Namibia has also been selected as a finalist in the Tourism For Tomorrow Awards organised by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Its ongoing efforts, progressive policies and willing partners have led to the establishment of the communal conservancies. Namibia is the first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution. Around 15% of Namibia's land is protected including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip. The tourism sector has played an important role in encouraging change and Namibia has been recognised as a leading contender in sustainable Eco-Tourism, wildlife and habitat conservation. Government backing and firmly established conservation beliefs have led to increases in "truly wild" wildlife populations.
Namibia is the only country in the world able to boast an increasing number of free ranging black rhino. Visitors to Namibia are able to gain first hand involvement in black rhino conservation by joining tracking teams as they monitor black rhino populations by vehicle and on foot through the stunning landscapes of Namibia.
In many countries lions are in decline, yet Namibia's population is again increasing. Re-establishing natural ranges through the communal conservancies has enabled Namibia's lion popluation to flourish, increasing five fold since 1995. The establishment of huge conservation areas by encouraging land owners to form Cooperatives has allowed te wildlife populations to roam free and restore the natural checks and balances found in nature.
Namibia North-West game count is the largest road-based game count in the world. Conducted on an annual basis it monitors the increasing wildlife populations giving the most accurate statistics and up to date information available and is one of the most important tools in Namibia's ongoing conservation work. Namibia also boasts the greatest number of conservances and emerging conservancies in the world. With 16% of the land area set aside and managed by communal conservancies - the largest ANYWHERE in the world, the addition of Government Conservancies and Private Conservancies means that around 40% of Namibia is now conserved making it one of the World's top destinations for all those interested in conservation and enjoyment of seeing animals roaming free
Namibia is not only a wildlife destination, it is blessed with some of hte world's finest landscapes and wide open spaces. Hot Air Ballooning at dawn over the Namib Desert, trekking through the Brandberg Mountain at over 2500m or hiking along the Fish River Canyon, the fourth largest Canyon in the World, are all considered highlights of a visit to Namibia. If you add the fiery red sand dunes of the Namib Desert, the remoteness of the infamous Skeleton Coast, sand-boarding some of the biggest dunes in the world and the majesty of Spitzkoppe, you've just scratched the surface of this amazing destination.
The Country:
Namibia lies in Southern Africa with the South Atlantic ocean to the West and bordering the neighbouring countries of South Africa, Angola, Botswana and Zambia.
Windhoek is the capital city, with a population around 330,000 it offers all the amenities of a modern city whilst maintaining cultural vibrancy and colour. The Herero name is Otjomuise, “place of smoke” that refers to clouds of steam prevalent in the 1700’s when the area of Windhoek was a swampy valley with lush tropical vegetation and hot springs, visiting Windhoek now with its semi arid landscape and cloudless winter skies, it’s hard to imagine its swampy history. The origin of the name Windhoek is still uncertain though stories abound. A 1960's guide book says it derives from a Cape farm called Winterhoek but that’s probably a myth as there is no such farm (nor one recorded), oh and it's not very windy either... so, the uncertainty continues.
Geography:
Size 824,268 sq km, slightly more than half the size of Alaska or nearly 4 times the size of the UK. The terrain is mostly high plateau with the Namib Desert running along the West coast and the Kalahari Desert in east. Namibia has a desert climate, it is hot, dry and rainfall is very sparse and erratic. The highest point is mount Konigstein (2579 m), in the Brandberg Mountain range.
Population:
Approx 2.1 million people live in Namibia,(2006), it is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world with a population density of just 2.2 people per square kilometre. Life expectancy is around 51 years. Population rate is growing at 2.6% per year over the past 15 years. It is estimated that 21% of the population is believed to have HIV/AIDS. Literacy rate is just over 84%. The exact population of Windhoek is difficult to define at any time due to continual growth of informal settlements as people flock from rural areas to the city but it is now thought to have recently broken through the third of a million mark (approx 330,000)
Languages:
English is the official language of Namibia, but many other languages are widely spoken. Afrikaans is actually the common language of most of the population, German, Owambo, Herero, Kavango, Caprivians and Tswana, as well as the Khoisan languages spoken by the San/Bushmen, Nama and Damara
Ethnic Groups:
Black 87.5%, white 6% and mixed 6.5%. About 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavango tribe. Other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, and Tswana 0.5%
Religion:
Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least) and indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%.
Political History:
South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia won its independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since.Hifikepunye Pohamba was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam Nujoma who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule.
Economic Overview:
The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the population while about half of the population depends on subsistence agriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are a major problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, hides the great inequality of income distribution; nearly one-third of Namibians had annual incomes of less than $1,400 in constant 1994 dollars, according to a 1993 study. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged to the South African rand. Privatization of several enterprises in coming years may stimulate long-run foreign investment. Mining of zinc, copper, and silver and increased fish production led growth in 2003.
Transport
Public transport is not available to all destinations in Namibia. There are bus services from Windhoek - Cape Town/Johannesburg/Victoria Falls(Zambia)/Swakopmund but local transport between towns is mainly mini bus services and not a reliable service (departs when full and heads to main towns only). For tourists, this is not an ideal way to get around the country as it doesn't take you to places of interest such as National Parks etc. Namibia's main railway line runs from the South African border, connecting Windhoek to Swakopmund in the west and Tsumbed in the north There is an extensive network of international and regional flights from Windhoek. Domestic charters are available to all destinations.
Fauna
Big game - elephant, lion, rhino (including the endangered black rhino), buffalo, cheetah, leopard, giraffe, wild dog
240 mammal species
250 reptile species
50 frog species
over 630 bird species
Endemic birds include - Herero chat; rockrunner, Damara tern, Monteiro's Hornbill