|
|
 |
| Namibia is definitely a unique place. Its ancient deserts and windblown shoreline have a startling beauty - from the multihued dunes of the Kalahari and Namib Deserts to the foggy shores of the Skeleton Coast . The deep fissures of the Fish River Canyon make for steep but exhilarating walking. Namibia is home to an incredible variety of plants and animals that have adapted to the extreme climate. Its national parks and wildlife refuges are among the finest in Africa. |
 |
| Surprising are the people who have adapted to this harsh environment: San Bushmen and the Herero women with their banana-shaped headdresses and bright Victorian-style dresses patterned after those of early German missionary women. It's a great place for people watching and experiencing another way of life. The German influence can also be seen in the colonial-era towns scattered along the coast and central highlands - there is something surreal about imperial-style German architecture poking up above desert sands. |
 |
| Namibia has a lot to offer those looking for an unusual destination off the beaten track. Although its terrain is harsh and demanding, it is actually one of the safer and more stable countries in Africa . The cities are clean and peaceful, and the people friendly. |
 |
| Geography
Namibia 's sometimes desolate landscape is a result of its extremely dry climate. The Kalahari Desert stretches along the southeastern border of the country, and the sandy dunes of the Namib Desert cover much of the west coast. The central part of the country is a plateau sitting between 3,500 ft/1,100 m and 5,500 ft/1,700 m. The only remotely lush part of the country is the Caprivi Strip , a narrow finger of Namibian territory that stretches halfway across the continent into the woodlands of south-central Africa. |
 |
Full country name: Republic of Namibia
Area: 825,418 sq km
Population: 1.8 million
People: 86% African (50% Owambo, 9% Kavango, 7% Herero, 7% Damara, 5% Nama, 4% Caprivian, 3% San, 2% Baster, 0.5% Tswana), 7.4% mixed, 6.6% white
Language: English, Herero, German, Afrikaans
Religion: Christian, Lutheran, native religions
Government: republic
Head of State: President Sam Nujoma
Head of Government: Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
