Pass The Passport

Places / Africa

Namibia

Visited

At a glance

Region
Southern Africa
Capital
Windhoek
Population
3.1 million (2025)
Area
825,615 km²
Languages
Afrikaans, German, English, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga, Tswana
Currency
Namibian dollar (NAD), South African rand (ZAR)
Drives on the
left
Calling code
+264
Visited: Namibia

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Before you go

Overview

Namibia is a South African country. Its capital which is also the largest city is Windhoek, which is located at the country’s Khomas Highland plateau and is home to the 1890s Alte Feste that was a military headquarters. The capital is also home to The Independence Memorial Museum.

Namibia’s current boundaries were established by treaties between German, Portugal and Britain between 1886 and 1890. Germany conquered the region as South West Africa (SWA). During the First World War, South Africa took over the region. It was granted the official authority in 1920 by the League of Nations to administer SWA. The General Assembly in 1946 advocated for South Africa to set SWA under UN trusteeship but it refused. The UN, therefore, commanded South Africa to end their authority over SWA and targeted it to gain Independence. Namibia received independence in 1990 with Sam Najoma as the president.

As of 2019, the country had a population of 2.494 million with an area of 824,292km2.

The official language is English.

The predominant religion is Christianity.

The education system comprises of seven years of primary education from age six and five years of secondary education.

The country’s major sports are football, rugby, cricket and golf.

The country has a subtropical desert climate. The best time to visit Namibia is from July to October when there is a low chance of raining and temperatures are above 200C. The main crops planted are millet, sorghum, maize, wheat, beans and alfalfa. Herding is also practised for provision of livestock and meat products.

Meat and pap is the national dish.

The economy also depends on the mining industry and the mineral resources include diamond, silver, copper, zinc, lead and uranium.

It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. Zambezi River separates it with Zimbabwe.

History

Namibia was a German colony, then administered by South Africa after the First World War. It became independent in 1990.

Food & culture

Game meat, potjiekos stews and German-style bakeries reflect the country's mixed history.

Wildlife

Etosha National Park has elephants, lions and black rhinos, and desert-adapted elephants and lions roam Damaraland.

Festivals & events

Windhoek's Oktoberfest and the Herero Day commemorations in Okahandja are notable events.

Things to see

The dunes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, Etosha, the Skeleton Coast, Fish River Canyon and Swakopmund.

Interesting facts

The Namib is often called the oldest desert in the world. Namibia was one of the first countries to put environmental protection in its constitution.

City guides

Cities & towns I’ve visited

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Namibia

0 of 2 visited. See every site I've been to.

My videos from Namibia

  • Cape Cross seal colony, Namibia
    Cape Cross, Namibia

My photos from Namibia

From 2 trips, newest first, so you can see which places each set of photos came from.

July 2019 Overlanding East Africa - Oasis Overland + Extras

Spitzkoppe, Omuthiyagwiipundi, Daures, Etosha National Park, Swakopmund

Whole trip gallery
  • A fiery sunset through the camelthorn trees at a desert camp in Namibia
  • Rounded granite domes of Spitzkoppe under a deep blue Namibian sky
  • The granite peaks of Spitzkoppe rising above the desert.
  • The sun setting through the trees in Etosha.
  • The overland truck parked among the red rocks at Spitzkoppe.
  • Calm blue sea with a low coastal town along the shore.
  • A desert landscape scattered with granite boulders and distant mountains.
  • A long swimming pool seen from under a reed shade with palm trees around.
  • A young spotted antelope standing among bare grey shrubs.
  • A young giraffe standing on pale ground among dry bushes.
  • Two banded mongooses foraging on short grass.

March 2019 Overlanding West Africa - Oasis Overland

Omuthiyagwiipundi, Khorixas, ?Nami?Nus, Windhoek East, Rehoboth Rural, Gibeon, Berseba, Halifax Island and 2 more

Whole trip gallery
  • A golden sunset with sunbeams over a flat gravel plain.
  • A small herd of zebras standing close together on dry grassland.
  • A tall giraffe standing among green bushes looking at the camera.
  • A rhino drinking at a floodlit waterhole at night.
  • A cheetah lying in the shade among green bushes.
  • A large piece of petrified wood with rock-like bark lying on sand.
  • A rusted abandoned metal structure standing on sand under a blue sky.
  • A park entrance gate decorated with large skull and crossbones on a sandy road.
  • A yellow overland truck parked on a sandy beach next to the ocean.
  • A bright yellow overland truck passenger cabin separated from its chassis, parked on gravel.
  • A white Tropic of Capricorn road sign on red earth with scrub behind.
  • An old red sandstone building with battlements next to a palm tree and green tree.

Plan your trip to Namibia

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Neighbours

Bucket List goals in Namibia