Namibia

Namibia is located in South West Africa. Namibia borders on the southern Atlantic Ocean and lies between Angola and South Africa. Namibia also shares borders with Botswana and Zambia. The area of Namibia is 824,269 square kilometers. Namibia is approximately 20 times the size of the Netherlands, but there are approximately 2.3 million people living there.

Namibia probably consists of desert and semi desert areas. In the north you will find a tropical swamp area. The Namib desert known for its red dunes lies on the coastal area. An elongated plateau runs from north to south interspersed with peaks of over two thousand meters. The highest peaks of Namibia are located in the center of the plateau, with the Auasberge (2484 meters) and Brandberg (2610 meters) as its highlights. In the east you will find a desert area gradually descending from the plateau and a spur of the Kalahari desert.

Apart from along the long Atlantic coastline in the west, there is not much water to be found in Namibia. Most rivers that flow towards the ocean fall dry for part of the year and sometimes do not reach the sea. Important rivers that flow all year round are the Kunene, along the Angolan border, and the Orange River that forms the border with South Africa. A tributary of the Orange River, the Nossob, is the most important in the country.

Namibia mainly has a desert climate. The whole country is very dry. In the southern coastal areas, no more than 150 millimeters of rain falls per year. The most rain falls between January and April. Because Namibia is in the southern hemisphere, December is the hottest month. On average it will be thirty degrees in the country, with peaks to 45 degrees in the Kalahari and Namib desert. In some periods it can also freeze in the desert. On the coast it is often somewhat cooler, so that e.g. Swakopmund is a popular beach destination in December.

Many animals live in the southern steppes, savannas and semi-deserts. You can find giraffes, skewers, elephants, lions, zebras and cheetahs here. There are a large number of game parks in Namibia. The most famous wildlife park Etosha is located in the north.

The most important sights in Namibia are the capital Windhoek, the Etosha National park in the north, the Fish River Canyon in the south of the country and the Sossusvlei near the town of Sesriem.

Useful information:

The currency in Namibia is the Namibian Dollar (N $) which has the same value as the South African Rand. Credit cards are generally accepted and you will find ATM cash machines in larger places. Payment by debit card (debit card) is also possible at most major supermarkets and restaurants. You can pay with Namibia in Namibia but not with the Namibian dollar in South Africa!
English, German and Afrikaans are spoken in Namibia, but various indigenous languages can also be heard in daily life.
In order to visit Namibia by car from South Africa, you need to apply for car documents before departure. Some car and camper rental companies impose strict restrictions on the roads that you can drive with your vehicle, this is especially true for non-4×4 cars and campers. Ask our travel consultants about the 4×4 cars or campers that are suitable for your travel route!
Note: From now on you are no longer allowed to take plastic bags to the national parks. All bags are taken at the gate.