Although being referred to as a mainly desert country, its topography and geography varies from the coast to the inland and from north to south. Namibia consists of 5 geographical areas, each of them providing a unique source of natural heritage. The Central Plateau with the highest peak in Namibia Konigstein at about 2,600 metres is spreading from the north to the south of the country and it is bordered to the west by the Great Escarpment, a predominantly rocky area. Even further to the west, the Namib Desert with very dry gravel plains, high dunes and little vegetation is spreading.

Namibia's landscape is diversified in the north-east part of Namibia by the Bushveld, a tropical savannah ecoregion which is located next to the Etosha Pan. This lakebed watered only during the rainy season is a significant source of water for various birds and animals from surrounding areas. Probably the best known geographical area in Namibia is the Kalahari Desert, offering not only arid and waste areas but more interestingly for example the significant Succulent Karoo with more than 5,000 succulent plant species or also Inselbergs, isolated desert mountains with unique flora and fauna.

The climate in Namibia is generally very dry and hot with 300 days of sunshine a year but the cold Benguela current regularly brings cool and damp weather to coastal areas. Namibia's rivers are either border rivers - the Orange in the south and the Kunene, Okavango and Zambezi in the north or dry rivers called "Riviere".

People in Namibia

Namibia has the population of more than 2 million inhabitants. Most of the Namibians are black Africans, namely the Owambo tribe forming about 50% of the population. Another tribes include the Khoisan (e.g. Nama and Bushmen), the Tswana and Caprivians who are all descendants of the original inhabitants of Southern Africa. So-called "Coloured" and "Basters" are the Namibians of mixed racial origin. The official language in Namibia is English but Afrikaans is widely used among the Namibians. The major religion in Namibia is Christianity and about 10% of the Namibians profess native religions.

History of Namibia

Due to its topography and landscape, Namibia was inhabited only by the native tribes until as late as the 19th century when Europeans, namely the German, gained control over the land and called it South-West Africa. After German capitulation in 1915, South-West Africa, struggling for independence, was occupied by South Africa until 1988. One year later, first democratic elections were held and Namibia became an independent state on 21 March, 1990.

What to do in Namibia

Once you decide to visit this country with extraordinary natural beauties and peaceful desert areas, you will definitely enjoy your stay and never regret it. Namibia is the best to explore in the dry winter season (from May to October) when you can experience tranquillity and uniqueness of Namibia's national parks and desert areas, visit canyons or just take pictures of rare species of plants and very specific world of animals. One of the best ways how to explore the country are safaris, very popular in Namibia. Not only untouched and dense natural places attract tourists to Namibia. Very friendly and warm local people will certainly show you their cultural heritage, very traditional but at the same time marked by the country's colonial history.