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ABOUT NAMIBIA
 VISITOR INFORMATION
Visit the Namibia Tourism Board website here Location
Namibia is situated in the south western corner of Africa, bordering South Africa to the south,
Botswana to the east, Angola to the north, Zambia to the north east with the cold Atlantic ocean
forming its western boundary.
Area size
The total area size of Namibia is approximately 825 418 sq km of which 38,3% is under formal
conservation management status consisting of: 16,5% national parks and game reserves, 6,1% freehold
conservancies, 1,3% tourism concessions and community forests and a further 14,4 % communal
conservancies.
Climate
Namibia is renowned for good weather. Visitors can expect to experience sunshine more than 300 days a
year with the occasional thunder showers from January to March/April. Rainfall may vary from more than
500mm in the North and North-east to less than 50mm in the western desert parts of Namibia.
Natural Resources
The country is rich in natural resources, i.e. copper, lead, tin, lithium, zinc, vanadium, cadmium,
salt, natural gas, hydro power and fish. Visitors are especially drawn to the high quality of gold and
diamonds.
Population
Namibia's population is slightly more than 2 million, with 15% living in the capital Windhoek. The
current growth rate is approximately 2,9%. The country is divided in 13 regions and 13 ethnic cultural
groups. 16 languages and dialects exist and the current literacy rate is approximately 65%.
Language
English is the official language.
Economy
The main sectors are mining, fishing, tourism and agriculture. Almost half the population is dependant
on subsistence agriculture for its livelihood; the economy however is heavily dependant on the mining
and processing of minerals for export.
Currency
The Namibian Dollar (N$) is fixed to and equals the South African Rand, which is also legal tender in
Namibia. Travellers' cheque and foreign currency can be exchange during banking hours: weekdays from
09h00 - 15h30 and Saturdays from 08h30 - 10h30. A Bureau de Change office is also available at the
Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Medical care
International standard privately-run hospitals are situated in Windhoek, central Namibia, Otjiwarongo,
northern Namibia and Walvis Bay, western Namibia. Qualification of medical practitioners' measure up
to International standards. Medical emergency intervention and evacuation services are on call 24 hours
a day with ICU facilities, which evacuate patients by airplane, helicopter and/or ground transport.
Time zone
Summer: First Sunday in September to first Sunday in April - 2 hours in advance of Greenwich Mean TimeWinter: First Sunday in April to first Sunday in September - 1 hour in advance of Greenwich Mean Time Postal and Telecommunications
Namibia has its own Satellite-Earth station and an international exchange with one of the most advanced
telecommunication infrastructures in Africa. The cellular Service Provider operates a GSM Network and
agreements with 40 countries and 80 networks. The Postal service affiliated with Universal Postal Union.
Legal System
Based on the Roman-Dutch Law and the 1990 Constitution
History and Political Situation
Diego Cao, the Portuguese navigator landed and planted a stone cross (Padre) at Cape Cross in 1486. South
Africa occupied the German colony of Sud-West Afrika during World War I and administrates it as a mandate
until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. South West Africa received it independence on the
21st March 1990.
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