GENERAL 

Young himba boy

• Surface area: 824 268 km²
• Capital: Windhoek
• Independence: 21 March 1990
• Current president: Hifikepunye Pohamba
• Multiparty Parliament
• Democratic Constitution
• Division of power between executive, legislature and judiciary
• Secular state—freedom of religion (90% Christian)
• Freedom of the press/media

ENVIRONMENT

• Nature reserves: 15% of surface area
• Highest mountain: Brandberg
• Other prominent mountains: Spitzkoppe, Moltkeblick, Gamsberg
• Perennial rivers: Orange, Kunene, Okavango, Zambezi and Kwando/Linyanti/Chobe
• Ephemeral rivers: Numerous, including Fish, Kuiseb, Swakop and Ugab

FAUNA

• Big game: Elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, leopard, giraffe
• 20 antelope species
• 240 mammal species (14 endemic)
• 250 reptile species
• 50 frog species
• 676 bird species
• Endemic birds including Herero Chat, Rockrunner, Damara Tern,
• Monteiro’s Hornbill

FLORA

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

ECONOMY

• Main sectors: Mining, Fishing, Tourism & Agriculture
• Biggest employer: Agriculture (46%)
• Fastest-growing sector: Tourism
• Mining: Diamonds, uranium, copper, lead, zinc, magnesium, cadmium, arsenic, pyrites, silver and gold, lithium minerals, dimension stones (granite, marble, blue sodalite) and many semi-precious stones
• Physical Infrastructure
• Roads: 5 450 km tarred, 37 000 km gravel
• Harbours: Walvis Bay, Lüderitz
• Main Airports: Hosea Kutako International Airport, Eros Airport, 46 airstrips
• Rail network: 2 382 km narrow gauge
• 6.2 telephone lines per 100 inhabitants
• Direct-dialling facilities to 221 countries
• Mobile communication system: GSM
• Agreements with 117 countries/255 networks
• Postal Service: affiliated to the Universal Postal Union

SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Aerial by ©Paul van Schalkwyk at http://www.paulvans.com/

• One medical doctor per 3 650 people
• Two privately run hospitals in Windhoek with intensive-care units
• Medical practitioners (world standard)
• 24-hour medical emergency services
• Population
• 2.1 million
• Density: 2.2 per km²
• 240 000 inhabitants in Windhoek
• (15% of total)
• Official language: English
• 13 regions, 13 ethnic cultures
• 16 languages and dialects
• Adult literacy rate: 85%
• Population growth rate: 2.6%
• Schools: 1 450

FOREIGN REPRESENTATION

• More than 50 countries have Namibian consular or embassy representation in Windhoek.
• For information, contact Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Information and Broadcasting—Tel (+264 61) 282 9111

TAX AND CUSTOMS

• All goods and services are priced to include value-added tax of 15%. Visitors may reclaim VAT.
  
  

  Landscape around Wolwedans

• Enquiries: Ministry of Finance—
• Tel (+264 61) 23 0773 in Windhoek

MONEY MATTERS 

• Currency: The Namibia dollar (N$) is fixed to and equals the SA rand. The South African rand is also legal tender.
• Traveller’s cheques, foreign currency, International Visa, Master Card, American Express and Diners Club credit cards are accepted

DRINKING WATER

• Most tap water is purified and safe to drink
• Visitors should exercise caution in rural areas

TRANSPORT

• Public transport is NOT available to all tourist destinations in Namibia.
• There are bus services from Windhoek to Cape Town/Johannesburg/Vic Falls/Swakopmund.
• Namibia’s main railway line runs from the South African border, connecting Windhoek to Swakopmund in the west and Tsumeb in the north.
• There is an extensive network of international and regional flights from Windhoek. Domestic charters to all destinations.