa's behavior
was also met with increasing resistance in South West Africa itself,
supported by the international community. The decision of the
International Court of Justice gave this resistance the desired
legitimacy, which ultimately even led to the independence movement South
West African People's Organization (SWAPO), which was supported by the
majority of the Ovambo and operated with suspected financial support
from the Soviet Union, being granted exclusive right of representation
for Namibia by the UN in 1973. In 1978, under great pressure, South
Africa facilitated elections to a constituent assembly in which black
Africans were also allowed to vote. The main opposition group, which had
a very strong women's wing, boycotted the elections.
The fear
expressed through propaganda by South Africa's apartheid politicians
that they might have a communist-ruled or socialist neighboring state
justified a decades-long asymmetrical war against domestic and foreign
apartheid opponents and liberation movements in Namibia and Angola. On
September 6, 1978, Pieter Willem Botha took advantage of Prime Minister
Vorster's absence due to illness to speak as the then Defense Minister
at the Nasional Party conference in Bloemfontein about the takeover of
the South West Africa area by a 7,500-strong UN task force and the
possible establishment to warn of the “Marxist enemy power” through
SWAPO, which could lead to a “Marxist state” on the borders of South
Africa.
The war ended in 1988 with the ceasefire between South
Africa and Angola and the subsequent preparations for elections in
Namibia. The majority of the over 60,000 refugees who lived in SWAPO
camps in Angola, Zambia and Tanzania from 1963 to 1989 were repatriated
after 1990. They were accompanied by many Angolan civil war refugees.
In the elections of November 7, 1989, women and men were granted
general active and passive voting rights for the first time. This gave
women the right to vote.
On March 21, 1990, Namibia gained its independence after more than 100 years of foreign rule. Universal adult suffrage became part of the constitution. After independence, SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma ruled the country for three terms as president, elected with a clear majority. The democratic opposition parties, including the Democratic Gymnastics Alliance (DTA), remained divided among themselves. Another term of office was not possible under the Namibian constitution, so in 2004 the previous Minister for Land Affairs, Hifikepunye Pohamba - also Ovambo and a SWAPO member - was elected second president. On March 21, 2005, he was sworn in in Windhoek in the presence of several African presidents. After Pohamba's two terms in office, Hage Geingob took over the office of president.
Namibia lies between 17.87°
and 29.98° south latitude and 12° and 25° east longitude in the tropics
and subtropics.
Namibia is bordered by the Kalahari to the east
towards Botswana, the Orange River to the south towards South Africa,
the South Atlantic to the west and the Kunene and the Okavango to the
north towards Angola. In the north-east there is also a finger of land
about 450 km long and up to 50 km wide between the countries bordering
Angola and Zambia to the north and Botswana to the south - the Caprivi
Strip, which is bordered in the east by the Zambezi and the lower
reaches of the Kwando.
In addition to the border rivers
mentioned, there are numerous other rivers, none of which are guaranteed
to have water all year round. Outside of the rainy season there are only
dry riverbeds (Riviere).
The entire national territory of Namibia
covers about 824,292 square kilometers. The landscape of Namibia is
essentially characterized by two deserts, in the west by the Namib,
which extends from the South African province of North Cape to Angola,
and in the east by the Kalahari. Between the two deserts lies the inland
highland, which has an average height of 1700 meters and around the
capital Windhoek also exceeds the 2000 meter mark. One of the most
striking mountains is the Etjo, but the highest mountain is the 2600
meter high Königstein in the Brandberg massif, near the coast, about 200
kilometers north of the coastal town of Swakopmund. In the east, the
inland highlands gradually merge into the Kalahari highlands, which are
about 1200 meters high and are covered by dry vegetation.
The area of today's Namibia is
considered to be one of the oldest parts of the earth's crust. Long
before the supercontinent Gondwana was formed, two shelves formed in
what is now Africa more than two billion years ago: the Congo craton and
the Kalahari craton. The latter includes large parts of present-day
Namibia. About 550 million years ago, various tectonic processes created
a huge, contiguous mainland area that included today's (partial)
continents of Africa, South America, Australia, India and Antarctica:
Gondwana.
About 150 million years ago, this supercontinent
gradually began to break up and drift apart into the continents we know
today. The special climatic conditions in South West Africa that lasted
for millions of years meant that many geological structures, processes
and phenomena were particularly well preserved and can therefore still
be observed today. Ultimately, this also includes the Namib, which can
therefore be considered the oldest desert in the world.
The average climate of Namibia is hot and dry. The largely arid
climate is subtropical continental. There are big differences between
the individual parts of the country:
Rainfall is extremely rare
in the Namib west of the demolition zone. A warm, strong wind blows all
year round. Even in winter, temperatures often reach 25°C and more. In
the hottest summer months, December and January, temperatures are
usually well above 30°C, while in the coldest months, July and August,
they can drop to freezing point at night, but then rise again to around
25°C during the day. Temperature jumps of more than 20 °C within a few
hours can be expected in the mornings and evenings, especially in
winter. In the inland highlands, due to the high altitude, there can
even be frost at night and, in very rare years, snowfall. During the day
it is not quite as hot there as in the desert. The situation in the
Kalahari is similar to that in the Namib. Precipitation is somewhat more
frequent, but still rare, as is typical for deserts.
The area
between the Namib and the Atlantic is one of the regions in the world
with the best climate for astronomical observations. The astro camps set
up there are therefore visited by many astronomers, especially for the
purpose of sky photography.
The climate of the Atlantic coast, in
turn, is determined by the cold Benguela Current. This cools down the
prevailing south-west wind considerably, which prevents the formation of
(rain) clouds as a result of condensation and regularly creates a dense
persistent fog near the ground. In the summer it is pleasantly cool here
and in the winter months it can sometimes be cold during the day. The
water temperature rarely reaches more than 15 °C.
The Caprivi
Strip, on the other hand, is characterized by mostly reliable
precipitation in the rainy season. These have given rise to an extensive
river system and a subtropical savannah forest. In contrast to the other
parts of the country, the humidity here is relatively high.
In
the central highlands, which cover most of Namibia, summer rains are
prevalent, meaning irregular but occasionally very heavy rains can be
expected between November and April; the extreme south, on the other
hand, lies in the winter rain area, so that rain falls – if at all –
mainly in the months of June and July. Despite the irregularity of
rainfall in terms of frequency and yield, it increases significantly,
starting from the south with less than 50 mm per year towards the
north-east with up to 600 mm per year, which, however, does not rule out
regional dry periods lasting several years.
Due to the special
climatic conditions, agricultural use of the land is only possible to a
limited extent: in the highlands mainly cattle breeding (in the north
more cattle, in the south more sheep and goats), in the relatively rainy
north also arable farming. A special feature of the Namib are the dunes
in the Sossusvlei area. At well over 400 meters high, the star dunes are
among the highest in the world. The attraction of this dune landscape is
not only in its height, but above all in its play of colors, which
depends on the moisture content and the position of the sun.
In Namibia, due to anthropogenic climate change, the average temperature will increase and there will be longer and hotter droughts. Animals and plants will feel the effects of global warming most. “The climate in Namibia will change to a continuous summer,” says Duncan Mitchell. Rainfall in Namibia will also fall by 20 to 40 percent. “At Gobabeb there will be less than ten millimeters of rain from 2050,” says Duncan Mitchell. In the Namib, where it rains an average of 100 millimeters, there will then only be 60 mm of rain per year.
Fauna
Many scorpion species of the genus Opistophthalmus are
native to Namibia and are partly endemic, as is the monotypic
Karasbergia methueni.
African penguins breed on the Penguin
Islands, and there are also flamingos and fur seals on the coasts.
Blood-billed weavers and wagtails are common throughout the country.
Inland areas, such as Etosha National Park, are home to a variety of
wildlife including gemsbok, warthogs, South African hartshorn, mountain
zebras and African ostriches.
Mushrooms
Termite fungi are
common in the north of the country, and the Kalahari truffle is
predominantly found in the Kalahari.
Flora
At Keetmanshoop
there is a quiver tree forest consisting of the endemic quiver trees.
Other common tree species in Namibia are the baobab tree, the camel
thorn tree, the mopane, the marula tree and the Makalani palm.
Some endemic plants and animals are native to the Namib. The most
famous plant in the Namib is the Welwitschia, which is also depicted on
the Namibia coat of arms. The !Nara and the plant species Namibia
cinerea and Namibia pomanae of the genus Namibia are also endemic.
Endemic insect species of the Namib are Acanthoplus discoidalis, a
long-feeling insect from the family of leaf locusts that also occurs in
the Kalahari, the fog-drinking beetle and the white desert beetle (both
from the black beetle family).
Endemic arachnid species of the
Namib are Leucorchestris arenicola from the family of giant crab spiders
and the African orb spider. Parabuthus villosus is a very poisonous
scorpion native to South Africa and Namibia that comes in different
color variations. It is one of the largest representatives of the genus
Parabuthus as well as the family Buthidae, which includes over 900
species.
The Namibia is also home to the endemic reptile species
Namib gecko, dwarf puff adder and Namaqua chameleon, the amphibian
species desert rain frog and the mammal species desert golden mole.
The Namibia is also home to wild domestic horses that were brought
into the country as a result of German colonization.