Namibia Attractions

Namibia sits on the southwestern coast of Africa facing the Atlantic Ocean. Zambia and Angola are the countries bordering on the north. The eastern border is shared with Botswana and South Africa lies to the south. Namibia even has provisions for conservation and protection of natural resources in its constitution, and takes pride in preserving the land, the flora and fauna native to the country. The sand, surf and landscape offers opportunity for a wide range of outdoor sport activities and adventures, but visitors should keep their camera ready.

Dolphin Tours Namibia

From the marina in Walvis Bay, guests can hire a guided cruise on a comfortable catamaran around the spectacular harbor. Friendly seals and dolphins come right up to the watercraft happy for a fish and ready to play. Pelicans, flamingos and other water birds as well as a variety of marine life can be observed on the ride. Cruises leave in the morning when the most marine life and birds are active. To end the trip, a light lunch is served on board and beverages.
Equitrails Namibia

Because the horses are gentle and the instructor is patient and knowledgeable, taking the horses out over the hills and mountains is wonderful activity for experienced horse riders and for those who do not have any experience. This ride at Elisenheim Guest Farm outside of Windhoek is much more than just following a short trail. It is a horseback ride in the wild with animals and birds everywhere to be discovered.

 

Living Desert Adventures

In Swakopmund, a desert expert will take passengers on a tour through the desert to find many animals and small reptiles including chameleons, geckos, and spiders. The four hours fly by as the friendly guide makes frequent stops and enthusiastically discovers a wide variety of wildlife and lets guests get up close to them. The tour guide’s tales of the natural, wild desert life are entertaining, fascinating as well as educational.

 
Namiba Sky Balloon Safaris

Near Windhoek in a balloon at sunrise, passengers float over the amazing Sossusvlei area watching the changing early morning sky and the varying terrain below with desert, river beds, trees, mountains and sand dunes. The balloon passes over birds, herds of springbok and other animals. In the desert where the balloon lands, a breakfast awaits with lovely foods like croissants, fruit salad and champagne.

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Windhoek, Namibia

 
Old German colonialism blends with modern design in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city. It is situated in and airy basin in the central highlands amid rolling mountains. Windhoek is the perfect place to begin or end a Namibian holiday. Its laid-back atmosphere warmly encompasses the funky, eclectic inhabitants. It is one of the most relaxing and safest cities in Southern Africa and provides a conduit to Etosha National Park, Namib-Naukluft Park, and the resort town of Swakopmund with a multitude of adventure activities.

Despite its small population Windhoek boasts a complex history intertwining a variety of “native” backgrounds. People within the city vary from the fairest blondes to the deepest black skin tones, and all combinations in between. Women display intricate hairstyles and local residents from outside the city often wear traditional dress from their tribal background.

The town center provides quaint shops and market stalls perfect for the pedestrian only traffic. “People watching” exists as the perfect pastime while patrons enjoy the multitude of diverse cafes. The cafes become even more popular between December and February. During the hot days they make unique places to enjoy a cold drink and when the high altitude and humidity cause temperatures to drop, a cool breeze makes the café atmosphere pleasantly cooled.

Windhoek was situated near the epicenter of the country due to planning by the Germanic colonial settlers. Summer downpours are regular occurrences. The moisture evaporates quickly so the dampness doesn’t last long. Weather in winter become very cold during the night forming frost in low lying areas, but the warmth of the sunny days makes travel still enjoyable at that time of year.

The size of Windhoek is small for a capital city with only 200,000 residents. The city is growing rapidly because there are few employment opportunities in the rural surroundings. Windhoek is an extremely clean, safe city unlike some other areas in Africa. Several significant historical buildings are worth visiting: Alte Feste (the old fort), the parliament buildings (Tintenpalast), and Christuskiche are only a few. The old fort currently houses the National Museum emphasizing Namibia’s struggle for freedom and Namibian independence.

The nightlife in the center of the city makes popular bars, restaurants and nightclubs rock year round. This socialization has spread beyond the city center into the suburbs and nearby townships. Nightlife can continue throughout the weekend and visitors can be in for the time of their lives. Windhoek houses Namibia’s brewing industry which adds to the atmosphere of gaiety. There are banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, bakeries, clothes shops, the Maerua Mall where one can utilize the indoor swimming pool and gym or shop ‘til you drop. This city is a holiday in and of itself.

Travelerscan stay in a variety of places ranging from hostels for backpackers, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses to luxury hotels. Windhoek sponsors a German carnival complete with bread, sausage and beer. This demonstrates that the German influence continues to be cultivated in this unique capital city.

 

 

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Namibia

Namibia, a country on the south western coast of Africa, is officially named the Republic of Namibia. Formally a part of South Africa, the country gained independence in 1990 after the Namibian War of Independence. Today, the country is a member of the United Nations. Namibia's economy is still closely tied to South Africa, but it struggles with poverty. With a population of around two million people, the economy is fueled by livestock, agriculture, tourism and mining. Base metals along with gold, uranium and silver are mined. A land that receives abundant sunshine over three hundred days per year, Namibia, Africa, with its coastline and islands, as well as the dry Kalahari Desert, has people and wildlife that have lived in their environment since ancient times. Before the 1400s A.D., Namibia was home to several different native peoples, and the last of these were the Bantu tribes. In the late 1400s, explorers from Portugal landed and scouted the countryside. Still, it was not until the 1800s that European settlers and traders made their homes in the region. Most of these people were from Sweden and Germany. Germany claimed the area a German colony in 1884. In 1915, South Africa took over the country when Germany was defeated in World War I. By the mid-1900s, the people of the country were tired of foreign rule and began working for independence. The struggle continued through the 1980s before 1990 when independence was won. Successful at transitioning into an independent nation, today Namibia is bordered by Angola, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. The capital of the country is located in Windhoek, with Namibia striving to reach out to its neighbors and the United Nations with goodwill and reconciliation. A presidential and democratic government, the president serves a term of five years as head of government and state. A small army of just over seven thousand men and women form the Namibian Defence Force. Namibia has a diverse environment geographically and culturally. The region has five distinct geographical areas including the Kalahari Desert, the Great Escarpment, the Central Plateau, the Bushveld and the Namib Desert. Most of the educational institutions for young people are state run, but some private schools do exist. The most popular sport in the country is football and has a team that competes with other African nations. Other sports are rugby, cricket, inline hocky and more.

In Namibia's constitution, provision is made for protecting natural resources and providing for conservation. Because of the emphasis on conservation, Namibia is an exciting country to visit with its abundance of wildlife and diverse terrain. Many lodges cater to eco-tourism. Extreme and adventure sports found in the region provide opportunities for 4 x 4 tours, sand boarding and backpacking. Some of the highest sand dunes in the world are found in Namib-Naukluft National Park. Some of the other popular places to see in the country are the Skeleton Coast Park, Fish River Canyon, and Caprivi Strip. Visitors can discover the land and people of Namibia, get back to the simple natural life, and take time for viewing spectacular sunsets over dunes or the Atlantic Ocean.

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