THE HISTORY

The earliest history of this land was discovered in the form of paintings carved onto rocks which were found in the Huns Mountains in the deep south of Namibia and at Twyfelfontein (A UNESCO World Heritage Site) in the north-western part of Namibia.

Painted stone plates discovered in the Ai-Ais Huns Mountains (this mountain range is now part of the Ai-Ais / Richtersveld Transfrontier Park) are amongst the oldest works of art globally and prove that settlements existed in this area as early as 25000 B.C.

In addition, Twyfelfontein boasts some remarkable galleries of rock engravings (petroglyphs) dating back approximately 6000 years ago, engraved by the San (also known as the Bushmen). The San were part of the stone-age hunter-gatherers of the Wilton stone-age culture.

Due to Namibia having one of the world’s most barren and inhospitable coastlines, it wasn’t until the middle of the nineteenth century that explorers, ivory hunters, prospectors and missionaries began to journey into its interior. Before this, the first known European explorer that landed in Namibia was the Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão, who came ashore north of Swakopmund at Cape Cross in 1484.

CLIMATE

Namibia is truly a country of “blue skies and sunshine”, and all-in-all provides travellers to the area with an agreeable climate. Namibia experiences on average 300 days of sunshine in a year and is the aridest country in Southern Africa. Namibia has mostly a subtropical desert climate and is situated at the southern
edge of the tropics; the Tropic of Capricorn more or less bisects the country in half.

CONSERVATION SUCCESS

Namibia has had considerable success in its conservation efforts and is the envy of many other African countries in protecting and managing its wildlife and natural habitat. After gaining independence in 1990, Namibia became the first country in Africa to incorporate environmental protection into its constitution.

Article 95 of the Namibian Constitution states, “The State shall actively promote and maintain the welfare of the people by adopting international policies aimed at the following: maintenance of ecosystems, essential ecological processes, and biological diversity of Namibia, and utilisation of living natural resources on a sustainable basis for the benefit of all Namibians, both present and future”.

Essentially this law enabled communities the right to manage and benefit from their own natural resources. A sense of ownership over wildlife and other natural resources has encouraged local communities to use their resources sustainably.

Wildlife is now embraced as a complimentary land use method to agriculture and livestock herding. Communal conservancies are self-governing, democratic entities run by their members, with fixed boundaries agreed with adjacent conservancies, communities or landowners.

There are now a total of 86 registered fully functioning conservancies in Namibia. Profits from the conservancies are pooled together and used for the benefit of the local community. For example, the money can be used for building schools, day-care facilities or clinics.

NAMIBIAN CULTURAL GROUPS

Namibia’s people are diverse, ranging from the pastoral Ovahimba in the north-west to the San in the east. The major population groups are the Aawambo, which consists of eight cultural groups, the Kavango consisting of five cultural groups, the Damara, Nama and Ovaherero. Smaller groups include the Mafwe and Masubia of Zambezi, the Basters, San, Coloured, Tswana and Whites of European descent.

Each of the varied cultural groups has its unique traditions and cultural traits that contribute to the richness of Namibia’s cultural heritage and identity. Due to this diversity, English is the chosen official language for ease of communication.

Do I need a visa to travel to Namibia?

Namibia currently offers visa-free travel to most of EU and SADC countries for stays up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date you expect to leave Namibia.

What is Namibia known for?

Namibia is world famous for the highest dunes in the world at Sossusvlei, and for the immense Etosha National Park, one of the world’s greatest conservation areas. Namibia offers some of the world’s best wildlife viewing, from desert-adapted elephants, lions and giraffes, to other fascinating wildlife, plants and natural wonders.

When is the best time to visit Namibia?

Namibia is a great year-round destination. Some of the best months to visit are between June and October. This is the dry season when the temperature is not too hot or too cold.

The currency and credit cards in Namibia?

The currency in Namibia is the Namibian Dollar (NAD) which is fixed to, and therefore equivalent to, the South African Rand (ZAR). MasterCard and Visa (both with raised credit card numbers so that an imprint may be taken) are generally accepted throughout Namibia.

What do I pack for a safari in Namibia?

We advise guests to wear comfortable and casual clothing while on safari. Neutral colours are best for game viewing. You may also want to pack swimming gear and clothing suitable for adventuring. Game drives usually take place in the early morning and late afternoon, which can be cold, especially in winter. Temperatures usually warm up during the day, so it is best to dress in layers.