Namibia Culture, Map, Flag, Tourist Places

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in southern Africa on the Atlantic coast. It is bordered by Angola, and Zambia to the north, Zimbabwe to the north-east, Botswana to the east, and South Africa to the south. It gained independence from South Africa in 1990 and its capital is Windhoek.

Namibia is divided into 13 regions and subdivided into 102 constituencies. The regions are Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas
, Okavango, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa.

The dry lands of Namibia were inhabited since early times by Bushmen, Damara, Namaqua, and since about the fourteenth century AD, by immigrating Bantu who came with the Bantu expansion. The region was not extensively explored by Europeans until the 19th century, when the land came under German control as South-West Africa -- apart from Walvis Bay under British control. South Africa occupied the colony during World War I and administered it as a League of Nations mandate territory until after World War II, when it unilaterally annexed the territory, albeit without international recognition.

In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration of Namibia, in accordance with a United Nations peace plan for the entire region. Independence came in 1990, and Walvis Bay was ceded to Namibia in 1994.

Namibia is among the three sovereign countries with the lowest population density. The majority of the Namibian population consists of black Africans (Bantu and Khoisan) (84%) - mostly of the Ovambo tribe. There are also two smaller groups of people with mixed racial origins, called "Coloureds" and "Basters", who together make up 8%. Whites of Dutch, German, British, French and Portuguese ancestry make up about 8% of the population. Most of Namibian whites and nearly all those of mixed race are Afrikaans speakers and share similar origins, culture, religion and genealogy as the white and coloured populations of neighbouring South Africa.

Most of Namibians speak Oshiwambo (Ovambo) as their first language, whereas the most widely understood language is Afrikaans.

Namibia generally attracts eco-tourists with the majority visiting to experience the different climates and natural geographical landscapes such as the great eastern desert and plains. There are many lodges and reserves for eco-tourists to travel to and stay over. In 2006, Namibia gained international notoriety as a tourist destination when US celebrities Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie chose the country as a sanctuary from the media for the birth of their daughter Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt.

Main Attraction of Namibia are:

The Etosha National Park, Namibia: Namibia's best-known tourist attraction, and one of the most interesting game reserves in the world because of its unusual terrain, Etosha is a combination of dried lake (salt pan) in the north and grasslands, dense brush and open plains in the south. Etosha National Park is one of the largest and most impressive game reserves in the whole of Africa. The Ovambo name Etosha, means “place of dry water” - and the reserve was named this because of the vast, shallow salt pan which shimmers a silvery bright-white, from salt across its entire surface.

The Skeleton Coast Park, Namibia: The attraction of The Skeleton Coast Park remote area lies in the colours, changing moods and untouched profiles of the landscape. The aura of mystery and mightiness is largely due to the dense coastal fog and cold sea breezes caused by the cold Benguela ocean current from the Arctic, and bones scattered along the beaches from which the coast derives its name.

Windhoek is a bustling, cosmopolitan city with good hotels, sophisticated shops and convivial bistros. Stately buildings range from the home of Namibia's parliament, to the newly founded Hero's Acre. Day tours can be undertaken into Katutura, several museums in Windhoek, the National Library, National Archives, National Art Gallery and the National Botanical Gardens.

The Daan Viljoen Game Reserve near Windhoek, Namibia: Situated amongst the rolling hills of the Khomas Hochland, the Daan Viljoen Game Park is a sanctuary for game typical of Namibia's highland. Because of its proximity to Windhoek and its tranquil setting, it is a popular overnight stop for visitors who wish to avoid the hustle and bustle of the capital. Although small, the Daan Viljoen Game Reserve supports a healthy population of Namibian game and is also a good spot for bird-watching. One of the main features of the Daan Viljoen Park is the reservoir around which the bungalows and picnic sites are situated, as this is a permanent source of water it attracts bountiful birdlife as well as a good selection of wildlife.

Spitskoppe: The Spitskoppe has often been referred to as the Matterhorn of Namibia. These are actually a series of granitic inselbergs within the Namib desert. It is an attractive area with the Herero Chat being the main bird to be seen. The area can be very good for birding at times of good rainfall but this is sporadic.