Namibia is a country of breathtaking natural scenery. From huge deserts and sand dunes to mountains, vast salt pans to dramatic canyons, it is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa and indeed the world. There is also excellent wildlife viewing, particularly in Etosha National Park and an historical and cultural legacy ranging from ancient rock paintings to recent German colonisation. And if that’s not enough excitement you can also sky dive or race down dunes on a sand board or quad bike in Swakopmund. Explore in depth highlights of Namibia.
| Tours | Unesco WHS | Guidebooks |
|---|---|---|
| groups tours with set departures |
World Heritage Sites | country, regions and cities |
| Time zone: | GMT +1 (West Africa time) |
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| Daylight savings: | GMT +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April |
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| Main languages: | Afrikaans, English |
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| Other languages: | German, Herero, Nama, Oshivambo |
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| Currency: |
Namibian dollars (NAD) €1 = N$16.22, $1 = N$0.00, £1 = N$19.33 (rates as of Sep 2016) |
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| Internet Domain: | .na | International Dialling Code: 264 |
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For help planning your trip to Namibia including visas, vaccinations, currency exchange, flights, accomodation and insurance, see our Namibia trip planning page.
Further information on Namibia
Discover more about Namibia - the country's geogrpahy and natural features, an assessment of its status on freedom and rights and data on the country's population and economy.
Geography & Natural Features
Total area: 825,418 sq km (0 sq km under water)
Coastline: 1,572 km (Atlantic Ocean)
Neighbours (border lengths): Angola (1,376km), Botswana (1,360km), South Africa (967km), Zambia (233km)
Climate: Hot, dry desert climate with sparse rainfall. Temperatures lower along coast due to ocean current. Light summer rains occur in January and February. The animal migration in Etosha National Park takes place between June and November.
Highest mountain: Konigstein (2,606m)
Freedom & Rights
Summary status and rankings for Namibia from classifications of different organisations measuring political and economic freedom, democracy and civil rights. See more details of these rankings.
| Index | Status | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Freedom in the World | Free | - |
 | Democracy Index | Flawed democracy | 73/167 |
 | Economic Freedom | Mostly Unfree | 93/179 |
 | Press Freedom | Satisfactory situation | 17/179 |
 | ILGA LGBT rights | No rights | - |
 | Corruption Perceptions | Medium corruption | 55/174 |
| Overall Ranking: | 71/195 | ||
Other Data & Links
Full name: Republic of Namibia Status: Independent Country
Population: 2,198,406 (rank: 139/196) Density: 2.6 people/sq km (rank: 195/196)
Ethnic groups: black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%. note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups include Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Religions: Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
GDP (PPP): $17.79 billion GDP per capita: $8,200 (rank: 106/195)
Information derived from the CIA World Factbook. Other country profiles: BBC News.