Page 63 - Africa Collection Online Brochure for Travel Agents and Travellers

NAMIBIA
LAND OF CONTRASTS
Namibia
With a land mass over 3 times that of Great Britain and with a population of around 2 million; Namibia boasts one of the world’s lowest population densities. Man has made so little impact on Namibia’s landscape that it can be said that Namibia truly reflects nature in its original form.
Namibia derived its name from the Namib Desert, home to the immense sand dunes of Sossusvlei, one of Namibia’s premier attractions and only a 4-hour drive from the capital Windhoek. Heading further south you can discover the coastal town of Luderitz, close to the ghost town of Kolmanskop where the first diamond was found and even further south is Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world.
The north is dominated by the Etosha National Park, with its defining features being the vast Etosha Pan offering excellent game viewing. Also in the North you can find the dramatic Skeleton Coast and the neighbouring Damaraland region, a true wilderness area where the desert adapted Elephants miraculously survive, and the Caprivi region.
The capital Windhoek is certainly worth an overnight stay and the coastal resort of Swakopmund, Namibia’s curious premier ‘seaside’ town is an adventure lover’s paradise.
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Key Facts
Time Zone is GMT + 2 hours.
The official language is English. Herero, Ovambo, German and Afrikaans are frequently used.
Namibia is a hot and dry country, there are however a range of local climates, which vary
extremely. The Atlantic coast is subject to mists in summer and hot, dusty winds in winter.
The border regions with Angola and Zambia are tropical - hot and humid. Most of the interior land surface is desert or semi-desert, where summer daytime temperatures can climb to over 40°c. Temperatures in the Central Plateau (including Windhoek) are generally lower than in the rest of the country. December is the hottest month everywhere. There are two rainy seasons: the infrequent rain period from October to December and the main rainy period from January to April.
The currency is the Namibian Dollar (N$). It is directly linked in value to the South African Rand, which is accepted as currency in Namibia.
Local tip
Namibia is a year round destination, however the best time to visit is April until October, with March and November still pleasant. December to March can be very hot, African style!