Namibia
All you need to know before visiting Namibia.
Information supplied by the Namibia Tourism Board. www.namibiatourism.com.na
General Information
Population
Physical Infrastructure
Enviroment
Flora
Fauna
Economy
Entry Requirements
Social Infrastructure
Foreign Representation
Transport
Medical & Emergency Services
Tax & Customs
Money Matters
What To Pack
Electrical Appliance
International Telephone Code
Time Zone
Drinking Water
Temperature Table
Surface Area: 824 268 km2
Capital: Windhoek
Independence: March 21 1990
First President: Sam Nujoma
Current President: Hifikipunye Pohamba
Multiparty Parliament
Democratic Construction
Division of power between executive legislature, judiciary
Secular State- Freedom of Religion (90% Christian)
Freedom of Press/Media
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1.826 854 million
Density: 2.2 per km2
13 Regions
240 000 inhabitants in Windhoek (15 %)
Official Language: English
13 Ethnic Cultures
16 Languages and Dialects
Literacy Rate: 65%
Life Expectancy: 56 Years
Population Growth Rate 2.9%
1450 Schools- 94% of children attend school
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5450km tarred roads
37000km gravel roads
Main Harbours: Walvis Bay, Lüderitz
Airports & airstrips: Windhoek main airport: Hosea Kutako International, Windhoek city:Eros Airport.Airstrips: 46
Rail Network: 2382km narrow gauge
6.2 telephone lines per 100 inhabitants
Direct-dailling facilities to 221 countries
Mobile communication system: GSM]
Agreements with 40 countries / 80 networks
Postal service affiliated with Universal Postal Union
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Nature Reserves: 15% of Surface Area (105 559 km2)
Highest Mountain: Brandberg 2579m
Other Mountains: Spitzkoppe 1728m,1584, Molteblick 2480m, Gamsberg 2349
Rivers: Orange River ( Southern Border with South Africa)
Kunene, Okavango, Zambezi and Kwando/Linyanti/Chobe, ( Northern Border with Angola, Zambia and Botswana
Ephemeral Rivers: Fish-, Kuiseb-, Swakop and Ugab river
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14 vegetation zones
120 species of trees
200 endemic plant species
100 species of lichen
Living Fossil plant: Welwitschia mirabilis
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Big Game: Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Buffalo, Cheetah, Leopard, Giraffe Antelope
20 Species of Antelope
240 species of mammals (14 endemic)
250 species of reptiles
50 species of Frogs
+- 630 Species of Birds
Endemic Birds: Herero Chat, Rockrunner, Damara Tern, African Fish Eagle, Monteiro's Hornbill
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Main sectors: Mining, Fishing, Tourism & Agriculture
Biggest Employer: Agriculture 46%
Fastest growing sector: Tourism
Mining: Diamonds, Uranium, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Magnesium, Cadmium, Arsenic, Pyrites, Silver, and Gold, Lithium minerals, Dimension stones (granite, marble, blue sodalite) and many semi-precious stones.
GDP per Capita: N$ 11736
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Passport- valid six months after date of entry
Citizens from the following countries are exempted from visa requirements if entering Namibia as bone fida tourists: Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal , Russia, Scandinavian Countries, Singapore, Spain, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, UK, USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
For further info contact
Ministry of Home Affairs: Tel (++264-61) 292-2102
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One medical doctor per 3650 people
Windhoek: two privately run hospitals
Intensive-care units
Medical practitioners-world standard
24 Hours medical emergency services
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More than 50 countries have Naibian consular or embassy representation in Windhoek. For more information,
Contact: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Information and Broadcasting
Tel (+264 61) 282 9111
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Public transport NOT available to all destinations in Namibia. Bus service from Windhoek- Cape Town/Johannesburg/Vic Falls/Swakopmund.
Namibia's main railway line runs from the South African border, connecting Windhoek to Swakomund in the West and Tsumeb in the North.
Desert Express operates a scenic route between Windhoek and the Coast.
Extensive Network of international and Regional flights from Windhoek. Domestic Charters to all destinations.
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International SOS
Windhoek
TEL: (+264 61) 230 505/249 777
Netcare 911 Namibia
TEL: (+264 61) 22 3330
Swakopmund
TEL: (+264 64) 400 700
Tsumeb
TEL: (+264 81) 128 5501
Walvis Bay
TEL: (+264 64) 200 200
E-Med rescue
081 924
CELLPHONE/MOBILE PHONE Dial: 112
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All Goods are priced to include value-added tax of 15%. Visitors may reclaim VAT.
Enquiries: Ministry of Finance TEL: (+264 61) 23 0773
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Currency: The Namibian Dollar (N$) is fixed to and equals the SA Rand, South African Rand is also a legal tender .
The Traveler's cheques, foreign currency, International Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club credit cards are accepted.
Travelers cheques in foreign currency can be exchanged during banking hours, weekdays 09:00-15:30 and on Saturdays from 08:30-10:30, at any commercial bank in most towns. Bureau de Change offices at the International Airport and Levinson Arcade in Windhoek.
No Credit Cards accepted at petrol service stations. Most petrol/garage cards accepted. Personal cheques and foreign currency or foreign Travelers Cheques are not accepted at rest camps.
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As temperatures can be very high during the summer months, clothing made from cotton rather than synthetic fibres is preferable. During winter, light clothing combined with a sweater and/or jacket is recommended, as it becomes cold in the evenings and early mornings. Important items to pack: comfortable walking shoes, swimsuits, binoculars, sun hats and sun glasses, sunscreen/sun block, mosquitoes repellent and battery operated or conventional razors for visiting remote areas
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All run on 220/240 volts. Outlets are of the round 3-pin, 15-amps type, same as in South Africa
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To phone Namibia internationally, dial (++264) and then the local code, omitting the first 0, then the local number. Include the zero when phoning within Namibia.
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Summer time: GMT + 2 hours from the 1st Sunday in September to the 1st Sunday in April
Winter: GMT + 1 hour from the 1st Sunday in April to the 1st Sunday in September
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Most tap water is purified and safe to drink. Visitors should exercise caution in rural areas.
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City/Town |
Feb |
Apr |
June |
Aug |
Oct |
Dec |
|
Windhoek |
Max |
29 |
26 |
21 |
24 |
29 |
31 |
Min |
16 |
10 |
3 |
5 |
12 |
16 |
|
Swakopmund |
Max |
21 |
18 |
20 |
16 |
16 |
19 |
Min |
16 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
11 |
14 |
|
Tsumeb |
Max |
30 |
29 |
24 |
27 |
33 |
32 |
Min |
18 |
15 |
8 |
10 |
18 |
18 |
|
Rundu |
Max |
30 |
29 |
26 |
30 |
35 |
32 |
Min |
18 |
15 |
8 |
10 |
18 |
18 |
|
Keetmanshoop |
Max |
34 |
29 |
22 |
24 |
30 |
34 |
Min |
19 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
13 |
17 |
|
Luderitz |
Max |
22 |
20 |
19 |
17 |
18 |
21 |
Min |
14 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
12 |
13 |