Namibia
August / September 2002 - Namibia and South Africa
Capital

Windhoek

Area

825,418 km²
(19.9x the Netherlands)

Time

UTC +2

Language

English, Bantu, Herero, Wamba, Nama, German

Highest point

Königsstein - 2,606 m
(highest point of Brandberg)

Flag

The flag was adopted in 1990, the day Namibia became an independent state (from 1920 to 1993 it was part of South Africa). Red represents the Namibian people and their exploits. White symbolizes the peaceful coexistence of the population and green represents the vegetation and the fertility. Finally, blue symbolizes heaven, the Atlantic Ocean, rain and valuable water resources. The golden yellow sun represents life and life force, energy and warmth. The twelve rays of the sun symbolize the different nations that live there.


Itinerary
Currency

The Namibian dollar has been in circulation since 1993. It replaces the South African Rand. Depicted on the banknote is Hendrik Witbooi at the time of the Namibian Genocide (1904). He was a great military strategist and the symbol for the Namibian struggle for independence.




Highlights

Even if you don't visit anything at all, Namibia is already a visual wonder when you just drive through. You will regret sleeping on the bus during daytime. The landscape of volcanic origin has very little vegetation.

The second largest canyon in the world is located in the south of the country. The Fish River Canyon is 160 km long, 550 meters deep and 27 km at it's widest point. The top layer was created by an earthquake. The lower part is carved out by the river. Ai-Ais is on the south side of the canyon. There is a swimming pool that receives water from a hot spring and you can walk into the gap. Chances are you encounter baboons.

The Etosha Natl. Park with an area of 22,270 km² is located in the north of Namibia. In the eastern part of the park is a large dried up lake. The western campsite within the park is Okaukejo. Just outside the camping is a watering hole for the wildlife. There is a semicircular boulevard opposite the watering hole with benches, facing the water. First you see giraffes, kudus, zebras and springboks and sometimes there is a column of up to 40 elephants. The boulevard is completely full of people who are all silent. During winter and spring, the animals are dependent on the watering holes. You can make various safaris through this large park. The campsite on the east side is called Namutoni. They also have a watering hole.



The Namib Naukluft Natl. Park is the largest park in Africa. One of the highlights of the park is the Sossusvlei. The campsite at Sesriem is base for a visit to this 300 million year old dune area that covers an area of ??120 km long and 60 km wide. The red dunes have a high iron content and the highest dune is Dune 7 with over 380 meters. Visit the Deadvlei where evaporated water has left a crust and the remains of acacia trees. Imagine a clear blue sky, red dunes, a white crust and the almost black tree trunks. A drive from the campsite in Sesriem to Sossusvlei takes two hours. Climb Dune 45 (170 meters high) at the end of the day and enjoy the sunset here. Walk up slowly otherwise you'll be exhausted when you arrive at the top. Hike through Sesriem gorge. At some points, the narrow gorge is 40 meters deep.

Volcanic activity created a mountain of granite, Spitzkoppe, also called called the Matterhorn of Namibia. Hike around the mountain past natural arches and jagged rocks. The silence is deafening here.

Also special is a visit to a Himba tribe near Opuwo. The Himba women apply a combination of animal fat and red ocher.