Namibia Travel and Tourism Information

Namibia

Blogs

Namibia travel blogs from TravelBlog.org.

Encyclopedic Information on Namibia

Namibia country profile from the BBC.
Namibia information from MSN Encarta encyclopedia.
- Kalahari Desert.
- Namib Desert.
- Okavango River.
- Orange River.
- Windhoek.
- Zambezi River.
Namibia information from Yahoo! encyclopedia.
- Caprivi Strip.
- Keetmanshoop.
- Tsumeb.
- Windhoek.

Government

Republic of Namibia Government. "Namibia is a country of compelling beauty, abundant sunshine, and a feeling of unconfined space. With its un spoilt landscapes and large variety of game, Namibia is one of the larger countries in Africa, and draws an increasing number of visitors from various parts of the globe.

A sense of freedom is generated by the wide horizons, the clear unpolluted skies and a population density which is among the lowest in the world. This feeling of tranquility and stillness combines with a landscape which is singular in it's colours, full of contrasts of light and shade. In addition, the diversity of it's people creates a rich blend of cultures and traditions.

Namibia has a colourful and turbulent history. In the mid-19th century, German missionaries opened up the interior, paving the way for traders who came later. The annexation of the country by Germany in 1884 accounts for the distinctive German architecture and traditions.

After a turbulent past, the country at last became independent on 21 March 1990, and is now peacefully approaching the twenty-first century.

Dunes The Namib Desert offers unbounded space and ever varying colours. Some of the world's highest sand dunes can be found at Sossusvlei in the South.

Namibia is known for its contrasting landscapes. There is the brooding desolate Namib Desert, said to be the oldest in the world, with its high dunes and awe inspiring sense of space. The central plateau, with its thornbush savanna and rugged mountains, rising abruptly from the plains, gives way to the majestic Fish River Canyon in the South. In the North of the country, landscapes range from dense bush and open plains of the great Etosha pan, to woodland savanna and lush riverine vegetation. Dinosaur footprints preserved in the sandstone, pre-historic rock art, and the ancient fossil plant, Welwitschia mirabilis, bear witness to the aeons past in this - "the ageless land".

All these facts combine in a country which can justifiably be known as "Africa's Gem" Namibia is the first country in the world to include protection of the environment and sustainable utilization of wildlife in its constitution. About 15,5% of the country has been set aside as National Parks. In these areas, rare and endangered species of animals, birds and plant life are preserved and protected. They serve as a living reminder to us all, and to the generations of the future, of how it once was in Africa.

Most of the African game species are well represented in Namibia, with the largest concentration in the Etosha National Park which is firmly entrenched on the world map of international parks. Etosha provides memorable experiences.

Cheetah Namibia is home to the largest population of cheetah still in existence. These predators are known for their grace, beauty and speed, and concerted efforts are being made to preserve the species in the wild.

A waterhole at dawn with a medley of giraffe, zebra, rhino, graceful antelopes and a solitary hyena is like a finely etched painting of African wildlife.

Wilderness and modern amenities co-exist happily in this land of vivid contrasts. Visitors to Namibia can see the country by means of comfortable coach tours, fly-in safaris, self-drive tours, or guided tours tailored to suit individual needs. For the more adventurous, there are wilderness safaris and hiking trails.

A large number of comfortable guest farms are found all over the country, where guests share the table with their hosts, and you are assured of personal attention, typical Namibian hospitality, and the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the country and its people. Privately-owned game ranches offer controlled, professional services to trophy and meat hunters. Photographic safaris can also be arranged.

In Namibia, not only hotels, but all other accommodation establishments including rest camps, caravan parks, guest farms, and safari companies, are graded according to the services offered. Regular inspections to ensure that each establishment complies with expected standards, are carried out by officials from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism."

Maps

View Larger Map

High quality up-to-date maps of Namibia from Maps.com the online map store.
University of Texas at Austin Maps of Namibia;
- Namibia (Political) 1990 (168K)
- Namibia (Shaded Relief) 1990 (332K)
- Namibia (Small Map) 2003 (11K)
- Namibia: Homelands 1978 (552K)
- Namibia: Walvis Bay (Political) 1978 (188K)

News

Travel and tourism news about Namibia from Google News.

Photographs

Namibia photographs from Flickr.com.
Namibia photographs from Google Images.

Reservations

Travelconsumer.com reservations page. Airline, hotel, car, and other reservations.

Tourism

Namibia Ministry of Environment and Tourism. "Namibia is known for its contrasting landscapes. There is the brooding desolate Namib Desert, said to be the oldest in the world, with its high dunes and awe inspiring sense of space. The central plateau, with its thornbush savanna and rugged mountains, rising abruptly from the plains, gives way to the majestic Fish River Canyon in the South. In the North of the country, landscapes range from dense bush and open plains of the great Etosha pan, to woodland savanna and lush riverine vegetation. Dinosaur footprints preserved in the sandstone, pre-historic rock art, and the ancient fossil plant, Welwitschia mirabilis, bear witness to the eons past in this - 'the ageless land'."
Namibia Tourism Board. "Namibia never fails to enthrall its visitors, to charge the fantasies and imaginations of narrators in their efforts to aptly describe the many-facetted grandeur and harsh splendor of this desert country. So many words have been written and told, and still poets do not tire to invent attributes to do justice to its unique, ever-varying magnificence."