Namibia

Namibia is one of Africa’s youngest nations having gained autonomy from South Africa. It is a land of contrasts which has the Kalahari on one side and the Atlantic coast on the other. Its coastline, also known as the Skeleton Coast, is covered with the remnants of vessels which have seen better days.

Namibia is a large country with a small population and due to its aridness; one almost feels alone in this vast expense of land. Namibia’s wild coast and the ruggedness of mountains and tall sand dunes almost make it look 'other-worldly' – especially with its ochre coloured sand – burnt by the sun over the centuries.

This is a paradise for those seeking solace from the world and being able to see wild lions hunt in the desert surroundings. Each one of Namibia’s four geographical regions has something to offer everyone.

Caprivi Strip

Caprivi is a region of Namibia located in the north eastern part of Namibia. Caprivi has one of the highest rainfall in Namibia between December and March, making it the wettest place.

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Damaraland

Located in north central part of Namibia, Damaraland is home to Damara people and hence the name of the region.

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Etosha

Etosha, meaning ‘place of dry water’, encloses a huge, flat calcrete depression (or pan) of about 5 000km². The ‘Pan’ provides a great, parched, silver-white backdrop of shimmering mirages to an area of semi-arid savannah grassland and thorn scrub.

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Fish River

With a length of 650 km, Fish river has a seasonal flow and cuts through Fish River Canyon, which takes up 160 km of the Fish River's length and in places can be deep up to 550 m.

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Skeleton Coast

Located in the northern coastal region of Namibia, Skeleton coast is an arid and inhospitable place which the locals say "god created in anger".

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Sossusvlei

Located in the southern part of the Namib Desert, Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes.

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Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a Namibian city on the western coast of the country, founded by the German's in 1892 as a harbour.

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Windhoek

Windhoek "Vint Huuk" is the cultural, social and economical center of Namibia. Windhoek was founded in 1840 and again in 1890, today it is the capital of Namibia.

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Best Time to Go:

Namibia's long length north to south means that the weather pattern is varied. In the arid central Namib Desert, summer daytime temperatures may climb to over 40°C, but can fall to below freezing during the night. Rainfall is heaviest in the northeast, which enjoys a subtropical climate, and reaches over 600mm annually along the Okavango River. The northern and interior regions experience ‘little rains’ between October and December, while the main stormy period occurs from January to April.

Visa:

Citizens of the UK, US, France, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Australia and New Zealand do not require visas and upon arrival are granted a 90 day permit.

Health Information:

It is always worthwhile checking the latest health requirements when travelling to any country and Namibia is no exception - please visit http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/Namibia.htm for more up to date details.

Halcyon Collections Tip: Whenever you travel to a destination with different temperatures and humidity do the following: Drink plenty of water (mineral), avoid meat if possible for first few days or heavy meat (beef, lamb). Always ask, if having ice with drinks what it is made of (safe to use ice made from mineral water in most cases).

Capital:

The capital of Namibia is Windhoek.

Language:

English (official), Afrikaans, German, Oshivambo, Herero, and Nama.

Religion:

Predominantly Christian and also a small percentage of other faiths represented.

Electricity:

220 V

The type of plugs used in Namibia can be found on : http://users.telenet.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm

Local Emergency Numbers:

• All Services 10 111

It is always worthwhile to have at hand the contact details of your country's embassy or consulate in case of any issues arising locally. We recommend making a note of the relevant numbers and also giving them to relatives or friends at home.

Time Zone:

GMT + 1 hrs

Currency:

Namibian Dollar (N$)