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Capital

Time

It is 2 hours behind Moscow. From April to October, the clocks change to summer time (+1 hour to standard time).

Geographical location of Namibia

Namibia is located along the Atlantic Ocean in southwest Africa. It borders Angola, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. From the west the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, in the south it is bounded by the Orange River, in the north by the lower reaches of the Kunene River.

Climate of Namibia

Tropical, very dry, influenced by the cold Benguela Current of the Atlantic Ocean. In the northeast of the country it is subtropical, with strong continental characteristics. The average temperature in summer (December-April) is +28-32 C (in the north up to +38 C), at night +15-20 C (in desert areas the temperature at night can drop sharply to 0 C). In winter, respectively, +15-20 C and about 0 C at night. The "rainy season" lasts from November to March-April. The amount of precipitation ranges from 10-50 mm. per year on the coast (they often fall here only in the form of fogs) up to 400-600 mm. in the extreme northeast. Cold winds constantly blow on the coast.

The best time to visit the country is the dry winter season between May and October.

National parks and reserves in Namibia

One of the “pearls” of Namibia is Etosha National Park (“Great White Place”), which occupies an area of ​​more than 22 thousand square meters. km. in the northern part of the country, around the huge tectonic depression of Etosha Pan (millions of years ago it was a vast lake), which during the rainy season accumulates water, so necessary for local living creatures. The park is famous for its flora and fauna (114 species of mammals, 50 species of snakes and 340 species of birds). This is the habitat of many thousands of representatives of South African flora and fauna, a major tourist center with many natural and artificial reservoirs, some of which are even illuminated at night for ease of photography, a developed recreation infrastructure and even its own Ecological Institute in Okakeho and Fort Namutoni (early 20th century .).

In the city of Otjiwarongo there is a Cheetah Conservation Center with a herding dog nursery and the only Crocodile Farm in the country where Nile alligators (up to 30 thousand individuals) are bred.

The Waterberg Plateau National Park was founded in 1970 on the territory of the rock massif of the same name east of Otjiwarongo. Waterberg is smaller than Etosha Park, but has subtropical vegetation and a wetter climate. Here, in the natural environment, you can see about 25 species of mammals and more than 200 species of birds, including white and black rhinoceroses listed in the Red Book, many antelopes, buffalos, kudu, gemsbok gazelles, giraffes and leopards. There are many beautiful walking and trekking routes throughout the reserve.

In the north-eastern part of the country, in the territory of the Caprivi district, deeply jutting between Angola, Zambia and Botswana, there are two more excellent nature reserves - Kudom and Caprivi, protecting the natural environment between the Okavango and Chobe rivers.

Along the entire northern part of the country’s coast stretches another exotic area - the Skeleton Coast. To the north of Torra Bay, the Skeleton Coast is considered a West Coast National Park and is allowed to visit only as part of organized tour groups; the southern part is more accessible, but to visit it you must also issue a special permit (“permit”). North of Movie Bay, access to the park is closed.

In the very center of the Namib Desert, the Namib-Naukluft National Park has been operating since 1979 - one of the largest nature reserves in the world (23 thousand sq. km.). Here, oddly enough to see it in such a hot and dry climate, you can find elephants, lions, rhinoceroses and giraffes, as well as the national symbol of Namibia - the unique plant “welwitschia mirabilis” or “desert rose”, individual specimens of which are up to 2 thousand years old . years. Within the park there are many unique landscape monuments - the Welwitschia Plains, the Naukluft Mountains, the “bird paradise” of the Sandwich Harbor lagoon, the Sesrim Canyon up to 30 m deep and the colossal dune area around the Sossusvlei oasis. During the rainy season, Sossuflei attracts amateur ornithologists, as many birds, including the famous flamingos, flock to the Chauchab River delta.

Life of people in Namibia

Population

About 1.95 million people. The country's population is divided into 9 ethnic groups, 6 of which belong to the Bantu family (Ovambo, Herero, etc.), 3 to the Khoisan language family (Hottentot-Nama, Bushmen, etc.). Also, about 75 thousand people from Europe live in the country (Afrikaners, Germans, English, Italians, Portuguese, Russians, etc.).

Political state

According to the Constitution adopted on February 9, 1990, Namibia is a mixed parliamentary-presidential republic. The head of state is the president (elected for a five-year term). The legislative body is a bicameral parliament (National Assembly - 72 seats, and the advisory National Council - 26 seats). Administratively, the country is divided into 13 regions ("district").

Language in Namibia

The official languages ​​are Afrikaans and English; German, Oshiwango, Herero, Kavango, Nama, Damara and Ovambo are widely spoken.

Religion in Namibia

Christians - up to 90% (mainly Protestants and Catholics), the rest are adherents of traditional local beliefs.

Namibian cuisine

The country's culinary traditions are quite interesting and varied. For centuries, local cuisine developed under conditions of a fairly severe shortage of products - the arid climate did not allow the cultivation of agricultural crops in sufficient quantities on local lands. With the arrival of the colonialists, European methods of cooking were introduced into Namibian cuisine, which, coupled with local traditions, gave a wide variety of recipes. And at the same time, the influence of South African cuisine is great, where in addition to the above factors there are also strong national elements introduced by immigrants from the countries of Southeast Asia and Central Africa.

To prepare meat dishes, they use beef and lamb, antelope, crocodile, ostrich, zebra and other game, as well as poultry. In the interior of the country, eggs of almost all species of birds and some species of arthropods (ants, termites, etc.) are eaten. Traditional "braaifleis" (barbecue), hard sausages with spices "druevors" and "landjager", stewed meat with spices "poikikos", chicken on the grill or fish cooked over an open fire in a cast iron, a peculiar lamb pilaf "boboti", dried meat with spices "biltong", smoked meat "rauschfleich", stewed chicken with peanut butter, Cameroonian curry with couscous, charcoal-grilled game and other exotic dishes traditionally attract the attention of gourmets. There is always fresh bread on the table, a variety of pies and quite European-looking sandwiches. And at the same time, national restaurants specializing in German, Arabic, Indian and other cuisines are widely represented.

Fresh seafood abounds in this region all year round - lobster, squid, mussels, oysters from Swakopmund and Lüderitz, which are considered among the best in the world both in size and taste, as well as all kinds of fish. For exotic lovers, they will offer traditional local products - "mopane" or "omaungu" worms, "omaiowa" mushrooms, fried locusts and termite eggs, spicy "chakalaka", ostrich eggs baked on coals or a huge omelette made from them, traditional millet porridge " mahango" with butter and herbs or oatmeal "mieli", which are often used as a side dish, melons "tsamma" and "nara" (the latter is more like a large cucumber), snails fried with garlic, ostrich steak "Wienerschnitzel", shish kebab from "sosat" game, lion tenderloin or crocodile tail.

Vegetables are usually quite rare and expensive, they are served only in large restaurants and cafes, with the exception of asparagus and numerous local root vegetables and melons, which have a rather unusual taste. But local cheeses made from goat's and cow's milk are increasingly being used.

Springer chocolate, produced in Windhoek, enjoys well-deserved fame.

The country produces first-class beer, the best varieties of which are Windhoek Lager and Tafel Lager, although there are many home-made beers on the market that also have a good reputation. Omaruru grows grapes and produces Colambert and Cabernet wines, as well as Namibian grappa under the brand name "Crystal-Kellerai". Also interesting are the local watermelon wine “mataku” and the strong palm moonshine “ualende”.

Entertainment in Namibia

Official holidays and weekends in Namibia

January 1 - New Year.
March 21 is Independence Day.
April - Easter and Good Friday.
May 1 - Workers' Day (Labor Holiday).
May 4 - Kassing Festival.
May - Ascension.
May 25 is Africa Day.
August 26 is Heroes Day.
December 10 is International Human Rights Day.
December 25-26 - Christmas (December 26 - Family Day).
Many private companies close for the Christmas holidays from mid-December to mid-January; official institutions operate on duty during this time.

Festivals and holidays in Namibia

Every year in Namibia, the Windhoek Carnival (April) and Maherero Day are held in memory of the leaders of the popular movement killed by the colonialists (held on the last Sunday of August in Okahandya, and in October in Omaruru). Independence Day (March 21) is celebrated on a grand scale throughout Namibia. The Keste Carnival takes place in Swakopmund in August, and the huge Windhoek Show, Oktoberfest and Vika Autumn Carnival take place in October.

The shops

Open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 17.00 or 17.30, Saturday from 8.00 to 13.00, most shops are closed on Sunday. Grocery stores are open all week from 8.00 to 19.30 or 20.00. Stores selling alcoholic beverages are open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 18.30, Saturday from 8.00 to 13.00 and closed on Sunday.

Money in Namibia

Namibian dollar (international designation - NAD, domestically - N$), equal to 100 cents. The Namibian dollar is pegged to the South African rand, which is used on a par with the local currency. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 N$, coins in denominations of 1 (out of circulation), 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, as well as 1, 2 and 5 N$.

Contrary to the prevailing opinion that in a number of countries in southern Africa it is quite possible to get by with dollars and euros, in Namibia this is not the case. Tourists will be able to pay in US dollars in some hotels and lodges, but will not be able to in supermarkets and gas stations. You cannot pay with US dollars for entrance fees to national parks. Therefore, it is necessary to carry cash Namibian dollars with you.

Banking and currency exchange

Banks are open from 9.00-10.00 to 15.30-16.00 from Monday to Friday, on Saturday - from 8.30 to 11.00.

Currency exchange can be done at exchange offices at the international airport, as well as at banks and their branches throughout almost the entire country. It is not possible to pay in foreign currency (except, of course, the rand). As a rule, Namibian dollars cannot be exchanged back for hard currency.

Visa, Mastercard, Access, American Express and Diners Club credit cards, as well as traveler's checks, are accepted at most major hotels, stores, restaurants and gas stations. They can also be used to withdraw cash from First National Bank's ("BOB") ATM system, although withdrawals are limited to N$1,000 at a time, so larger amounts will require multiple transactions at a cost.

You can cash traveler's checks at bank offices (the commission is about 7%), but you may not have US dollars in cash at the bank, so such transactions should be carried out by calling the bank in advance. Preference is given to checks in US dollars and South African rands.

Exchange rate

Namibian dollar (NAD) / Ruble (RUB)

10 RUB = 2.22 NAD
1 NAD = 4.51 RUB

Namibian dollar (NAD) / American dollar (USD)

1 USD = 6.87 NAD
10 NAD = 1.46 USD

Namibian dollar (NAD) / Euro (EUR)

1 EUR = 9.09 NAD
10 NAD = 1.10 EUR

Communications and communications in Namibia

Internet

Russian operators do not have GPRS roaming. There are Internet cafes in Walvis Bay and Windhoek that provide Internet access.

cellular

Communication standard is GSM 900. Roaming is available to subscribers of major Russian operators.

There are several cellular communication companies operating in the country, providing fairly complete coverage of the country. MTC, which operates in the GSM-900 standard, has the widest network. To access a mobile phone, codes 8110, 8111, 8112, 812, 813 and 8150 are used.

Telephone communications

The country has a modern telephone network, connected into a single system with the Africa ONE and South African Far East (SAFE) telecommunications networks. To talk on a pay phone, you need a card (sold at post offices, gas stations and tobacco kiosks) or coins in denominations of 10 and 50 cents. Recently, phones that work with credit cards have begun to appear. The cost of a minute of conversation within the country is about 10 cents.

The international dialing code for Namibia is +264. The outgoing international code is 00. You can call abroad from a "card" pay phone, a call center (usually located at post offices) or from a hotel (the most expensive option - the cost of a minute of conversation with Moscow from a call center is about 11 Namibian dollars, from a hotel - up to 20).

Telephone codes of main cities: Windhoek - 61; Gobabis, Lenardville, Okahandia, Ochiwa, Rehoboth - 62; Aranos, Bethany, Keetmanshoop, Marienthal, Lüderitz - 63; Swakopmund, Walvis Bay - 64; Ogongo, Odibo, Okalongo, Ondangwa, Opuwo, Oshakati - 65; Nakayala, Nyangana - 66; Waterberg, Kalkfeld, Otjiwarongo, Rietfontein, Grootfontein, Tsumeb, Etosha National Park - 67. For domestic calls, add a zero to the area code.

Formalities and rules for entry into Namibia

Visas to Namibia

Russian citizens do not require a visa to visit Namibia for up to three months for tourism or business purposes.

When crossing the border you must present the following documents:

a foreign passport valid for at least six months from the end of the trip; migration card filled out in English.

A stamp (Visitors Entry Permit) is placed in the passport, which includes the purpose of the visit and the length of stay in the country.
Officially, the passport has the following requirement: the presence of at least two blank pages for stamping. However, in practice, border guards do not make claims against the passports of tourists that do not meet this requirement.

Medical certificates

Namibia is not on the list of countries that require a yellow fever vaccination certificate when visiting. However, it is important to remember that border guards have the right to require this certificate if the tourist arrives from countries endemic for yellow fever (Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mauritania, Mali , Niger, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Togo, Central African Republic).

Namibia Customs Regulations

There are no restrictions on the import and export of national and foreign currencies. The export of national currency is nominally limited to 50 thousand Namibian dollars, but since the Namibian dollar does not circulate outside the country, it is simply pointless to export it.

Up to 2 liters of wine, up to 1 liter of spirits, up to 400 pcs. are imported duty free. cigarettes, or 50 pcs. cigars, or 350 grams of tobacco; up to 50 ml of perfume and up to 250 ml of eau de toilette. Duty-free import of gifts is limited to 50 thousand Namibian dollars (including the cost of imported duty-free goods).

It is prohibited to import canned meat products, narcotic and explosive substances, weapons and ammunition without appropriate registration (subject to declaration). It is strictly prohibited to engage in independent mining and export of diamonds and minerals, as well as unlicensed hunting and export of hunting trophies without the appropriate permission from the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

How to get to Namibia

By plane

The easiest way is to fly any flight to Frankfurt or Athens, from where Lufthansa and Air Namibia fly to Windhoek 2-3 times a week.

By train

Currently, railway connections with South Africa are suspended due to the unprofitability of passenger services. At the same time, it makes sense to clarify the available information immediately before leaving - it is possible that train traffic will resume.

By bus

The bus company Intercape operates regular services between Cape Town and Windhoek. There are also regular services from Windhoek to Johannesburg and Pretoria. The fare is relatively high, for example a ticket from Johannesburg to Windhoek will cost $70-75 one way. Keep in mind that the distances are quite long and the journey can be very tiring. Airfare is often only slightly more expensive than bus travel.

By vehicle

By road you can enter through the territory of Angola (Oshikango and Ruachana checkpoints), Zambia (Katima-Mulio checkpoint), Botswana (Buitepos-Mamuno, Bagani-Shakawe and Ngoma checkpoints) and South Africa (there are several checkpoints, with Nordover and Nakop checkpoints operating around the clock).

By sea

It is possible to enter Namibia by sea through the port of Walvis Bay, where many ships from all over the world stop.

Safety

Namibia is considered the safest country in South Africa. The criminal situation in the country is very calm; you can walk along city streets almost without fear at any time of the day. Some signs of racial segregation in the country are quite noticeable - many establishments are still divided into “white”, “colored” and “black”, in some places there is a clear hostility of representatives of different races towards each other, but this is, rather, only a trace of past conflicts . The attitude towards foreigners is very good, and towards Russians - frankly positive (many of our sailors work in these waters, and the contribution of the countries of the former USSR to the establishment of Namibia's independence has not been forgotten).

Currency exchange and payments

When making payments in local currency, you should be especially attentive to the banknotes being handed in - the parallel circulation of the Namibian dollar and the South African rand creates a lot of difficulties - three series of banknotes and metal coins of different colors and designs are in circulation, and coins of the same denomination differ in size and appearance.

You should not change many local dollars at once - it is almost impossible to convert cash back, and, despite the officially identical exchange rate, in South Africa they will give only 0.7 rand for a Namibian dollar (therefore it is profitable to purchase Namibian currency in South Africa). If money is withdrawn from a BOB (First National Bank) ATM, then you should keep the ATM receipt - using it at the exit point, although with a large commission, you can theoretically make a reverse exchange. To exchange cash back for Namibian dollars, you can privately contact the crews of merchant and fishing vessels based in Walvis Bay.

Prices

Prices for all goods and services are frankly low. Business tax (15.5%) applies to most items and is not usually included in the price. Persons aged seventy and above, including foreigners, are given a discount of 20 to 70% in large stores, depending on the season.

Prohibitions

Movement throughout the country is free, with the exception of private properties, two diamond mining areas owned by the De Beers company (here it is strictly forbidden to pick up anything from the land), as well as some nature reserves. Visiting diamond-bearing areas is only possible with a special permit obtained through the Namibian police (can also be obtained in advance, at least a month before the trip, from the offices of local officially licensed tour operators).

The Skeleton Coast has been declared a national park, accessible only with a special permit (approximately $40 per person). Some areas adjacent to Angolan territory are recommended to be visited only in large groups, which must be accompanied by an armed escort of local security forces.

Camping

Entry to the country's national parks is limited. Admission is paid (from 5 to 30N$, tickets must be kept). The gates open at sunrise and close at sunset, and visitors to the park must leave the park, and only officially registered groups are allowed to remain in the park, but only within the camp. Tourists who do not have time to leave the park or return to the camp are subject to heavy fines. Such requirements are very reasonable, given the predominantly nocturnal lifestyle of most local predators. Reservations are recommended for camps and lodges within the parks, especially for the months of June through August.

Features of the trip

The locals are quite slow - to determine how soon the event promised by the Namibian will arrive, one should add three hours to the most pessimistic estimate of the wait. A sign saying "24 hour service" doesn't mean "24 hours a day," and "now" doesn't mean "immediately." National holidays often do not depend on the calendar and there is a high risk of seeing closed establishments on what appears to be a weekday. The word "safe" also means "safe for a local resident." Many Europeans simply will not survive in conditions that are so harmless for a Namibian.

Toponymy

The system of designating streets and houses in the country is close to the American one; streets running roughly from north to south are called “streets” and are designated by numbers, from west to east are called “roads”, having their own name or a similar digital designation. Addresses are often written as alphanumeric abbreviations. After independence, many streets in the city centers were renamed in honor of figures of the national liberation movement, which often creates confusion in the designation system - local residents use both new and old names interchangeably.

Water and food

Tap water is usually chlorinated, but can still cause stomach upsets. It is recommended to use bottled water. Pasteurized milk, dairy products, meat products, poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables are considered safe to eat, but heat treatment is recommended for all food products.

Tips

Tipping varies from area to area. Employees of hotels and lodges are entitled to about $1 per day, in restaurants - up to 5% of the bill, if tips are not included in the cost of service. Tipping is officially prohibited in national parks and reserves. Bargaining, especially in rural areas, is customary always and everywhere; in large stores prices are fixed, but often at the end of the day or week there are significant discounts.

Electricity

Electrical voltage 220 V, 50 Hz. Three-pin sockets.

Medicine and treatment in Namibia

Medical care is paid, on an insurance basis. International insurance is recommended.

Fever vaccination and malaria prevention are recommended. The risk of malaria, mainly severe malaria (P. falciparum), exists in the northern regions and in the Otjodzondjupa and Omaheke regions from November to June.

There is a risk of schistomatosis in the country (swimming in local freshwater bodies should be avoided), and there is also some risk of being attacked by a crocodile. Natural foci of hepatitis are also present. When traveling to inland areas, it is recommended to carry serums against snake and scorpion bites (usually they are included in the first aid kit included in the mandatory equipment of guides). The level of HIV infections is high.

Sights of Namibia

Namibia is a unique country with a rich flora and fauna, a rare combination of landscapes and geological structures. There are almost 365 sunny days a year, a long ocean coast, endless desert sands and green foothills, rich hunting grounds, a distinctive population and many natural monuments.

The Namib Desert is the main attraction of the country and the oldest desert in the world; its age is estimated by scientists at 60-80 million years. Stretching for 1600 km. Along the coast of the country, the desert amazes with the diversity of its landscapes - brown weathered rocks, numerous canyons of dry rivers, continuously moving huge dunes and vast gravelly wastelands interspersed with tiny oases. A completely dry area where not a drop of rain falls for years, the desert is nevertheless full of life and attracts thousands of tourists. In winter, thirsty animals gather around tiny ponds, where you can see and photograph almost all representatives of the Namibian fauna.

Northern Namibia is the country's main breadbasket and most densely populated region. There are few large cities here - the majority of the population (mostly belonging to the Ovambo tribe) lives on large farms and in small villages.

The city of Otjiwarongo ("beautiful") was founded in 1892. Despite the fact that the city is most often used as a transit point when traveling to national parks, it deserves some attention - the Cheetah Conservation Center with a herding dog nursery and the only farm in the country are located here crocodiles, where Nile alligators are bred (up to 30 thousand individuals). The vast expanses of "bushveld" that extend around the city are replete with many farms, the owners of which (mostly white) are happy to host tourists.

Damaraland is a desolate and mysteriously beautiful wilderness lying southwest of Otjiwarongo. The country's highest mountains (the Brandberg Massif, the Königstein, Spitzkopp and Pondox mountains) are adjacent to vast plains, dry river beds, framed by surprisingly lush vegetation, stretch through the waterless desert sands, and the laccoliths of Barnt Mountain and Organ Pipes, formed by volcanic activity, are cut waterfalls of rivers that came from nowhere. Of interest here are the rock paintings at Twifilfontein (dating back to the period 4-2 millennia BC), the colorful erosion forms of Vingerklip, the “Stone Forest” (a national reserve where you can see trees petrified 250-300 million years ago), dotted with petroglyphs (age from 7 to 20 thousand years ago) White Lady rocks, as well as the Spitzkopp Mountains (1728 m) and Pondox Peak (1692), excellent for mountaineering and trekking.

The towns of Ondangwa and Oshakati, north of Etosha Park, are major commercial centers and excellent places to explore the culture of the Ovambo people. Attractions in the area, in addition to the traditional markets, include the Olukonda National Monument and the Nakambale Museum - a monument and museum in the building of the first Finnish (!!) Christian mission in Ovamboland. The museum, along with the home of missionary Martti Rautenen, who earned the local nickname "Nakambale", showcases the culture of northern Namibia and the chronology of Ovamboland. Also interesting are the Ndonga farms, where you can try traditional dishes of local residents and get to know in practice a unique culture that has been developing for many hundreds of years in these harsh conditions. Also interesting are the Kunene Craft Center and the Kaoko Info Center in the capital of the Kaokoveld region - Opuwo.

Along the entire northern part of the country’s coast stretches another exotic area - the Skeleton Coast. This section of coastline, starting north of Swakopmund, is a long strip of coastal plains occupied by dunes, rock formations and areas of ancient volcanic activity. The wild and harsh region is considered one of the most untouched places on the planet by civilization. At 700 km. There are numerous areas of shipwrecks here - along the entire coast you can see the “ribs” of dead ships corroded by sea water (the dense fogs that are frequent in these places have “stranded” more than one hundred ships). You can see the colony of fur seals at Cape Cross (the second largest in the southern hemisphere), find ancient coins or other evidence of the past thrown up by a storm, admire the unreal landscape of a lifeless desert on the ocean shore, and also take a jeep ride through the dunes or hike along the most picturesque places of the park (medical certificate required). Wind, ocean currents and "swimming" sands constantly change the landscape of the Skeleton Coast - harbors become lagoons, coastal islands either disappear into the abyss or reappear. And thanks to the cool current, the coastal waters are one of the richest areas of the world's oceans with fish; for fishermen it is a real paradise.

Grootfontein ("great fountain") is a small town in the north of the country, founded by German settlers at the end of the 19th century. The quiet town, surrounded by bush and farms, is famous throughout the world for the fact that not far from it is the site of the fall of the world's largest meteorite, Hoba, which, by the way, is perfectly preserved. A meteorite weighing about 50 tons fell in these parts about 80 thousand years ago and today is a real place of pilgrimage for tourists. And the “German Fort”, built in 1896, now houses an exhibition at the Grootfontein Local History Museum.

Tsumeb is one of the most colorful cities in the northern part of the country. The difference between it and other Namibian cities can be felt almost immediately upon entering the city - the streets are straight and well-kept, there are many trees and parks, and children play football in the parks and ride bicycles. Real German "Ordnung" in its purest form. Despite the fact that Tsumeb is one of the centers of the mining industry in Namibia, the dust common in other northern cities is practically absent here, so expeditions heading to national parks like to stop here. In addition, the Tsumeb Museum on Main Street with an extensive collection on the history of the region, as well as the Center for Applied Arts with a large exhibition and sale of products of local craftsmen, are also interesting.

The central part of the country lies on a vast plateau of the same name, which slightly softens the heat and allows the development of industry, agriculture and tourism.

The capital of Namibia is Windhoek ("windy corner", more often its name is pronounced as "Winduk"), founded in 1840, located at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level between the Awas and Eros mountains. Being the largest city in the country, Windhoek has a population of only 300 thousand people), but it stretches for 15 km. from north to south and 10 km. - from west to east. It has a relatively mild climate and a fairly high amount of precipitation by local standards, which is why Windhoek is considered the “greenest” city in the country.

The city's attractions include the Old Fort (Alte Feste, 1880), numerous colorful mansions, almost castles, in the German style - Heinzburg (now a hotel), Sanderburg (private property) and Schwerinsburg (residence of the Italian ambassador), the building of the Supreme Court, Parliament in the Tinten Palace building, the presidential palace and the National Theater on Robert Mugabe Avenue, the meteorite exhibition on Post Street, the neo-Gothic Christukirche church and the colorful Lutheran church.

It is worth visiting the National Museum of Namibia (several halls are scattered throughout the city, including in the Old Fort), which has an exhibition telling about the nature, history and culture of the country, the National Gallery of Art with an extensive collection of African art, and the non-profit Folklore Center "Penduka" ( "Awakening"), the Warehouse "arts district" and the Namibian Crafts Center in Katatura, as well as the Omatako-Kurios gallery.

In addition, there are many modern hotels and restaurants, a wide variety of shops and markets, including such exotic ones as markets on the northern and southern exits of the city, as well as lively nightlife - clubs Chez Ntemba, Thriller Club, Tower Bar and the Li-Di-Da dance floor are well known far beyond the capital.

The reputation of the “green capital” is supported by a large water sports complex on Jean-Jonquer Road, Vernhill Park, Park Mall, Pioneer Park and many small garden areas (almost every yard has a small lawn or park, often with a swimming pool), as well as the Zoo and the extensive area of ​​the National Botanical Institute and its Gardens.

Around Windhoek there are several so-called “German farms” and numerous parks - Okapuka, Melrose, Dan Vilhun and others, on the territory of which safaris, observations of wild fauna are carried out, and hunting for animals allowed for shooting is also organized.

The small resort town of Rehoboth, located south of the capital, was founded in 1844. The resort was formed around hot mineral springs and is proud of the beautiful Rehoboth Museum, located in the residence of the city's first postmaster (1903). Another interesting place is the crater of the ancient extinct volcano Boukkaros with a diameter of more than 2 thousand meters, right next to the main highway leading from Windhoek to the “capital of the south” Keetmanshoop.

In Keetmanshoop itself, founded in 1866, interesting are the Rhine Mission Church (19th century), which houses the Keetmanshoop Museum, the Quiver Tree Forest National Monument (17 km northeast of the city) and the geological phenomenon in the form of pyramidal natural image of the giant boulders of the Giants Playground.

Walvis Bay is the main port and largest industrial center of Namibia, located 30 km away. south of Swakopmund. The city's attractions include Dune Seven (the highest dune in the region), the Walvis Bay lagoon ("Whale Bay"), where large herds of whales are often observed, and the "bird sanctuary" of the Ramsar Site lagoon, where more than 50 species of birds nest (here home to 70% of all flamingos in South Africa), an esplanade around the lagoons, from where you can observe the life of animals and birds even without binoculars, Salt Works salt mining areas with huge white towers of salt evaporated from sea water, numerous oyster farms, as well as the Dale resort Davel Adventure, specializing in active recreation, including various extreme sports.

The southern part of the country is dry and harsh, most of it (Sperrgebiet - “prohibited areas”) is inaccessible to tourists due to the diamond mines located here, access to which is prohibited. But nevertheless, there are many places worth visiting.

Lüderitz is a small port on the ocean. Founded by Bremen tobacco merchant Adolf Lüderitz in 1884, the city was the first German settlement in what was then Südwestafrika. And today it has become the largest center for lobster fishing and oyster farming in Africa. It is worth visiting the Felsenkirche church, the Goerke House on Diamond Hill (a telling name, isn't it?), the small private Lüderitz Museum and blocks of colonial-style houses preserved from the Gold Rush. On both sides of the city limits, the coast is a closed area, but extremely picturesque - rocks, caves, reefs, lagoons and many kilometers of wild shores, against which the mighty swells of the Atlantic Ocean are constantly breaking. A great variety of marine animals live here - sea lions at Diaz Point, flamingos at Grosse Bay, penguins on Halifax Island and numerous colonies of seabirds along the entire coast.

And, of course, it is worth visiting the abandoned towns and diamond mines south of Lüderitz - Elizabeth Bay, Pomona, Bogenfels and the famous “ghost town” of Kolmanskop. All these cities have a common romantic and sad history. At the beginning of the twentieth century, diamonds lying almost on the surface were discovered in these places, and streams of those hungry for profit poured into the “Diamond Coast”. In the area of ​​the mines, cities were founded, a railway was built, infrastructure was developed and they began to build houses, schools, hospitals, etc. But the diamonds quickly ran out, and sandstorms, lack of drinking water and heat drove local residents from their homes in search of richer deposits . Since then, amazing abandoned cities have stood in the middle of the desert.

The town of Ai-Ais, famous for its hot springs and the fact that it is here that the Fish River Canyon, considered the second largest in Africa after the Blue Nile Gorge in Ethiopia, originates, deserves a special photo. And not far from the Fish River itself, in the Apollo 11 cave discovered in 1969, there are the oldest rock paintings in Africa - their age is estimated at 27 thousand years.

Namibia Book of Records

Namibia is the most sparsely populated country in the world. It is also the African country that was the last to gain independence (1989).
The largest underground lake in the world is located in the Drachenhauhloch cave at a depth of 66 m (the lake area is 2.61 hectares).
In the Grootfontein area there is one of the largest meteorite craters on Earth - Hoba, with the largest known intact meteorite (2.7 x 2.4 m and weighing about 59 tons).

Resorts in Namibia

The small resort town of Swakopmund is 360 km away. west of Windhoek, and has long been the country's largest port. The city, founded by German colonists in 1892, is still an oasis of German culture, sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and the sea of ​​sand of the Namib Desert. With the gradual transfer of port functions to Walvis Bay, Swakopmund began to gain fame as a wonderful resort, turning into a “vacation and sedate city” with first-class infrastructure. It has a mild temperate climate (average annual temperature +15-25 C) with negligible rainfall, huge sand dunes stretch along the coast and many excellent places for sea fishing. In December-April, the water here warms up to 25-26 C, which makes the area so popular (the rest of the country’s coast, which is under the influence of the cold Benguela Current, has quite cold waters).

The Swakopmund Museum is one of the best in Namibia and boasts excellent exhibitions on local chronology, geology, ecology, ethnology and wildlife, as well as distinctive educational collections on dentistry and pharmaceuticals. Active recreational activities are extremely widely developed here - the coastal dunes have long been favored by lovers of skiing and sand surfing, hot air balloons and paragliders are constantly “hanging” in the sky, jeep safaris and sea cruises are organized, as well as fishing and water sports.

Transport in Namibia

Roads and driving rules

Car traffic is on the left. Most of the main roads are in excellent condition. When entering Namibia in a vehicle with foreign license plates, you must pay a toll of $24. The receipt of payment of the fee must be kept until leaving the country and handed over to customs.

Air transportation within Namibia

Internal communication is well established. The national airline Air Namibia (www. .na) operates flights throughout the country. The base airport is Windhoek, and flights between secondary points require a transfer in the capital. Regular flights operate from Windhoek to the following cities: Luderitz, Maun, Mpacha, Ondangwa, Oranjemund, Walvis Bay. However, air travel within Namibia is quite expensive due to the lack of competition. It is extremely unlikely to find even the shortest flight (Windhoek - Walvis Bay) for less than $150. Longer flights, say Windhoek - Katima-Mulilo, will cost $220-240 one way.

In addition, a number of small charter airlines organize seasonal and tourist flights to other cities and national parks, including for individual orders.

Air Namibia flies between Cape Town, Johannesburg, Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Orange Mouth, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Luderitz, Swakopmund, Oshakati and Tsumeb.

There are two airports in the capital - Kutako International Airport (40 km east of Windhoek), where planes arrive from Johannesburg and Frankfurt, and Eros Airport, serving regional and international flights.

Bus service in Namibia

The vast majority of passenger transportation in the country is carried out by motor transport. Namibia has a developed network of high-quality roads with a total length of more than 64.8 thousand km. The most common way to travel is by Intercape and Ekonolux buses (cheaper but less frequent), running between Windhoek and other Namibian cities, as well as Cape Town, Upington, Pretoria and Victoria Falls. A light breakfast is offered on some flights.

Urban transport

Urban transport is rather poorly developed. In addition to a few bus routes (for example, there is only one bus line in the capital), most of which serve only certain areas, there are also a few minibuses that serve mainly the area between airports and the city center.

Taxi

The main means of transportation in cities is a taxi. Taxis are quite numerous and cheap - the average fee does not exceed 1.5 Namibian dollars per kilometer plus N$5 for landing (after 22.00 the rate increases by 15%).

Railways and trains in Namibia

There is also a railway in Namibia. This is a very slow (average train speed is about 30 km/h), but very cheap type of transport (trains are freight and passenger, and therefore quite “noisy”). TransNamib Starline trains operate between most of the country's main cities, and have first class (a ticket costs around N$70 for cross-country) and second class (around N$50) carriages. Pensioners are entitled to a 33% discount on all types of tickets. On overnight flights, first class seats are converted into four berths, and second class seats into six. Children under 2 years old travel free of charge, from 2 to 11 years old - for half the fare.

The luxury tourist train The Desert Express operates regularly between Swakopmund and Windhoek, making several sightseeing stops along the way.

Car rental in Namibia

You can rent a car in all major cities at the offices of international rental companies (prices are high, almost like in Europe, you must have an international license), or in local companies (prices are very reasonable). In addition to the traditional fees, you must pay road tax (N$80) when renting a car.

Help numbers

Tourist Information Office (Windhoek)
Namibia Wildlife Authority (NWR) Office - 236-975...8 or 223-903.
Tourist Information Office 404-827 (Swakopmund), 209-170 (Walvis Bay), 202-719 and 202-622 (Lüderitz).
Telephone information service - 1188/1199.
Eros Airport (Windhoek2, 239-850.
Kutako Airport - (0, (0
Air Namibia - (0Eros), (Kutako).
South Africa Airways (in Namibia0.
Railway company TransNamib's Starline - , .
Bus company Intercape - (0
Bus company Ekonolux - (0

The Republic of Namibia is a country in southern Africa. The capital is Windhoek (210 thousand people with suburbs - 2002, estimate). Territory - 825.42 thousand square meters. km. Administrative division - 13 districts. Population - 2.03 million people. (2005, evaluation).

The official language is English. Religion - Christianity and traditional African beliefs. The currency is the Namibian dollar. National holiday - March 21 - Independence Day (1990). Namibia has been a member of the UN since 1990, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1990, and since 2002 its successor - the African Union (AU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) since 1994, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) since 1992, member of the Commonwealth (union of countries that were part of the British Empire) and
other international organizations.

Geographical location and boundaries.

Namibia is located in the southwestern part of the African continent. It borders on the southeast and south with South Africa, on the north with Angola, on the northeast with Zambia, and on the east with Botswana. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The length of the coastline is 1572 km.

NATURE

Coastline with a total length of approx. 1500 km leveled. There are only two convenient bays - Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, although approaches to them are complicated due to strong winds, sea swell, surf and constant fog. In the northern and southern regions the coast is composed of crushed stone and pebbles, and in the central regions it is sandy. In the area of ​​Walvis Bay, there is sometimes a dull rumble, the water boils and turns almost red, and masses of dead fish wash up on the shore. A column of fetid smoke mixed with hydrogen sulfide rises above the waves, and islands of sulfur form in shallow areas, which last only a few days and then disappear.

There were often shipwrecks off the coast of Namibia, which was reflected in local toponymy. Particularly notorious is the area north of Cape Cross, called the Skeleton Coast. Here, the reefs contain wrecks of sunken ships and bleached human skeletons.

The Namib Desert stretches along the coast, reaching a width of 50 to 130 km and occupying approx. 20% of the country's territory. The wind moves coastal sands from south to north and forms white-yellow dunes up to 40 m high. Behind the coastal dunes stretches a chain of long narrow lagoons. There are also salt marsh depressions of round or oval shape.

With distance from the coast, the color of the dunes gradually turns red due to an increase in the content of iron oxides. This feature is a good guide for pilots. The dunes in the interior of the Namib Desert rise up to 300 m and are the highest in the world.

In the east, the surface of the Namib rises in steps to the Great Escarpment. Numerous remnant plateaus and mountains rise here in places. One of them, Mount Brandberg (2579 m), composed of granites, is the highest point of the country. It is surrounded by lower mountains, which are called the "Twelve Apostles". In the caves and on the slopes of the Brandberg, rock paintings of primitive people have been preserved.

The Great Escarpment serves as the western boundary of a plateau composed of crystalline rocks, mainly granites and gneisses, which are in places overlain by quartzites, sandstones and limestones. The plateau slopes gently into the interior of the continent and is divided into separate massifs (Kaoko, Ovambo, Damara, Nama, etc.) by tectonic depressions. The largest of them - Kalahari - is located at an altitude of approx. 900 m above sea level It is made of red and white sands covering crystalline basement rocks. The sands form dunes up to 100 m high.

Namibia is rich in mineral resources. The most important of them are diamonds, uranium, copper, lead, zinc, tin, silver, gold, pyrites, manganese, etc. Diamond placers are concentrated on the Atlantic coast, especially in the area from Lüderitz to the mouth of the Orange River, as well as in the adjacent area shelf. The Orange Mouth diamond mines (north of the mouth of the Orange River) are the largest in the world. The total diamond reserves exceed 35 million carats, of which 98% are high-quality jewelry. In a number of areas (Karibiba, Omaruru, Swakopmund) there are deposits of precious and semi-precious stones - tourmaline, aquamarine, agate, topaz. Gold was discovered in the Rehoboth and Swakopmund areas.

In terms of uranium reserves, Namibia is one of the first places in the world. They are estimated at 136 thousand tons. The largest uranium mine, Rossing, is located north of Swakopmund.

Almost 90% of explored reserves of non-ferrous metals are concentrated in the northeast of the country (Tsumey, Grootfontein, Otavi). Local ores are characterized by high contents of lead, zinc, copper, cadmium and germanium. Here, rhinerite, tsumebite and stottite, which have semiconductor properties, were first discovered as accompanying minerals.

In the Abenab area, north of Grootfontein, there is one of the world's largest deposits of vanadium ore with reserves of 16 thousand tons. In the Karibiba area and near the southern border of the country there are deposits of beryllium and lithium ores, in Kaoko - iron ores (total reserves of 400 million tons ), and in Otjiwarongo - manganese (5 million tons).

The climate of Namibia is very dry, tropical. There are wet summers (September - March) and dry winters. Their alternation is most pronounced in the northeast of the country and least of all in the coastal strip, where the entire annual amount of precipitation (from 25 to 100 mm) falls within a month, and 50-70% of the moisture immediately evaporates or seeps into the sand layer. Thick cold fogs constantly hang here.

The average temperatures of the warmest month (January) are 18°C ​​on the ocean coast and 27°C inland, the coldest month (July) is 12°C in the south and 16°C in the north. Precipitation falls mainly in summer, reaching a maximum in the extreme northeast (500-700 mm). The further you go south, the hotter and drier the summers and colder the winters.

Agriculture relies heavily on irrigation. Of great importance are the northern rivers of the Kunene and Zambezi basins, the Ovamboland canal system and individual wells, reservoirs in the beds of temporary rivers and reservoirs. The waters of the Orange River are difficult to use because it flows in a canyon 120 m deep. Navigation on constantly flowing rivers is hampered by rapids, sediment at the mouths and floating accumulations of plant debris.

The Cunene River is famous for the Ruacana waterfalls, where the water cascades from a height of 70 m, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. A large hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 320 MW was built here, but it operates no more than six months a year due to the strong shallowing of the river in summer.
In the north of Namibia, in a drainless basin, there is the Etosha salt marsh with an area of ​​approx. 5 thousand sq. km, the largest in Africa. When its flat bottom, covered with a lime-clay crust, is filled with water every few years, a temporary lake up to 1.5 m deep is formed. Salt has been mined here for a long time.

The coastal strip of the Namib Desert is devoid of vegetation. Only in the valleys of temporary watercourses do xerophytes and succulents grow (acacia, aloe, euphorbia and Welwitschia, typical of these places, living for more than 100 years). In the interior of the Namib Desert, only succulent shrubs and subshrubs grow, but after the rains a carpet of flowering plants appears for a short time. Towards the east, the succulent desert gives way to cereal-shrub desert, which is characteristic of the Great Escarpment and part of the plateau. In the most humidified places of Damara and Kaoko, areas of park savannah with white acacia appear. Park savannas are also characteristic of the eastern part of Ovambo and the Caprivi strip. Here, the species composition of trees is more diverse (acacias, palm trees, baobabs, etc.), and the grass stand is dominated by grasses up to 5 m high. A significant part of the territory of Namibia is occupied by semi-desert and deserted savannas of the Kalahari.

The islands and bays along the Atlantic coast are home to many birds and seals, and the coastal waters are rich in fish. The dunes on the coast are home to lizards, snakes, small rodents and insects. Large animals include hyenas and jackals.

On the Namibian plateau, some species of antelope (kudu, springbok, duiker) and zebra have been preserved. Predators (hyenas, jackals), rodents (tree and mountain dormouse), as well as some exotic insectivores (aardvark, golden mole) lead a nocturnal lifestyle. The richest fauna is in Etosha National Park in the north of the country, where the largest population of lions in Africa is preserved, as well as very rare species of mammals - the black rhinoceros and the aardwolf. Nature conservation in Namibia is given great attention, as evidenced by the extensive network of national parks and reserves.

One of the most sparsely populated countries in the world: the average population density is 2.2 people. per 1 sq. km (2002). More than 50% of the population is concentrated in the northern and central regions of the country; vast areas of the Kalahari and Namib deserts are practically uninhabited. In the north, in the mining and industrial areas of the Ovambo plateau, the population density reaches 26 people. per 1 sq. km. The average annual population growth is 0.73% (in 2002 - 1.19%, the growth rate decreased due to the high incidence of AIDS). Birth rate - 25.16 per 1000 people, mortality - 18.36 per 1000 people. Infant mortality is 48.98 per 1000 births. 38.7% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents over 65 years of age - 3.6%. Life expectancy is 43.93 years (men - 44.71, women - 43.13 years). (All indicators are given as of the beginning of 2005).

Namibia is a multiracial and multiethnic state. The African population is 87.5%, “colored” (mulattoes - descendants of mixed marriages of white men with African women, Chinese, etc.) - 6.5% and European (mainly Afrikaners, English and Germans) - 6% ( 2002). The German community (the largest in Africa) numbers over 30 thousand people. The most numerous peoples are the Ovambo (Kuambu, Ndonga, Njera and others - about 50% of the population), Kavango (Kuangali, Mbukushi, Mbunza and others - 9%), Herero (Western Herero, Kaoko and Mbanderu - 7%) and Damara (7%), Nama (Witboy, Kaua, Orlam, etc. - 5%), Caprivi (Mafue, Subia, etc. - 4%). The Kalahari Desert is home to the Bushmen (Khoi-San), who make up approx. 3% of the country's population. 80% of African Namibians speak Bantu languages. Of these, the most common languages ​​are Ovambo (spoken by 70% of the total Bantu-speaking population), Herero (9%) and Lozi (6%). In the southern regions, the Afrikaans language is common among Rehobothers (descendants of mixed marriages of Afrikaner men with Nama women) and emigrants from South Africa.

The rural population is 67% (2002). Large cities - Luderitz, Rehoboth, Walvis Bay, Tsumeb.

Angolan refugees remain on the territory of Namibia, who found refuge here during the almost 30-year civil war in Angola (5 thousand people moved in 1999-2001 alone). In con. 2002 An intergovernmental agreement was signed on the return of Angolan refugees to their homeland.

Religions.

Christians make up approx. 90% of the population (most Protestants (mostly Lutherans), Catholics - 14% of the population), 10% adhere to traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, cult of ancestors, guardians of the hearth, forces of nature, etc.) - 2003. Namibia is one of the African states in which Christianity is most widespread. His penetration began at the beginning. 19th century and is associated with the activities of Protestant missions. The Roman Catholic Church began its activities in the country in the 1880s. Namibia also has a small number of adherents of Judaism and Baha'ism.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

State structure.

Republic. The constitution adopted by the Constituent Assembly on February 9, 1990 (came into force on March 21 of the same year), with subsequent amendments, is in force. The head of state and government, as well as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, is the president, who is elected by direct universal suffrage for a 5-year term. The President (a native Namibian who has reached the age of 35) can be elected to this position no more than twice. Legislative power is exercised by a bicameral parliament, which consists of the National Assembly and the National Council. The National Assembly (72 seats) is elected by universal direct and secret suffrage for a 5-year term. The President has the right to increase the number of Assembly deputies by 6 people. The National Council consists of 26 representatives from regional councils elected for a 6-year term (2 from each of the 13 districts).

The national flag is a rectangular panel, which is divided diagonally (from the lower left to the upper right corner) by a red stripe bordered on both sides by thin white lines. The upper left part of the panel (near the shaft) is painted blue, with an image of a yellow sun placed on it. The lower right part of the flag is colored green.

Administrative device.

The country is divided into 13 regions.

Judicial system.

Based on the norms of Roman-Dutch law, inherited from the times when South Africa ruled Namibia. There are Supreme and High Courts, courts of first instance, regional courts and magistrates' courts.

Armed forces and defense.

The national defense forces (army, air and sea forces, police) number 9 thousand people. There is also a coast guard detachment (200 people). (All data for 2002). Defense spending in 2004 amounted to $168.4 million. (3.1% of GDP).

Foreign policy.

It is based on the policy of non-alignment. Namibia is an active participant in the AU and SADC and strives to develop friendly relations with African states. Relations with South Africa deteriorated after the Namibian government provided military assistance to the DRC (1998), as well as in 1999 due to border disputes in the Orange River area. In the 1990s, conflicts arose with neighboring Botswana due to border disputes, disagreements in the field of migration policy, and also in the use of water resources of the Okavango River. Namibia resolved the problems of interstate relations that arose diplomatically or by turning to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Friendly relations have developed with Zambia: during the visit of President H. Pohamba to Lusaka (August 2, 2005), the intention to continue further bilateral cooperation was confirmed. Relations with China are actively developing, primarily in the field of construction, military cooperation and education. In June 2005, during a visit by a Chinese government delegation, Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula announced support for the “one China” policy.

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Namibia were established on March 21, 1990. In December 1991, the Russian Federation was recognized as the legal successor of the USSR. In 1997, members of the Namibian government and parliament visited Moscow, and in the same year a delegation of the State Duma of the Russian Federation paid a return visit to Windhoek. In March 1998, during the visit of President S. Nujoma, a joint Declaration on the principles of relations between the Russian Federation and Namibia was signed. Since 1997, there has been an agreement on trade and economic cooperation, including in the field of geological exploration, production, evaluation and processing of rough diamonds (in 2000, Zarubezhgeologiya received a license for exploration and production of oil and gas on the Namibian shelf, in 2002, the Russian company Mars Investment Holdings opened a diamond cutting factory in Walvis Bay). There are several joint ventures in the country for the exploration and production of diamonds with the participation of Russian private capital. On July 18, 2005, an agreement was signed in Windhoek on the creation of an intergovernmental Russian-Namibian commission on trade and economic cooperation. Agreements were signed on mutual recognition and equivalence of educational documents and academic degrees (1998), as well as cooperation in the field of health care (2000). In 1999, an agreement was concluded between the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) and the University of Namibia. The Russian government annually allocates 25 scholarships for students from Namibia. In 2004, 84 Namibians studied at Russian universities.

Political organizations.

A multi-party system has emerged (12 political parties are registered). The most influential of them:
- "People's Organization of South West Africa of Namibia", SWAPO (South West Africa People's Organization of Namibia, SWAPO), President - Sam Nujoma, Secretary General - Ngarikutuke Tjiriange. Ruling party, established in 1957 as the Ovamboland People's Congress, renamed the South West Africa People's Organization in 1960, and has had its current name since 1968;

- “Democratic Organization of National Unity”, NUDO (National Unity Democratic Organization, NUDO), leader - Kuaima Riruako. The Herero People's Party, until December 2003, was part of the Turnhalle Democratic Alliance;

- Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia, DTA, President - Katuutire Kaura, Chairman. - Johan Waal. Main party in 1977 as the "Democratic Alliance Turnhalle", current name since December 1991;

- “Congress of Democrats”, CD (Congress of Democrats, CoD), chairman. - Ben Ulenga, general. sec. - Ignatius Shixwameni. Basic Party in 1999, composed mainly of former SWAPO members;

- “United Democratic Front”, UDF (United Democratic Front, UDF), president - Justus Garoeb, national. chairman - Eric Biva, General. sec. - Hans Peters. Created in 1989, received party status in October 1993;

- “Republican Party”, RP (Republican Party, RP), leader - Mudge Henry (Henk) Mydge. Until 2003 it was part of the Democratic Alliance Turnhalle.

Trade union associations

There are 7 trade union associations. The largest of them is the National Union of Namibian Workers, NSWP (National Union of Namibian Workers, NUNW) - created in 1971, unites 87 thousand members. Chairman - Risto Kapenda, gen. sec. - Peter Naholo.

ECONOMY

Namibia is a developing country with stable economic growth (approx. 3.7% per year). The economy is largely focused on foreign trade. The purchasing power of the population in 2004 amounted to 7.3 thousand US dollars (there is a significant gap between the incomes of white citizens and the incomes of Africans). 50% of the population lives below the poverty line (2002).

Labor resources.

The economically active population is 840 thousand people. (2004).

Industry.

The share in GDP is 30.8% (2004), more than 20% of the population is employed in industry. The basis of the sector is the mining industry. The main industry is diamond mining, which accounts for 30% of budget revenues. Namibia is one of the four largest (along with Botswana, Russia and Angola) world suppliers of gem-quality diamonds. The volume of offshore diamond mining is increasing on special vessels in a 17-mile zone from seabed sediments (at a depth of 125 m). The main diamond mining company, Namdeb, is a joint venture between the Namibian government and the South African corporation De Beers. In 2004, Namdeb produced 1.86 million carats of diamonds. There is also industrial mining of zinc (2nd place in Africa), lead (3rd place in Africa), copper (4th place in Africa), uranium (Namibia has 6% of the world's uranium reserves, the Rossing mine is one of largest in the world), tungsten, gold, cadmium, tin, silver and salt. Natural gas production in 2002 amounted to 31.15 billion cubic meters.

The main manufacturing industry is metallurgy (smelting and refineries, processing plants). There are also fish and seafood processing plants (plants in the cities of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz), meat processing plants, sugar factories and breweries, as well as Pepsi-Cola production plants. The construction industry is developing at a slow pace; almost all building materials are imported from South Africa. There are factories for assembling cars, producing components for the electronics industry, and clothing factories. In 1998, the first diamond processing factory (“Namjem”) was opened in Namibia. The development of the manufacturing industry is hampered by competition from cheap consumer goods imported from South Africa.

Agriculture.

The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 11.3% (2004), it employs approx. 50% of the population. The agricultural sector provides 50% of the necessary food. There is not enough agricultural land, 0.99% of the territory is cultivated (2001). Commercial products (mainly beef) are produced on 4,045 farms (4 thousand of them belong to white citizens), the majority of the rural population is engaged in subsistence farming. They grow legumes, potatoes, root crops, corn, vegetables, millet, wheat, sorghum and fruits. Since the 1990s, viticulture has been developing on the coast of the Orange River, products are exported to the countries of the European Union (in 2003, grape exports ranked second in value after meat exports). Animal husbandry (breeding goats, cattle, horses, mules, sheep, donkeys, pigs and ostriches) produces approx. 90% of commercial agricultural products.
Fishing (one of the most promising sectors of the agricultural sector) is developing intensively. Namibia is one of the largest producers and exporters of fish in Africa. With a total allowable catch of 1.5 million tons (in South Africa - 1 million tons, Angola - 0.6 million tons), the annual catch of sea and ocean fish (anchovies, flounder, sardines, mackerel, horse mackerel, tuna and hake) , as well as shrimp, crab and lobster in Namibia's 200-mile maritime economic zone is approx. 500 thousand tons. More than 90% of the catch is exported. Work is systematically carried out to restore and maintain fish resources. There are 3 factories for breeding oysters and one for breeding seaweed. Namibia, within the SADC, is coordinating work to accelerate integration processes in the region in the field of marine fisheries and marine resources.

International trade.

The main foreign trade partner is South Africa. The volume of imports exceeds the volume of exports: in 2004, imports (in US dollars) amounted to 1.47 billion, exports - 1.36 billion. The bulk of imports are fuel and petroleum products, medicines, machinery and equipment, food, and chemicals. The main import partners are South Africa (80%), the USA and Germany. The main export goods are mineral raw materials (diamonds, gold, copper, lead, uranium, zinc), live cattle, astrakhan fur (Namibia is one of its main suppliers on the world market), meat and meat products, fish and seafood, grapes. The main export partners are the UK, South Africa, Japan and Spain. Namibia is a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), created in 1969 (in addition to it, it also includes Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa).

In con. 1990s Namibia, together with Angola, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa, on whose territory approx. 220 thousand elephants, took part in organizing a center for trading ivory products.
Energy.

The basis of the fuel and energy balance is imported oil and petroleum products, as well as hydropower (the largest power plant is the Ruacana hydroelectric station). Most of the required electricity since 1996 has been imported from South Africa (900 million kilowatt-hours - 2002). Since 2001, near the city of Lüderitz, a power plant has been under construction that will use wind energy. The country's unified energy grid is connected to the energy systems of Zambia and South Africa.

Transport and communications.

The length of railways is 2382 km (2003). There are plans to connect the Namibian and Zambian railways. A developed network of roads (some of them have high-quality coverage) connects the capital with the coast and the densely populated northern regions. The total length of roads is 64.8 thousand km (with hard surfaces - 5.38 thousand km) - 2001. International highways built in the 1990s connect the country with Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Seaports: Walvis Bay (deep-water, about 50% of foreign trade is carried out through it) and Lüderitz. The merchant fleet consists of 126 ships (2002). There are 136 airports and runways (21 of them have hard surfaces - 2004). International airports are located in the cities of Windhoek and Walvis Bay. In 1996, according to reviews from air passengers, the airport in Windhoek was recognized as the best in Africa. In 2002, a representative office of Air Namibia opened in Moscow. The country has one of the most advanced digital telephone networks on the continent.

Finance and credit.

The monetary unit is the Namibian dollar (NAD), consisting of 100 cents; released into circulation in 1992. The exchange rate of the Namibian dollar is strictly pegged and maintained in a 1:1 ratio to the South African rand (ZAR) exchange rate. In accordance with the Treaty on the Common Monetary Area, the South African rand is legal tender in Namibia on a par with the Namibian dollar. In con. In 2004, the national currency exchange rate was: 1 USD = 6.755 NAD (ZAR). Namibia has a successful stock exchange.

Tourism.

One of the most dynamically developing sectors of the economy. Foreign tourists are attracted here by the diversity of natural landscapes, richness of flora and fauna (the world's largest population of cheetahs is located here), safari opportunities, as well as the unique culture of local peoples. In 2001, the country was visited by more than 600 thousand tourists from Angola, Botswana, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, South Africa and other countries. Income from tourism increases annually by an average of 4%. In 2001 they amounted to approx. 400 million US dollars (in 1999 - 350 million US dollars).

A visa-free regime has been established, but does not give the right to get a job, for citizens of Angola, Cuba, Russia and the CIS countries, as well as some European states that contributed to the liberation of Namibia. Many Russian travel agencies provide the opportunity to visit Namibia.
Attractions: national parks (including Namib-Naukluft and Etosha), Fish River Canyon (the second largest (after the Grand Canyon in the USA) in the world), Skeleton Coast (the remains of lost ships near the resort town of Swakopmund), Ruacana waterfall, caves of Mount Brandberg with ancient paintings.

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Education.

The first schools in Namibia were opened by missionary societies in the beginning. 19th century Officially, 10 years of education are compulsory. Children receive primary education (7 years) from the age of 6. Primary education covers approx. 90% of children of the appropriate age. Secondary education (5 years) begins at age 13 and takes place in two stages - 3 and 2 years. The higher education system includes the University of Namibia (opened in the capital in 1992), technical and 4 teacher training colleges. In 2002, 317 teachers worked at 7 faculties of the university and 8532 students studied (of which 3658 people studied via the distance learning system using the Internet). Teaching is conducted in English. Namibian students also pursue higher education abroad, including in Russia and China.

There are courses to eliminate illiteracy among adults. For the development of the education and science system (the Namibian Scientific Society (Windhoek, founded in 1925), the Department of Environmental Research (Walvis Bay, founded in 1963), as well as the Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning (Windhoek, founded in 1952)), up to 25% of the state budget is spent. In the beginning. 2000, 100 km from the capital, the world's largest telescope was built, designed to study cosmic gamma radiation. 70 scientists from 8 countries participated in the development of the telescope.

In 2002, 20% of budget funds were allocated for education needs. Since 1995, preschool education institutions have passed into private hands. In 2003, 84% of the population was literate (84.4% of men and 83.7% of women).

Healthcare.

Architecture.

Traditional dwellings among different peoples of Namibia differ in architectural forms and building materials used. Among the Herero, they are huts made of woven tree branches, coated on the outside with clay and dung. A hole is made in the domed roof to allow smoke to escape. The clay floor and entrance are covered with tanned leather. The Ovambo build huts under a thatched roof, which is supported by a frame made of dug-in wooden posts, and the walls are whitewashed. The Nama cover hive-like huts made of bundled flexible branches with reed mats. The dwellings of the Damara and Bushmen are cone-shaped huts made of branches stuck into the ground.

In modern cities, houses are built from brick and reinforced concrete structures. The architecture of some buildings uses characteristics of traditional African house-building.

Fine arts and crafts.

The origins of fine art in Namibia began long before our era. e. Hundreds of Bushmen rock paintings and the well-known so-called. The “White Lady” (an ancient rock painting found in 1907 in a cave on Mount Brandberg and dating back to the mid-2nd millennium BC) is of cultural significance on a global scale. The paintings are made with mineral and earthen paints, lime and soot, diluted in water and animal fat, depicting people, animals (most often antelopes) and fantastic creatures.

Crafts and arts are widespread: pottery (especially among Damara), production of wooden vessels and calabashes (vessels made from dried pumpkin), production of leather products (hats, sheaths for bladed weapons, shoes, belts, etc.), metalworking (production of agricultural implements and jewelry made of copper and iron), weaving products (fans, baskets, trays, awnings, hats and mats) from palm leaves and sorghum stems, as well as sewing national clothes. Wood carving is widespread and is often used to decorate homes and public spaces. The Caprivi make wooden masks.

Contemporary fine art began to develop intensively after the country gained independence. The influence of European art is most noticeable in sculpture. The most famous artist is J. Muafangecho.

Literature.

It is in its infancy and is based on the traditions of oral folk art. The first literary works - diaries, correspondence, as well as religious texts by Hendrik Witbooi (the supreme leader of the Nama, one of the leaders of the anti-colonial struggle), were published in Afrikaans in 1929 in Cape Town (South Africa). The origin of literature in African languages ​​is associated with the name of the missionary M. Rautanen. He invented writing in the Ndonga language and translated the Bible. Modern writers and poets - N. Vakolele, S. Goagoseb, J. Ya-Otto, S. Mvala, A. Toivo Ya-Toivo, Tongeni, K. Shondela and others.

Music.

National music has long traditions. Playing musical instruments, singing and dancing are closely related to the daily life of local peoples. Musical instruments - accordion, drums (including tom-toms), gasinga and gouaches (reminiscent of a harp), guitar, horns, saxophone and trumpets. Choral singing with four voices is common. National music is influenced by modern musical trends; the performing style “namastap” has appeared, reminiscent of Argentine tango. The music and dance ensemble "Ndilimani" performed in Moscow during the XII Festival of Youth and Students (1985).

Press, radio broadcasting, television and Internet.

Published: in English, the government newspaper “New Era” (New Era, published twice a week) and the daily newspaper “The Namibian”, in English and Afrikaans - “Namibia Today” "(Namibia Today - "Namibia Today" - the printed organ of SWAPO, published 2 times a week), in English, German, Afrikaans and Portuguese - "Namib Times" (Namib Times - "Namib Time", published 2 times a week) , in Afrikaans, English and German - "Republican" (Die Republikein - "Republican" - the printed organ of the Democratic Alliance Turnhalle of Namibia party, published daily) and in German - the daily newspaper "Allgemeine Zeitung" (Allgemeine Zeitung - "General newspaper"). The Namibia Press Agency (Nampa) has been operating since 1987. National radio broadcasting services (programs are broadcast in 11 languages) and television (programs in English) were created in 1990. The Association of Namibian Journalists operates. In 2003 there were 65 thousand Internet users.

STORY

Probably the first to come to the territory of South-West Africa were the Khoisan-speaking peoples, the ancestors of the modern San (Bushmen) living in the north-east of Namibia and the north-west of Botswana. They were organized into small kin groups and practiced hunting and gathering, with each group having its own large territory.

Scarce and fragmentary data from archaeology, linguistics and oral tradition allow us to draw only an approximate picture of tribal migrations before the 19th century. Probably the most important migrations spanned several centuries. Individual Nama tribal groups, moving northward to the southern regions of the plateau, numbered from several tens to several thousand people. They combined hunting with primitive pastoralism, as did the Nama-speaking mountain Damara in the northern plateau and within the central part of the Great Escarpment. Herero-speaking pastoralists migrated south to the Kaoko plateau region (Himba, Tjimba tribes) and to the central regions of the plateau (Herero, Mbanderu). They were all pastoralists and did not create a centralized socio-political organization. Groups of hunters and herders constantly moved in search of pastures and water, covering vast distances.

The situation in the north was different. The Ovambo who migrated here settled settled along the Kunene and Okavango rivers and on the inland flood plains located between them. This is how areas of permanent settlements arose, separated by forests. Depending on the natural conditions, these areas could live from several hundred people (in the arid west) to several tens of thousands of people (in the more humid northeastern regions), where “kingdoms” arose that emerged above matrilineal clans and formed the basis of traditional social life. economic organization of the population. Further east, the main trade and migration routes were the Okavango and Zambezi rivers. The Ovambo tribes mined copper on the Otavi plateau, iron ore in Kassinga and salt in the vast drainless basin - the Etosha salt marsh.

Began at the end of the 18th century. the advance of Europeans from the Cape Colony forced some partially Europeanized groups of the local population to cross to the right bank of the Orange River. The Orlam people settled among the Nama as far as the northwestern part of the Kaoko plateau. Their invasion disrupted the traditional way of life of the local population and the fragile socio-political balance in these areas. The Eagles needed goods that they could exchange for European manufactured goods. They used their technical superiority over the local population (ox carts and firearms) to capture the only commodity that was in demand among the Europeans - Herero cattle. In the 1830s-1850s, the Orlam chief Jonker Afrikaaner subjugated many of the Nama and Herero tribes and created a military-territorial entity whose authority extended over most of the central regions of modern Namibia. Jonker Afrikaaner controlled this formation from his headquarters in Windhoek and Okahandia. At the same time, European traders and missionaries penetrated into the interior regions of southern Namibia; after 1840, the Rhine Missionary Society was most active here. After the death of Jonker Afrikaaner in 1861, his state disintegrated, but the general interest in normal trade kept internecine clashes and cattle rustling at bay.

The deteriorating situation in the north, associated with two raids by Jonker's men and the first Portuguese attempt to seize the interior of southern Angola, worried the Ovambo chiefs, who began to arm themselves. In the 1860s and 1870s, the main commodity of barter was ivory, but when elephants were exterminated, the local nobility began to raid their northern neighbors and steal their livestock, and also established a special tax on livestock. There even appeared a special layer of military leaders, the Lenga, who concentrated significant power in their hands.

In 1878, Great Britain captured the Walvis Bay area, annexing it six years later to the Cape Colony. But the first decisive step towards the colonization of the interior of Namibia was taken in 1884 by Germany, declaring a protectorate over the territorial acquisitions of the Bremen merchant Lüderitz, who bought Angra Pequena Bay and the adjacent area from the leader of one of the Nama tribes. Then the Germans managed to impose the so-called on the local leaders. “protection agreement”, i.e. about the protectorate, and soon a significant part of the territory came under German control. To manage the new possessions, the “German Colonial Society of South-West Africa” was created, which existed for ca. 10 years. When the Society was unable to cope with the armed resistance of the Namibians, official Berlin sent a governor there, Theodor Leitwein, after which the first white settlers arrived in Namibia. In 1897-1898, a rinderpest epidemic broke out in Namibia, bringing enormous disaster to the local rural population. As a result of the predatory actions of white traders and further land seizures, the governor's policy of gradual selective seizures and displacement of Africans into economically unpromising areas collapsed. In January 1904, the Herero rose up to fight the German colonialists. After the decisive victory at Waterberg, the commander of the German units, Lothar von Trotha, gave the order for the physical extermination of all Herero. At the end of that year, under the leadership of Chief Hendrik Witbooi, the peoples of southern Namibia marched against the Germans. By the time hostilities ceased in 1907, Namibian losses amounted to approx. 100 thousand people, or 60% of the population living within the plateau.

The German colonial administration established a strict regime of forced labor in the so-called. police zone, confiscating land and livestock from the local population. The placement of white settlers on the “liberated” lands was encouraged in every possible way, and in 1913 their number exceeded 1.3 thousand people. The colonial authorities did not seek to establish direct control over the well-armed Ovambo, which was partly explained by the lack of labor for the construction of the railway, as well as for work on the new mines in Tsumeb (copper mining from 1906) and for diamond mining in the south of the Namib Desert (from 1908 ). In such a situation, the problem could only be solved by attracting migrant workers from the northern regions. By 1910, every year 10 thousand Ovambo workers set off on the long and dangerous journey to the south.

In 1914, the Union of South Africa (SAA) entered World War I on the side of Great Britain and the following year defeated German colonial forces in Namibia. In 1920, Namibia was transferred to the control of the South African Union as a mandate territory of the League of Nations, which received the right to exercise legislative, executive and judicial functions here (a full category “C” mandate).
The transition of Namibia to the control of South Africa and the attack on it by the Portuguese from Angola predetermined the establishment of colonial rule in Ovamboland. This coincided with the famine of 1915-1916, which, together with the influenza epidemic that broke out two years later, killed about a quarter of the population of Ovamboland. In 1917, during the South African punitive expedition, the leader N. Mandume, who in the last year of his reign sought to unite all Ovambo, was killed. Twice more, the South African Army used military force (now including aerial bombing) to pacify the local population - in 1922 to suppress the uprising of the Bondelswarts (one of the Nama ethnic groups) in the south and in 1932 against one of the Ovambo leaders, Ipumbu.

In the 1920s, the South African policy of racial discrimination began to spread to Namibia, which consisted of creating reserves to provide white settlers with cheap labor, controlling the influx of rural population into cities, aimed at limiting the settlement of cities by Africans, reserving jobs for whites in certain areas, the introduction of passes to control the movement of the black population, the establishment of curfews in cities at night. The northern regions of the country, where approx. 70% of the entire population were isolated from the police zone. There, a small colonial administration controlled the leaders appointed by the colonial authorities, who carried out direct administrative functions. Only northerners who had a work contract for a period of 12 to 18 months were allowed into the police zone.

In 1945, the UN was created instead of the League of Nations. The following year, the UN rejected South Africa's request to include South West Africa. In response, South Africa refused to transfer the territory to UN trusteeship, thereby starting a protracted trial at the International Court of Justice. In 1966, the International Court of Justice, by a vote of 13 to 12, rejected a request by two former members of the League of Nations, Ethiopia and Liberia, to strip the Republic of South Africa (RSA) of its mandate to govern Namibia, deciding that the two countries did not have the right to bring legal proceedings on the issue. . The UN General Assembly revoked South Africa's mandate and transferred Namibia under the auspices of the UN. In 1971, the International Court of Justice confirmed the legality of this move.

During the interwar period, the anti-colonial protest movement was led by the leaders of the Nama and Herero tribes. The 1950s saw the creation of the first student associations and other modern political organizations. Following the Windhoek clashes on 10 December 1959, in which police killed 13 demonstrators protesting the forced relocation of Africans to the new township of Katutura, anti-colonial leaders of the Ovamboland Peoples' Organization decided to transform the organization into the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO). Appeals to the UN for independence came from tribal leaders, representatives of the clergy and leaders of the growing national liberation movement. After the refusal of the International Court of Justice in 1966 to deprive South Africa of its mandate to govern Namibia, SWAPO began a guerrilla war that lasted 23 years. After the collapse of the colonial regime in neighboring Angola in 1974, military operations became more severe.

The 1971 International Court of Justice decision to transfer Namibia to UN trusteeship, a strike by contract workers and increased political participation by churches marked the beginning of a period of mass resistance to colonial rule. By the mid-1970s, South Africa was forced to recognize Namibia's right to independence. In 1975-1977, on the initiative of South Africa, the so-called. a “constitutional conference” with the participation of political groups obedient to the South African authorities. A constitution was drawn up based on the administrative division of the country along ethnic lines. The transitional government established at this conference began to carry out scanty reforms, but was never able to occupy the advantageous position of the “golden mean” between the South African colonialists and the radical SWAPO. Under pressure from its Western allies, members of the UN Security Council - the USA, Great Britain, France, West Germany and Canada, who later formed the so-called. "contact group", in April 1978 South Africa agreed to a ceasefire and holding elections in Namibia under UN supervision. However, a little later, she rejected the UN plan, based on proposals from Western countries. Subsequently, South Africa's position hardened even more after in the 1980s the US administration put forward a demand to link the withdrawal of South African troops from Namibia with the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola, which delayed the solution to the Namibian problem for another 10 years.
South Africa, having suffered a military defeat in southern Angola, in 1988, through the mediation of the USA and the USSR, entered into negotiations with Angola and Cuba on the issue of resolving the situation in southern Africa. On April 1, 1989, in accordance with Security Council Resolution No. 435, Namibia's year-long transition to independence began, carried out under UN supervision.

The UN Transitional Assistance Group (UNTAG) consisted of 8 thousand people from 26 countries of the world and included military, police and civilian contingents. During the transition period, SWAPO leaders and more than 40 thousand of their supporters returned from exile to their homeland, political parties and 95% of potential voters were registered; finally, 97% of voters took part in the elections to the Constituent Assembly, held under UN supervision, in which 57% of voters voted for SWAPO. The Constituent Assembly drafted and adopted the Namibian Constitution. On March 21, 1990, Namibia was declared an independent republic, and its first president was SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma, who was in exile in the 1970s and 1980s.

Namibia demanded the return of the Walvis Bay zone, which was ruled by South Africa as part of Namibia from 1922 to 1977 (it was then included in the Cape Province of South Africa). In 1992, South Africa agreed to joint management of this enclave, and on March 1, 1994, transferred the entire territory of Walvis Bay to Namibia.

Since independence, the situation in Namibia has generally been peaceful and calm. The main directions of state policy were the achievement of national reconciliation, social equality and economic development. In the 1994 elections, SWAPO further strengthened its political position. There has been moderate economic growth in foreign tourism, fisheries and manufacturing, achieved primarily through government investment. By the end of the first decade of independence, Namibia's most difficult problems remained the strike movement, peasant dissatisfaction with the progress of land reform, and unemployment.

Period of independent development.

In 1997, Namibia's foreign debt, inherited from the colonial period, was written off. Financial assistance was provided by Germany, China and Spain.

In November 1998, a constitutional amendment was adopted, according to which the first president of the republic, Sam Nujoma, received the right to be re-elected for a third term. In the 1999 presidential elections, having received 76.8% of the vote, he was again elected head of state. In 1998-1999, in the Caprivi Strip (northeast of the country), a separatist armed uprising organized by the Caprivi Liberation Movement was suppressed.

In the parliamentary elections held on November 15-16, 2004, SWAPO won a landslide victory (55 out of 72 seats). The Democratic Congress won 5 seats, the Democratic Alliance Turnhalle of Namibia won 4 seats, and the Democratic Organization for National Unity and the United Democratic Front won 3 seats each. Mozes Tjitendero was elected Speaker of the National Assembly. On March 20, 2005, Theo-Ben Gurirab was elected to this post. In the National Council of Parliament, elected on November 29-30, 2004, 24 seats (out of 26) were also won by SWAPO, the remaining 2 seats by the Democratic Alliance Turnhalle of Namibia and the United Democratic Front. Asser Kapere became the Chairman of the National Council.

After President S. Nujoma signed an agreement with the Russian company ALROSA on joint exploration and production of diamonds (April 1998), De Beers lost its monopoly on the production of Namibian diamonds. In 1999-2000, the Parliament adopted the “Diamond Law” and amendments to the “Law on Exploration and Mining of Minerals,” which facilitated access for foreign investment in the diamond mining industry and strengthened state control over diamond mining.

In 2004, GDP amounted to 14.76 billion US dollars, its growth was 4.8%. In the same year, investment was 19.6% of GDP and inflation was 4.2%. According to forecasts, in 2005 inflation should be 3.9%. In 2005, external debt amounts to 12 billion Namibian dollars (2 billion US dollars). External assistance comes from Belgium, Germany, Iceland (fisheries training and research), France and Sweden.

The government's economic policy is aimed at further developing the mining and manufacturing industries by attracting foreign investment. One of the most pressing problems of domestic policy remains the redistribution of land. The implementation of land reform, which began in the second half of the 1990s, led to an aggravation of social tension in the country. Events in neighboring Zimbabwe (the seizure of farms belonging to white citizens) forced the Namibian government to seek compromise solutions to the land issue.
Serious problems are also the increase in the incidence of AIDS and unemployment (approx. 40%). The government pays great attention to the problem of gender equality in all spheres of the country's life and the fight against corruption. In May 2005, a bill was submitted for discussion to allocate 65 million Namibian dollars for the implementation of the state pension program.

And its main features.

Where is Namibia located on the world map?

Speaking about the geographical location of Namibia, it is worth noting that this country is located in the south of the continent and borders on 4 countries: Angola and Zambia in the north, Botswana in the east, South Africa in the south. In the west, the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, which contributes to the development of beach holidays in this region.

Climate and Geography

Namibia's area is 825,615 square meters. km, thereby providing it with 34th place in the ranking of countries in the world in size (after Venezuela). The local landscape consists mainly of 5 geographical regions: the Central Plateau, the Great Escarpment, the Bushveld and the Kalahari Desert. Another interesting fact about Namibia: the country's unique location between 2 deserts gives it the least rainfall of any country in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, more than 300 sunny days a year are registered here, which makes the Republic one of the sunniest regions in the world.

To understand when is the best time to travel to Namibia, you should look at the weather conditions in the country as a whole. Namibia has a subtropical desert climate, characterized by large differences in day and night temperatures, low rainfall and generally low humidity. The dry season lasts from May to October, with average temperatures of +22...+24°C. The rainy season covers the period from November to April, and it is at this time that the thermometer rises by several degrees and reaches +30...+32°C.

Population and religion in Namibia

Today, about 2.436 million people live in Namibia. Thus, this sunny African republic occupies penultimate place in the list of countries in terms of population density (Mongolia is in last place). More than 50% of the inhabitants belong to the Ovambo tribe, another about 9% are Kavangos people. Other major ethnic groups are the Herero and Himba people (7%), Damara (6.5%), Nama (5%), Bushmen (4%), etc. It is important to note that in recent years, education and medical care in this country have improved significantly, due to which the literacy rate among the population has increased significantly (84%), and the incidence of AIDS, on the contrary, has decreased.

As for religion, more than 90% of residents consider themselves Christians. The largest group is the Lutheran Church, the second largest is the Christian denomination - Roman Catholicism. Other religions practiced in the country include Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and the Baha'i faith.

State structure

For many centuries, one of the most beautiful states in Africa was a colony of other countries, and only recently, in 1990, it gained long-awaited independence. Today, the form of government in Namibia is a unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic. The head of state and at the same time of government is the president, elected by the population for a 5-year term.

Mention should also be made of the most important national symbols of Namibia - the flag and coat of arms. Both are made in bright colors (blue, green, red, yellow), which serve as a reflection of the courage, determination and pride of the entire people. The central place in the image of the state emblem is occupied by a shield made in the colors of the flag. It seems to be supported on both sides by 2 oryx, and a screaming eagle sits on top. At the base of the shield is a yellow figure - a symbol of the desert, and below it is written the motto of Namibia: "Unity, freedom, justice."

Despite the fact that most of the residents speak local dialects, the only official state language of Namibia is English, which only 3% of the population speaks well. At the same time, the common languages ​​are Oshiwambo, Damara, Afrikaans and Kavango.

Economy

The Republic of Namibia is the most controversial state in economic terms. The country is considered one of the richest on the entire continent, and at the same time, unemployment and poverty are rampant here. The mining industry (uranium and diamond mining) is best developed in this region, agriculture is in second place, and only 10% of GDP comes from tourism in Namibia.

As for the monetary unit, the national currency of Namibia is the Namibian dollar (NAD), adopted and legalized in 1993.

Cities and resorts of Namibia

Being a kind of visiting card of Africa, the country of Namibia offers tourists many interesting places to relax. The most visited cities are:

Entertainment and attractions in Namibia

Looking at the photos of Namibia, it becomes clear that this country, unique in all respects, is rich in unusual places and interesting sights. The most famous of them are:

Also worthy of attention is the underground lake that was discovered in the north of Namibia, and the numerous national parks of Namibia and the beaches of Palm Beach (Swakopmund), Terrace Bay (Skeleton Coast), etc.

Hotels and restaurants in Namibia

Tourism infrastructure in Namibia is currently at an average level. However, every year this sector of the economy is developing better and better, and a large number of cozy catering establishments are appearing for visiting holidaymakers. The best accommodation options are:

• 5* Hotel Heinitzburg and 5* Hilton Windhoek (Windhoek);
• 3* Grootberg Lodge (Damaraland);
• Swakopmund Luxury Suites (Swakopmund).

NAMIBIA
Republic of Namibia, a state in southwest Africa. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, in the north it borders with Angola and Zambia, in the east - with Botswana, in the southeast and south - with South Africa. In the northeast, the territory of Namibia is wedged between Angola, Botswana and Zambia in the form of a narrow corridor 483 km long and 80 km wide. This is the so-called the Caprivi strip, giving the country access to the Zambezi River. Until 1968 it was called South West Africa. In 1884-1915 - a colony of Germany, from 1915 until the declaration of independence on March 21, 1990, it was under the control of South Africa. Area - 825,112 sq. km, including the Walvis Bay area of ​​1124 sq. km, which was returned to Namibia by the Republic of South Africa in 1994. The population of Namibia is 1870 thousand people (2000 data). The capital is Windhoek (210 thousand inhabitants).

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NATURE
Coastline with a total length of approx. 1500 km leveled. There are only two convenient bays - Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, although approaches to them are complicated due to strong winds, sea swell, surf and constant fog. In the northern and southern regions the coast is composed of crushed stone and pebbles, and in the central regions it is sandy. In the area of ​​Walvis Bay, there is sometimes a dull rumble, the water boils and turns almost red, and masses of dead fish wash up on the shore. A column of fetid smoke mixed with hydrogen sulfide rises above the waves, and islands of sulfur form in shallow areas, which last only a few days and then disappear.
There were often shipwrecks off the coast of Namibia, which was reflected in local toponymy. Particularly notorious is the area north of Cape Cross, called the Skeleton Coast. Here, the reefs contain wrecks of sunken ships and bleached human skeletons.
The Namib Desert stretches along the coast, reaching a width of 50 to 130 km and occupying approx. 20% of the country's territory. The wind moves coastal sands from south to north and forms white-yellow dunes up to 40 m high. Behind the coastal dunes stretches a chain of long narrow lagoons. There are also salt marsh depressions of round or oval shape.
With distance from the coast, the color of the dunes gradually turns red due to an increase in the content of iron oxides. This feature is a good guide for pilots. The dunes in the interior of the Namib Desert rise up to 300 m and are the highest in the world.
In the east, the surface of the Namib rises in steps to the Great Escarpment. Numerous remnant plateaus and mountains rise here in places. One of them, Mount Brandberg (2579 m), composed of granites, is the highest point of the country. It is surrounded by lower mountains, which are called the "Twelve Apostles". In the caves and on the slopes of the Brandberg, rock paintings of primitive people have been preserved.
The Great Escarpment serves as the western boundary of a plateau composed of crystalline rocks, mainly granites and gneisses, which are in places overlain by quartzites, sandstones and limestones. The plateau slopes gently into the interior of the continent and is divided into separate massifs (Kaoko, Ovambo, Damara, Nama, etc.) by tectonic depressions. The largest of them - Kalahari - is located at an altitude of approx. 900 m above sea level It is made of red and white sands covering crystalline basement rocks. The sands form dunes up to 100 m high.
Namibia is rich in mineral resources. The most important of them are diamonds, uranium, copper, lead, zinc, tin, silver, gold, pyrites, manganese, etc. Diamond placers are concentrated on the Atlantic coast, especially in the area from Lüderitz to the mouth of the Orange River, as well as in the adjacent area shelf. The Orange Mouth diamond mines (north of the mouth of the Orange River) are the largest in the world. The total diamond reserves exceed 35 million carats, of which 98% are high-quality jewelry. In a number of areas (Karibiba, Omaruru, Swakopmund) there are deposits of precious and semi-precious stones - tourmaline, aquamarine, agate, topaz. Gold was discovered in the Rehoboth and Swakopmund areas.
In terms of uranium reserves, Namibia is one of the first places in the world. They are estimated at 136 thousand tons. The largest uranium mine, Rossing, is located north of Swakopmund.
Almost 90% of explored reserves of non-ferrous metals are concentrated in the northeast of the country (Tsumey, Grootfontein, Otavi). Local ores are characterized by high contents of lead, zinc, copper, cadmium and germanium. Here, rhinerite, tsumebite and stottite, which have semiconductor properties, were first discovered as accompanying minerals.
In the Abenab area, north of Grootfontein, there is one of the world's largest deposits of vanadium ore with reserves of 16 thousand tons. In the Karibiba area and near the southern border of the country there are deposits of beryllium and lithium ores, in Kaoko - iron ores (total reserves of 400 million tons ), and in Otjiwarongo - manganese (5 million tons).
The climate of Namibia is very dry, tropical. There are wet summers (September - March) and dry winters. Their alternation is most pronounced in the northeast of the country and least of all in the coastal strip, where the entire annual amount of precipitation (from 25 to 100 mm) falls within a month, and 50-70% of the moisture immediately evaporates or seeps into the sand layer. Thick cold fogs constantly hang here.
The average temperatures of the warmest month (January) are 18°C ​​on the ocean coast and 27°C inland, the coldest month (July) is 12°C in the south and 16°C in the north. Precipitation falls mainly in summer, reaching a maximum in the extreme northeast (500-700 mm). The further you go south, the hotter and drier the summers and colder the winters.
Agriculture relies heavily on irrigation. Of great importance are the northern rivers of the Kunene and Zambezi basins, the Ovamboland canal system and individual wells, reservoirs in the beds of temporary rivers and reservoirs. The waters of the Orange River are difficult to use because it flows in a canyon 120 m deep. Navigation on constantly flowing rivers is hampered by rapids, sediment at the mouths and floating accumulations of plant debris.
The Cunene River is famous for the Ruacana waterfalls, where the water cascades from a height of 70 m, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. A large hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 320 MW was built here, but it operates no more than six months a year due to the strong shallowing of the river in summer.
In the north of Namibia, in a drainless basin, there is the Etosha salt marsh with an area of ​​approx. 5 thousand sq. km, the largest in Africa. When its flat bottom, covered with a lime-clay crust, is filled with water every few years, a temporary lake up to 1.5 m deep is formed. Salt has been mined here for a long time.
The coastal strip of the Namib Desert is devoid of vegetation. Only in the valleys of temporary watercourses do xerophytes and succulents grow (acacia, aloe, euphorbia and Welwitschia, typical of these places, living for more than 100 years). In the interior of the Namib Desert, only succulent shrubs and subshrubs grow, but after the rains a carpet of flowering plants appears for a short time. Towards the east, the succulent desert gives way to cereal-shrub desert, which is characteristic of the Great Escarpment and part of the plateau. In the most humidified places of Damara and Kaoko, areas of park savannah with white acacia appear. Park savannas are also characteristic of the eastern part of Ovambo and the Caprivi strip. Here, the species composition of trees is more diverse (acacias, palm trees, baobabs, etc.), and the grass stand is dominated by grasses up to 5 m high. A significant part of the territory of Namibia is occupied by semi-desert and deserted savannas of the Kalahari.
The islands and bays along the Atlantic coast are home to many birds and seals, and the coastal waters are rich in fish. The dunes on the coast are home to lizards, snakes, small rodents and insects. Large animals include hyenas and jackals.
On the Namibian plateau, some species of antelope (kudu, springbok, duiker) and zebra have been preserved. Predators (hyenas, jackals), rodents (tree and mountain dormouse), as well as some exotic insectivores (aardvark, golden mole) lead a nocturnal lifestyle. The richest fauna is in Etosha National Park in the north of the country, where the largest population of lions in Africa is preserved, as well as very rare species of mammals - the black rhinoceros and the aardwolf. Nature conservation in Namibia is given great attention, as evidenced by the extensive network of national parks and reserves.
POPULATION
Demography. According to the 1991 census, the population of Namibia was 1.4 million people, with approx. 6% of the population were white, the rest were African or of mixed descent. In the 1990s, the annual population growth rate was estimated at approximately 3.2%. The age structure of the population has a high proportion of youth, with about half of Namibians under 18 years of age and 42% under 15 years of age. The fertility rate is 5.1-5.4. The birth rate is 42 per 1000 inhabitants, and the mortality rate is 10.5 per 1000. Infant mortality is 57-61 per 1000 births. Average life expectancy is 61 years.
According to some estimates, in 1998, approximately 1,000 people were infected with AIDS in Namibia. 25% of the country's adult population (the first case of AIDS was registered in 1986). According to 1997 data, AIDS was the leading cause of death (12.4%), killing every fifth child under the age of 13. Diseases such as tuberculosis, childhood diarrhea, and, in the northern regions, malaria and malnutrition, which are also often fatal, are also common.
The territorial distribution of the population is extremely uneven, with an average population density of approx. 2 people per 1 sq. km. The exception is some mining and industrial areas of the Ovambo plateau, where it reaches 15-26 people per 1 sq. km. In the 1990s, between 27% and 38% of Namibians lived in cities and surrounding areas. In the 1980-1990s, the influx of population into cities grew steadily. After 1990, when Namibia gained independence, the urban population increased by 5-8% annually due to migrants. Particularly high rates of migration were observed from the northern regions to other parts of the country, especially to the capital Windhoek and its suburbs, since it was easier to find work there. The remaining cities of Namibia are small in size and represent commercial, transport and administrative centers located far from each other.
The main religion in Namibia is Christianity. Approximately they consider themselves Christians. 90% Namibians. The first place in number is occupied by Lutherans, followed by Catholics, supporters of the Dutch Reformed Church, the Anglican and Methodist churches. Through the Namibia Council of Churches, religion plays an active role in the country's public life. The activities of religious communities and organizations are most visible in such areas of secular life as refugee and drought relief, public education, the fight against the legalization of abortion, and the investigation of human rights charges brought against the ruling party, the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO). . The majority of the population of the agricultural north remains committed to local traditional beliefs.
Languages. About 80% of Namibians speak Bantu languages, 12% speak Khoisan languages, and the rest use Afrikaans (the language of South African settlers) or European languages. Various dialects of the Ovambo language, including the rather unique Kwangali, are spoken by 70% of the total Bantu-speaking population, Herero by 9%, and Lozi by 6%. Among the speakers of the Khoisan group of languages, the San people (Bushmen) deserve mention. Among the population of European descent, the most common language is German (speaking 4%), followed by English and Portuguese to a lesser extent. According to the 1990 constitution, English became the official language, although at that time no more than 10% of the population spoke it fluently.
Namibians who speak dialects of the Ovambo language live in the central plateau in the north of the country and in the Okavango Valley, where they or their ancestors came in colonial times in search of work. The Herero-speaking population predominates in the northwestern and central regions of the plateau. The main ethnic groups speaking the Khoisan languages ​​are the San, living in the Kalahari semi-desert, the Nama in the southern part of the plateau, and the mountain Damara in the upper reaches of the Ugab and Omaruru rivers. Small Bantu-speaking groups are represented by the Subia and Yeen living in the eastern Caprivi Strip, the Tswana near the central border with Botswana, and several groups of newcomers and refugees settled along the border with Angola. Several communities that have long settled in the south of the country, primarily Rehoboth ("Rehoboth bastards", Euro-Hottentot mestizos), as well as non-white emigrants from South Africa, have Afrikaans as their main language.
POLITICAL SYSTEM
State structure. Namibia declared independence in 1990, following 106 years of colonial rule. According to the constitution adopted in 1990, the head of state and executive power is the president, and legislative power is exercised by a bicameral parliament and regional legislatures. The president is elected in general elections for a term of five years. Any Namibian citizen over 35 years of age can run for the presidency, and any registered political party or group of voters, no matter how small, can nominate a candidate. To be elected, a presidential candidate must receive more than half the votes in the final round of elections; The president can hold office for no more than two terms. To ensure that Namibia's first president, Sam Nujoma, had legitimate grounds to run for a third term, SWAPO initiated a constitutional amendment in 1998. Despite the unpopularity of this step, parliament, in which the ruling party holds a majority of seats, readily accepted the amendment.
Parliament consists of the National Assembly (72 deputies elected by party lists on a proportional basis by secret ballot by all residents over 18 years of age) and the National Council, to which each of the thirteen newly created regional councils elects two of its representatives. Elections to the National Assembly are held every five years, and the number of deputies from each party is set in direct proportion to the percentage of votes it receives. Elections to regional councils are held in single-member constituencies every six years. Local authorities are elected for a period of five years. In June 1998, a chiefs' advisory council was created.
The President has the power to appoint ministers, judges, senior judicial officials, as well as the chairman of the central bank, the commander of the armed forces, the chief of police and the penitentiary system. In addition, he exercises control over the armed forces, declares a state of emergency and martial law, presides over cabinet meetings and, at the initiative of the government, dissolves the National Assembly.
The leader of the national liberation movement, anti-apartheid fighter and founder of the new state, President Sam Nujoma, has actually been granted additional powers. In 1994, Nujoma was re-elected to the presidency with the support of more than 74% of voters.
The judicial system of Namibia is based on Roman-Dutch law, inherited from the times of administration of this territory by South Africa and enshrined in the country's constitution. The justice system includes the Supreme and High Courts, magistrates' courts, the Ministry of Justice, and the prosecutor's office. Due to a shortage of qualified lawyers, the process of reviewing apartheid laws, which continue to apply after independence, has been extremely slow. The government is paying great attention to judicial reform, especially changing legislation on issues such as racial equality, gender equality and the punishment of criminal offenses. The Namibian Constitution includes many of the fundamental provisions of the Bill of Rights (freedom of the press, personal freedoms of citizens and the right to property), as well as the prohibition of the death penalty. The international community highly appreciated the inclusion of such provisions in Namibian legislation and their implementation in practice.
Political parties. The main political force and ruling party of Namibia is the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO), created in 1960. Until 1989, it was banned and persecuted by the apartheid regime. SWAPO professes the orthodox ideology of African national liberation. In 1990, its main tasks included the transition to a mixed economy with a predominance of market elements and the holding of democratic elections. Nevertheless, SWAPO remains committed to the ideas of a strong state and fair distribution of public goods.
In the 1989 elections, SWAPO won an absolute majority, receiving 57% of the popular vote and 41 seats in parliament, and formed the first government of independent Namibia. SWAPO enjoys popular support, but its position is particularly strong in the cities and in the far north of the country, especially in Ovamboland. Having failed to achieve a two-thirds parliamentary majority in the first elections, SWAPO was forced to enter into a coalition with other parties to prepare a new constitution and its subsequent revision. This circumstance subsequently determined the party’s commitment to finding political compromises. In 1989, more than 40 political parties were registered in the country. The logic of the first elections forced most parties and politicians to form alliances. The main opposition force, which received 29% of the vote and 21 seats in parliament in the elections, is the Democratic Alliance of Turnhalle (DAT), a coalition of a dozen parties created on an ethnic basis. In the 1980s, DAT had a majority of seats in the transitional government. The remaining 10 seats in parliament were divided among five small parties.
The results of subsequent elections demonstrated the decline in the influence of opposition parties and the strengthening of the positions of those parties that advocated true independence. In the mid-1990s, SWAPO won a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament, allowing it to pursue more decisive policies. During the independent period of the country's development, almost all parties weakened their positions. In addition to the two main parties supported by the majority of the population, six more political parties managed to get their candidates into parliament. There has been a decline in voter turnout, partly due to the large number of uncontested candidates (40 in the 1998 local elections) in areas where SWAPO is particularly strong, and partly due to public disappointment with the performance of political parties and the government. During the 1998 regional elections, many DAT supporters in the Caprivi did not participate in the elections due to tensions due to separatist sentiments in the region.
In the 1994 parliamentary elections, SWAPO strengthened its position, winning 53 parliamentary seats, while DAT and other parties lost (compared to 1989) the support of some of their voters and received 15 and 4 seats, respectively.
Foreign policy. Active diplomatic activity helped SWAPO achieve the independence of Namibia. In the new conditions, the country's leadership continues to actively interact in the international arena with old and new allies. In addition to success in negotiations on the return of Walvis Bay, Namibia managed to achieve the elimination of South Africa's debt and significant financial and economic assistance from a number of countries. Namibia is a member of the UN, the British-led Commonwealth, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the IMF, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the African Development Bank, the Southern African Customs Union, and the World Trade Organization. Since 1999, Namibia has held a seat allocated to African states on the Security Council. The decision of the Namibian government to send several hundred Namibian soldiers to the DRC to assist President Laurent Kabila cost the state treasury 30 million Namibian dollars and did not meet with understanding either in the country itself or abroad.
See below

Republic of Namibia

The name of the country comes from the Namib Desert, which in the Hotten language means “that which is bypassed steeply.”

Capital

Square

Population

1798 thousand people

Namibia- a state in southwest Africa. It borders on Angola and Zambia in the north, Botswana and South Africa in the east, and South Africa in the south. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Administrative division

The state is divided into 13 districts.

Form of government

Republic.

Head of State

President, elected for a term of 5 years.

Supreme legislative body

Parliament (two chambers: National Assembly, National Council).

Supreme executive body

Government.

Big cities

Swakompund, Rundu, Rehoboth.

Official language

Portuguese.

Religion

80% are Christians, pagans.

Ethnic composition

50% - Ovambo, 10% - Kavango, 7% - Herero, 7% - Damara.

Currency

Namibian dollar = 100 cents.

Climate

The climate of Namibia is tropical, hot and very dry. The average annual temperature is + 17 °C on the coast and + 21 °C in the central part of the country. Precipitation in the form of rain mainly falls from October to March: on the ocean coast 10-50 mm per year, in the northeast 500-700 mm.

The vegetation on the territory of the state is shrubby and desert. Often the dunes are covered with sparse grass only after rains. A landmark of Namibia is Welwitschia - a tree with a very thick trunk (up to 1 m in diameter), rising to a height of 10-15 cm, and Nara melon, which bears fruit once every 10 years.

The fauna of Namibia is very diverse - among its representatives are elephants, rhinoceroses, lions, giraffes, zebras, and hares. There are many seabirds on the coast (cormorants, pelicans, gulls, spectacled penguins), as well as seals.

Rivers and lakes

The largest rivers are the Orange and Kunene.

Attractions

In Windhoek there is the National Museum with a rich collection of natural history exhibits.

Useful information for tourists

Namibia is called the "land of fire" and is a real treasure trove for photographers. Movement around the country is free, with the exception of private properties, two diamond mining areas of De Beers (here it is strictly forbidden to pick up anything from the ground), as well as some nature reserves. The Skeleton Coast has been declared a national park, accessible only with a special permit (approximately $40 per person).
Hotel employees are entitled to about $1 per day, in restaurants - up to 5% of the bill, if tips are not included in the cost of service.
There are no mandatory vaccinations before visiting Namibia, with the exception of a yellow fever vaccination if you have previously been to a country where the disease is common.