Namibia was once a German colony when it was known as South West
Africa in 1800s. During the rule of Germany thousands of members of
the Herero ethnic group were killed.
Diamond was discovered in 1908 that attracted the attention of the
Europeans. During World War I it was occupied by South Africa which
administered it under a League of Nations mandate. Following the Second
World War the country was incorporated into South Africa.
A clamour for freedom took the concrete shape when in 1966 the Marxist
South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group started
the bush war with South Africa and the area came to known as Namibia.
The country attained complete freedom in 1990. SWAPO is the ruling
party since then Hifikepunye Pohamba became President in 2004 when
he won a landslide victory. He succeeded Sam NUJOMA who ruled the
country as president for first 14 years of independence.
Travel overview
Namibia is famous for its desert landscapes, sunshine, exotic wildlife
and diamond mines. The capital city of Windhoek is famous for its
scenic beauty and German colonial architecture. Etosha National Park
is one of the world’s finest game sanctuaries. The hunting beauty
of the towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei stirs the imagination.
The impressive gorge of the Fish River Canyon is well worth a visit.
Other attractions include Katima Mulilo, Waterberg Plateau Park, Lake
Otjikoto. Namib Naukluft Park, Kaudom Game Reserve in Kavango and
Mahango Game Reserve offer exotic wildlife. Visitors can also enjoy
activities like fishing, boat cruising, hiking, sand gliding, balloon
safari, game viewing and bird watching
Capital: Windhoek
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Angola and South Africa
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Total Area: 825,418 sq km
Total Population: 2,055,080
Population Growth Rate: 0.478%
Sex Ratio: 1.008 male(s)/female
Literacy: 85%
Ethnic Groups: black, white, mixed
Languages: English, Afrikaans, German, Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
Time Zone: UTC+1
Currency: Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR
Neighbouring countries: Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia
Type of govt.: republic
Head of Govt.: Prime Minister Nahas Angula
Major Political Parties: Congress of Democrats or COD , Democratic
Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA , Monitor Action Group or MAG
, National Democratic Movement for Change or NamDMC, National Unity
Democratic Organization or NUDO , Republican Party or RP , South West
Africa National Union or SWANU , South West Africa People's Organization
or SWAPO , United Democratic Front or UDF
Participation in International Organizations: C, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
ACP, AfDB, AU, IBRD, ICAO, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD,
IFC, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, NAM, ONUB,
OPCW, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, UNIDO, UNMEE,
UNMIL, WCO, WHO, WTO, WIPO, WMO
Major Agricultural Products: grapes; livestock, millet, sorghum, peanuts,
fish
Natural Resources & Minerals: uranium, gold, silver, diamonds,
copper, lead, tin, tungsten, zinc, salt, lithium, cadmium, hydropower,
fish
Industry & Transport: dairy products, meatpacking, fish processing,
diamonds, tin, silver, lead, zinc, tungsten, uranium, copper
Airports: 137
Railways: 2,382 km
Roadways: 42,237 km
Major Trade Partners: South Africa, US
Exports: $2.321 billion
Imports: $2.456 billion |
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