Namibia in facts

Quick selection:

Climate
Economy
Electrical appliances
Entry requirements
Fauna
Flora
Foreign representation

General
Infrastructure
International telephone code
Medical & Emergency Services
Money matters
Nature
Population

Public transport
Social infrastructure
Tax and customs
Time zone
Water
What to pack

General

Area: 824.268 km²
Capitol city: Windhoek
Independence: March 21, 1990
First president: Sam Nujoma
Multiparty parliament
Democratic constitution
Division of power between executive, legislature and judiciary
Seculary state - freedom of religion (90% Christians)
Freedom of the press/media

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Population

1,83 million citicens
Density: 2,2 per km²
13 religions
Windhoek: 240.000 inhabitants (15% of total)
Official language: English
13 ethnic cultures
16 languages and dialects
Literacy rate: 65%
Life expectency: 56 years
Population growth rate: 2,9%
1.450 schools
94% of children attending school

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Nature

Nature reservates: 15% of Namibian area (105.559 km²)
Highest mountain: Brandberg 2.579 m
Additional mountains: Spitzkoppe 1.728 m and 1.584 m,
Moltkeblick 2.480 m, Gamsberg 2.349 m
Rivers: Oranje - border river on the south to South Africa; Kunene, Okavango, Sambesi und Kwando/Linyanti/Chobe - border rivers on the north to Angola, Sambia and Botswana
Periodically rivers (among others): Fish River, Kuiseb,
Swakop and Ugab 

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Infrastructure

5.450 km (3.386 miles) tarred roads
37.000 km (22.990 miles) gravel roads
Main harbours: Walvis Bay, Lüderitz
Airports and airstrips:
Windhoek main airport: Hosea Kutako International Airport (approx. 40 km / 25 miles off Windhoek) and Eros Airport
Airstrips: 46 (Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Lüderitz, Katima Mulilo, Mokuti Lodge, Ondangwa, Rosh Pinah, Lianshulu and others)
Rail network: 2.382 km (1.480 miles) narrow gauge
6.2 telephone lines per 100 inhabitants
Direct-dialling facilities to 221 countries
Mobile communication system: GSM
Agreements with 40 countries/80 networks
Postal Service affiliated to Universal Postal Union

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Flora

14 vegetation zones
120 species of trees
200 endemic plants species
100 species of lichen
Living fossil plant: Welwitschia mirabilis

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Fauna

Big game:
Elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, leopard,
giraffe
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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Economy

Main sectors: Mining, Fishing, Tourism and 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$ 11.736

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Entry requirements

Passport - valid six months after date of departure.
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 and Zimbabwe.
For further information contact:
Ministry of Home Affairs, Phone: +264 (0) 61 / 2 92 21 02

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Foreign representation

More than 50 countries do have consular or embassy representations in Windhoek.
For information contact:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Information and Broadcasting,
Phone: +264 (0) 61 / 2 82 91 11

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Social infrastructure

One medical doctor per 3.650 people
Windhoek: two privately run hospitals with Intensive-care units
Medical practitioners-world standard
24 hours medical emergency services

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Medical & Emergency Services

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What to pack

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, swimsuit, binoculars, sun hat and sunglasses, sun block, mosquito repellent and battery-operated or conventional razors for visiting remote areas.

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Money matters

Currency: The Namibian Dollar (N$) is fixed to and equals the South African Rand.
The Namibian Dollar and South African Rand are the only legal tender in Namibia. The Namibia Dollar, however, is not a legal tender in South Africa. 
Traveller’s cheques, foreign currency, International credit cards such as Visa, Master Card, American Express and Diners Club are accepted.
Travellers cheques in foreign currency can be exchanged during banking hours, weekdays from 09:00-15:30 and Saturdays from 08:30-10:30 at any commercial bank in most towns.
Change offices are located at the International Airport and in the Levinson Arcade in Windhoek.
No credit cards accepted at petrol service stations!
Personal cheques and foreign currency or foreign Travellers Cheques are NOT accepted at rest camps.

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Public transport

Public transport is NOT available to all destinations in Namibia. Bus service from Windhoek - Cape Town, Johannesburg, Victoria Falls and Swakopmund. Namibia’s main railway line runs from the South African border, connecting Windhoek to Swakopmund 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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Tax and customs

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Electrical appliances

220/240 volts. Outlets selling adapters to the round 3-pin, 15-amps type, the same as in South Africa.

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Water

Most tap water is purified and safe to drink. But visitors should be careful in rural areas.

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Time zone

Summer time: GMT +2 hours from the 1st Sunday in September to the 1st Sunday in April.

Winter time: GMT +1 hour from the 1st Sunday in April to the 1st Sunday in September.

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International telephone code

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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Climate

Namibia enjoys ample sunshine most of the year.
(Hints: Wear a hat and sunglasses and always apply sun block before going out.)

The average annual rainfall varies from 50 mm at the coast to 350 mm in the central highlands and 700 mm in the north east.

Here a table with average temperatures in °C