|
Namibia
Land of Contrasts - Photo Courtesy: Wilderness Safaris
The Republic of Namibia is a vast, sparsely
populated country situated along the south Atlantic
coast of Africa and lies between 17 and 29 degrees
south of the Equator. Namibia is the 31st largest
country in the world with a surface area of
824 268 square kilometres. It stretches for
about 1 300 km from south to north and varies
from 480 to 930 km in width from west to east.
South West Africa, now known as Namibia, is
bordered by South Africa in the south, Angola
and Zambia in the north and Botswana and Zimbabwe
in the east. The Namib Desert which is the oldest
desert in the world, stretches along the entire
west coast of the country, while the Kalahari
Desert runs along its south-eastern border with
Botswana.
Dominant tourist area’s are: Namib
Naukluft and Sossusvlei in the
south- west, the colonial coastal town of Swakopmund
in the west, Damaraland
situated north of Swakopmund
off the Skeleton
Coast and
Etosha National Park in
the north. The ‘pan-handle’ of land
sandwiched between Angola and Botswana is known
as the Caprivi
Strip.
Windhoek is the Capital
City and is very well connected to the rest
of Southern Africa by means of daily flights
and an excellent road network.
English is the official language, but Namibia's
relatively small population is extraordinarily
diverse in language and culture. More than 11
languages are indigenous to Namibia but with
its cosmopolitan society, languages from around
the world are spoken in Namibia. People commonly
speak two or three languages and more than 50%
of the population speak Oshiwambo. Due to the
country's colonial history, Afrikaans is the
language of the previous South African occupiers
and is still widely spoken. Namibia has a small
number of Khoisan speaking people, known as
the Bushmen or San.
The Constitution of the Republic of Namibia
is the fundamental law of the country which
recognises the inherent dignity, equal and inalienable
human rights of all members of the Namibian
society. It provides for a sovereign, secular,
democratic and unitary State founded on the
principle of democracy and the rule of law.
Entry Requirements:
A valid passport is required to enter Namibia.
Visas are needed except for nationals from Angola,
Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Germany,
Luxembourg, France, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Liechtenstein,
Mozambique, The Netherlands, The Nordic Countries,
Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New
Zealand, Spain, Portugal, South-Africa, the
United Kingdom, the USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Visas can be obtained from the Ministry of Home
Affairs, Private Bag 13200, Windhoek, at Namibian
Embassies and at Namibia Tourist Offices in
Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Currency:
The unit of currency is the Namibia Dollar (N$)
which has the same value as the S.A Rand and
is divided into 100 cents. The South-African
Rand is still accepted as legal tender in Namibia.
Traveller’s cheques are accepted in most
areas. Those in foreign currencies must be cashed
in at banks. Credit cards (Master, Visa &
Diners Club) are accepted by most hotels and
lodges. Namibia Dollars, SA Rand traveller’s
cheques and bank guaranteed cheques are also
acceptable.
Health:
All tap water is purified and visitors need
not hesitate in drinking it. Travellers to the
northern parts are advised to take anti-malaria
precautions, especially in summer.
What to Pack:
Winter days are mild to warm, light summer clothes
can be packed. Nights are known to be quite
chilly - even in summer at the coast. Warm clothes
are also necessary. A good pair of sunglasses,
sunscreen, lip balm, a sun hat, swimming costume,
camera and flash or video camera are all standard
equipment and can be bought in all large centres.
All international-standard videotapes are available
in Windhoek, as well as one- hour film processing
services.
Traffic Rules and Regulation:
Remember to drive on the left hand side of the
road in Namibia. There is a general speed limit
of 120 km/h on open roads (although speed on
gravel roads must be reduced). Safety belts
are compulsory.
Overseas visitors (not residents of neighbouring
countries) must be in possession of a valid
international drivers licence if they plan to
hire or drive a vehicle in this country.
Road signs are internationally recognised symbols,
and road and turnoffs are clearly signposted.
Road signs warning against animals, particularly
kudu, should be taken seriously, especially
at night when they are blinded by headlights.
|
