10 Interesting Namibia Facts You Probably Didn't Know | Discover Africa Safaris
Namibia is located in southern Africa and has borders with the Atlantic Ocean on the west, Angola and Zambia on the north, Botswana on the east, and South Africa on the south and east. Namibia won independence on March 21, 1990, following the conclusion of the Namibian War for Independence. Windhoek is the capital and biggest city. The country is a member of the United Nations, the Southern African Development Community, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the African Union.
Namibia is a stable multi-party parliamentary democracy with a population of around 2,625,606 people (2018). Tourism, agriculture, herding, and mining are the economy's mainstays. Namibia has the world's second-lowest population density. A third of the population lives in poverty, and 13.3 percent of adults are infected with HIV.
A nation with a wide range of scenery, from rust-colored dunes and enormous gravel plains to the Atlantic Ocean's waves and the lush green oasis of the Zambezi area. It is also a country with a stormy history, resulting in its current cultural variety. Learn about Namibia.
1) THE NAMIB DESERT HAS BEEN EXISTING FOR 80 MILLION YEARS (IT IS THE WORLDS OLDEST DESERT)
Namib literally means "place of open spaces." The rusted orange sandy terrain welcomes you to the world's most ancient desert, shaped by strong winds, cooked by the blazing sun, and rusted by Africa's iron. Indeed, it is an open area that completely invites discovery and adventure. The Namib is full of amazing surprises.
2) Namibia is the first African country to include environmental safeguards in its constitution.
Namibians recaptured their land after breaking away from South Africa's apartheid rule in 1990. They are so proud of their area that they have declared the whole coastline a national park. This not only initiates environmental conservation but also aids in the restoration of wildlife populations. Black rhinos, African elephants, cheetahs, and other animals are among them.
As a result, Namibia is a great place for a sustainable safari, with animals roaming freely in the arid desert and forested savannah. Perhaps this is more of a well-informed view than a hard-hitting Namibia truth, but Etosha National Park is one of the greatest sites in the world to see animals. On this excursion, you may go on a full-day game drive.
Along the Atlantic Coast, the Cape Cross nature reserve is home to the world's biggest breeding colony of Cape fur seals. They are a filthy and noisy lot, but they are a perfect illustration of how Namibia's wildlife has flourished as a result of conservation efforts.
3) The World Wildlife Fund recognized Namibia for its effective sustainable tourism.
Namibia earned the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Gift to the Earth Award in 2013, highlighting its pioneering support for communal conservancies. As a result, it's safe to state that Namibia is a world-renowned role model for sustainable tourism.
These conservancies are administered by local communities and are directly responsible for land protection. This community-based program empowers indigenous communities by offering social and financial support in exchange for inspiring sustainable tourism experiences.
Overall, this approach to eco-tourism keeps Namibia unique and ensures that local leaders are at the forefront of tourism. They accomplish this by providing real, locally-run camping accommodations. It is critical that they are small-scale and do not interfere with natural habitats.
4) THE NAMIB-NAUKLUFT PARK IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST CONSERVATION AREAS.
Namibia has various conservation zones dedicated to the preservation of its natural ecosystem. One such conservation area is Namib-Naukluft Park. Etosha National Park, an 8,600 square mile park called after the Etosha Pan, a large flat salt pan with high mineral and salt encrusting the top, is one of its most attractive. Every year, it fills up with water and flamingos may be seen on the water.
It is one of Namibia's most enchanting vistas. Africa's biggest park, located in the Namib Desert's Naukluft mountain range, is home to roughly 114 animal species and over 340 bird species, including rare jackals, desert lions, cheetahs, gemsboks, distinctive desert reptiles (snakes, geckos), and out-of-this-world insects. There are several camp zones where you may restfully mingle with the desert while you get delighted by the hilarious noises of geckos. Make sure you've gone hiking to visit some of the magnificent ranges in this desert environment before having a rest.
5) You may paddle along Namibia's and South Africa's borders.
The Orange River is the longest river in Southern Africa, stretching around 2, 090 kilometers. It also serves as a boundary between Namibia and South Africa, running west to the Atlantic Ocean through South Africa. The river is an important means of transporting diamonds (you might just find deposits of the stone along the Namibian coastline).
Take advantage of the fact that you may go on a half-day canoe journey down Namibia's rivers. The slow-paced 10-kilometer journey provides passengers with the ideal chance to take in strange surroundings. What a journey.
6) NAMIBIA HAS A DEADLY SKELETON COAST.
The Skeleton Coast is a spectacular stretch of land where Namibia meets the Atlantic Ocean. Historically, launching boats from the coast in this northern section of Namibia was practically difficult, and the only route out to the ocean was across a large marsh only accessible via a scorching and parched desert. The Skeleton Coast has been responsible for a number of tragic shipwrecks due to its severe environment. These shipwrecks provide stunning photography and fantastic exploration.
7) NAMIBIA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF ROCK PETROGLYPHS IN AFRICA.
Twyfelfontein, in Namibia's Kunene Region, contains one of the highest concentrations of rock carvings and art on the continent. It is thought that early hunter-gatherers, and later herders, performed shamanistic rites that included rock carvings.
The region has most certainly been inhabited for 6,000 years, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
8) SOME OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST SAND DUNES
The Namib Desert is home to some of the world's biggest sand dunes. These sand mountains are both beautiful and exciting to climb/explore. Dune 7 is the tallest sand dune in the country, standing at 383 meters.
Sossusvlei is one of the most popular places to visit if you want to view some spectacular big dunes. A large salt and clay pan surrounded by some of the world's tallest sand dunes, located in the southern section of the Namib Desert. Many of them are taller than 200 meters, with the tallest standing at 325 meters.
9) NAMIBIA HAS THE WORLD'S SECOND-LOWEST POPULATION DENSITY.
Namibia has one of the world's lowest population densities, with only 3.2 people per square kilometer. The immensity of Namibia's desert sceneries is accentuated by their solitude, especially at Sossusvlei and the Skeleton Coast. Being the sole ones in these otherworldly environments adds to their eerie mood.
10) PLAN YOUR TRIP IN ADVANCE (AS MUCH AS YOU CAN)
Okay, we'll let you in on a little secret.
We didn't plan our Namibian trip ahead of time, nor did we secure any accommodations, and we paid dearly for it. We honestly feared we'd have to sleep in our car overnight at Sossusvlei, with nothing but the down jackets on our backs. Fortunately, we did not!
Major travel blunder.
Our advice is to research Namibia properly and prepare your Namibia itinerary ahead of time (you can use our Namibia travel guide to arrange all of your experiences!).
Determine where you want to go, how you want to travel about, and where you want to stay, and then book whatever you can before you leave. It's an understatement to say that mobile connection is spotty in desert locations, and there's nothing worse than arriving at your destination after a long trip only to find that it's completely booked.
Keep in mind that Namibia is particularly crowded during South African school holidays, so plan accordingly. What better setting for a truly African adventure?
" FLYING OVER NAMIBIA - Relaxing Piano Music With Beautiful Nature Scenery (Calma Rest) "
