Namibia
Our Top Picks For Namibia
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1 Fish River Canyon
One of Africa's most awe-inspiring sights
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2 Sossusvlei & Sesriem
Trek the towering red dunes of Sossusvlei or ride out on horseback in the Sesriem canyon
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3 Swakopmund
Sun, sea and sandboarding; indulge your every adventure whim in seaside Swakopmund
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4 Damaraland
An ancient basalt landscape, riven by ephemeral river valleys and harbouring hundreds of rock engravings
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5 Skeleton Coast
An eerie seascape of blousy fog clouds and dew-wet dunes
Fast Facts about Namibia
- Time
GMT/UTC +2
- Population
1.83 million
- Borders
Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe – all accessible overland except Zimbabwe, which has no direct border crossing with Namibia
- Seasons
Long rainy season (January to April); dry (May to September); short rainy season (October to December)
- Telephone
Country code 264; international access code 00
- ATMs
Found in most large towns around the country
- Budget
US$20 to US$25 per day
- Capital
- Visa
None required for citizens of Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, the UK, Ireland, Canada or the USA
- Area
825, 000 sq km
- Language
English, Afrikaans, German, Owambo, Kavango, Herero, Khoikhoi (Nama/Damara), San dialects
- Money
Namibian dollar (N$); US$1 = N$7.5
Our favourite Namibia Blogs (beta)
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Last Day in Namibia. South Africa Awaits our Final Stretch
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 4 May 2008
Yesterday we travelled 178km from Fish River Canyon. The world's 2nd Largest Canyon after the Grand Canyon. 130 of those kilometres were off road on sand, corrugation, gravel and some tough climbs. When we finally hit the tarmac, we turned directly into a brutal headwind. Yipes, we were on the road for 9 hours yesterday.
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Introducing Namibia
Wedged between the Kalahari and the South Atlantic, Namibia enjoys vast potential as one of the youngest countries in Africa. In addition to having a striking diversity of cultures and national origins, Namibia is a photographer’s dream – it boasts wild seascapes, rugged mountains, lonely deserts, stunning wildlife, colonial cities and nearly unlimited elbow room.
A predominantly arid country, Namibia can be divided into four main topographical regions: the Namib Desert and coastal plains in the west, the eastward-sloping Central Plateau, the Kalahari along the borders with South Africa and Botswana and the densely wooded bushveld of the Kavango and Caprivi regions. Despite its harsh climate, Namibia has some of the world’s grandest national parks, ranging from the wildlife-rich Etosha National Park in Northwestern Namibia, to the dune fields and desert plains of the Namib-Naukluft Park in Western Namibia. Windhoek, in the Central Highlands, is the country's geographical heart and commercial nerve centre, with an ethnic mix of people, while surfers and beach-lovers won't want to miss Swakopmund.
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Latest headlines for Namibia
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Medvedev seeks closer Africa links
23 June 2009 2:27AM
Russia's President Dimitry Medvedev is leading a large trade delegation to Africa at a time when Moscow is trying to boost its global role.
