Namibia's name was derived from Namib desert, which is believed to be the oldest desert in the world. This special geological feature is renowned for the pristine and haunting high quality of its landscape. It's this feature that characterizes the country most, and is dwelling to some of the country's leading tourist destinations, notably Sossusvlei, Sandwich Harbour and the Skeleton Coast Park.
Far from becoming lifeless and barren, the desert attributes an unusual range of desert-adapted flora and fauna, such as a substantial number of endemic plant, bird, reptile and insect species. Quite a few of these species are of specific scientific interest and attract scientists from all more than the globe.
CAPITAL: Windhoek
CLIMATE: Namibia has a dry climate common of a semi-desert country exactly where droughts are a normal occurrence. Days are mainly warm to incredibly hot, even though nights are generally cool. Average day temperatures in the summer vary from 20°C - 34°C and typical night temperatures in the winter differ from 0°C - 10°C. There are vast differences among the arid southern desert and semi-desert areas and the tropical north-east with its abundant summer rains. The perfect time to pay a visit to Namibia is Apr-Oct.
CURRENCY: 1 Namibia Dollar = 100 cents. Rands are accepted as legal tender. Traveller's cheques are accepted almost everywhere. German Marks, USD or Swiss Franc traveller's cheques are recommended. In general, credit cards are accepted by most hotels as nicely as in Namibia Wildlife Resorts where MasterCard, Visa, (Diners Club and Amex not generally), Namibian Dollars, Rand traveller's cheques and bank guaranteed cheques are accepted. Credit cards are not accepted for fuel.
ELECTRICITY: 220 volts, 50Hz. Plugs are three-pin round.
Health: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers more than 1 year of age coming from infected areas. Guests are advised to take pre-arrival precautions against malaria (risk exists Nov-Jun in the northern regions such as Ovamboland and the Caprivi Strip as well as in Omaheke and Otjozondjupa and throughout the year along the Kavango and Kunene rivers), hepatitis A, polio and typhoid. Tap water is safe.
LANGUAGE: English is the official language. In shops, hotels and restaurants, Afrikaans and German are often spoken.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: New Years' Day (1 Jan) Independance Day (21 Mar) Fine Friday (9 Apr) Easter Monday (12 Apr) Labour Day (1 Might) Cassinga Day (4 May possibly) Ascension Day (20 May well) Africa Day (25 May possibly) Heroes Day (26 Aug) Goodwill Day (7 Oct) Human Rights' Day (ten Dec) Christmas Day (25 Dec) Boxing Day (26 Dec).
SHOPPING: woodcarvings basketry pottery fur coats & jackets, particularly Swakara gold jewellery individually-designed hand-woven carpets and wall hangings created from karakul wool Namibian semi-precious stones and diamonds Herero dolls.
SOCIAL CONVENTIONS: There is a Christian majority. Western customs and courtesies are observed. Business suits are worn in winter in summer, safari suits are acceptable.
TIME Distinction: GMT +2 (GMT +1 in the course of Apr-Aug)
TIPPING: 10 percent of the bill is customary.
Top TEN ATTRACTIONS DESCRIPTION:
Windhoek:
The capital a modest, bustling city with a 'continental' atmosphere various sights including the Gibeon Meteorite Fountain, National Art Gallery of Namibia, Tintenpalast, Namibia Craft Centre and National Botanical Garden shopping.
Fish River Canyon:
1 of Namibia's most spectacular geological phenomena contains Ai-Ais Hot Springs, rugged mountainland, Fish River Canyon (second largest gorge in Africa) and Huns Mountains with isolated and otherworldly landscape and wealth of interesting xerophytic plants seasoned hikers regard the 4-5 day trail as one of southern Africa's key challenges.
Sossusvlei-Namib:
Naukluft Park Monumental dunes lie at the finish of an erosional trough formed by the Tsauchab River they are star-shaped.
Etosha National Park:
Namibia's initial conservation area and 1 of the largest game reserves in Africa its definitive feature is the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow depression of approx. 5000km² elephants here are reputed to be of the largest in Africa of the 114 mammal species found in the park, quite a few are rare and endangered bird life is intriguing during rainy season.
Skeleton Coast Park:
An aura of mystery and impenetrability surrounds this park with its quite a few shipwrecks, dense coastal fogs and cold sea breezes of unique interest are the clay castles of the Hoarusib, the salt pans close to Agate Mountain, the seal colony at Cape Frio and the remains of shipwrecks along the coast.
Caprivi Strip:
Lush riverine forests and seasonal flood plains some of southern Africa's best birding spots, specially the Caprivi Game Park recognized also for its arts and crafts e.g. pots and baskets with their distinctive beauty and symmetry shop at Lizauli Traditional Village and selection of craft centres other activities include things like angling e.g. tiger fishing and game viewing on boat cruises.
Luderitz-Kolmanskop:
Namibia's most well-known Ghost Town, situated in the Sperrgebiet approximately 10km from Lüderitz the museum recounts the history of this abandoned mining community.
Swakopmund:
Favorite due to the fact of its old-world charm and relaxed atmosphere distinct German colonial character historical buildings and modern day aquarium renowned for kudu leather shoes.
Cape Cross Seal Colony:
Residence to the biggest and the preferred-recognized of the 223 colonies of Cape fur seals which breed along the coast of South Africa and Namibia through Nov/Dec breeding season as countless as 150,000 seals gather here off the coast are protected bird islands.
Epupa Falls:
1 of Namibia's prime tourist spots a series of cascades where the Kunene River drops 60m more than a distance of about 1,5km, dividing into a multitude of channels and forming a myriad rock pools it is attainable to swim in these pools, but preserve a lookout for crocodiles.
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