Highlights |
Damaraland - The petrified forest whose trucks turned to stone 200 million years ago. |
|
Fish River Canyon - A huge, dramatic cleft in the dry landscape is one of the largest canyons in the world. The drop from the plateau is half a kilometre. |
|
Useful Information |
Visa - Visa - All visitors require a passport valid for 6 months after their intended departure date from Namibia, as well as means of leaving the region (a vehicle or an onward ticket) |
|
Vaccinations - Visa - All visitors require a passport valid for 6 months after their intended departure date from Namibia, as well as means of leaving the region (a vehicle or an onward ticket) |
|
Driving Regulations - International driving permit and a temporary local driving licence. Carnet De Passage |
|
Embassies - 6 Chandos Street, London, W1G 9LU or PO Box 22202, 116 Robert Mugabe Ave, Windhoek, (61) 274 800 |
|
Country Code - 264 |
|
Introduction |
Namibia lies in Southwest Africa with vast landscapes and diverse wildlife set along stunning coastline that runs down the South Atlantic Ocean. Like many African countries Namibian has numerous neighbours, Angola to the north, Zambia in the northeast, Botswana in Southeast and South Africa to the South. The country encompasses of significant geographical variations, which are divided into four regions. The dunes and desert coastal plains of Namibia, the Skeleton Coast, the Kalahari Basin and the wooded bushveld of Kavango and the Caprivi Strip. These four regions make for a wonderfully diverse set of driving condition with environments to challenge even the most experience 4x4 driver, but still be sympathetic to the novice. |
|
Like many African countries the temperature can vary from very hot to very cold depending of the time of year, the height above sea level and the time of day. We found this out the hard way when rafting down the Orange River. During the day it was in the 40 degrees requiring us to jump into the water to cool down and at night we were felt shivering under a sheet with no tent as the temperatures plummeted down to just a few degrees. Namibian has two seasons April to September is the dry season were the roads are generally good conditions for Africa and the temperature around 25 degrees, which makes for pleasant driving conditions. December to March is the wet seasons where there are prolonged rains, which make for difficult driving condition in then rural areas and where the temperature creeps up into the 40’s. |
|
People |
Namibia has one of the lowest population densities with 2 people per sq km with the majority of people living in the north where the rainfall is the heaviest. As this is where farming is easiest and crops have a better chance of surviving. There are 11 major tribal groups, including Owambo, Kavango, Damara and Nama. Around 75% of the people inhabit rural areas but drift into the cities in search of work or higher wages. However this has had a negative affect on city life as it has resulted in increased homelessness, unemployment and crime in the capital, as there is not enough work to support such an influx. |
|
Food |
With a wide selections of animals in the country meat is a key factor in the dietof Naminians. Most menu’s will feature steaks from many different animals, many of which of which I have never heard from before let alone eaten. However, traditional Namibian food is rearely served to vistors and gernerally sepaking resturants tend to have a very European style their cooking with a strong German influence, Due to the German colonists in the 19th century. However, beer is the main product that the Germans are famous for here, with Hansa and Windhoek lagers still being brewed today and are a key export for the country. Both beers provide a welcome change from the Castle and Lion beer that dominates the rest of Southern Africa. We have always found that drinking the local beers to be the best way for getting to know the locals. |