Namibia

Namibia is home to the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world from which the country gets its name. Translating into ‘a vast place’, Namibia is one of the least crowded countries in the world. With its wide-open spaces and breath-taking scenery, the history of this land has been carved into rock paintings by ancient Bushpeople dating back to more than 25,000 years ago. The hunter-gatherers of the San, Himba, Herero and Nama tribes have made Namibia their home for thousands of years.

• Four different landscapes make up Namibia: the most definitive is the Namib coastal desert that runs the length of the country; the central plateau, where most towns and villages of Namibia nestle between the rugged mountain ranges and sand-filled valleys; the vast Kalahari Desert with its ancient red sand and sparse vegetation; and the lush Kavango and Caprivi, blessed with generous amounts of rain, tropical forests, perennial rivers and woodland savannahs.
• English is the official language of Namibia. German, Afrikaans, Oshiwambo, Rukwangari, Silozi, Otjiherero, Damara, Nama, Khisan and Setswana recognised as national languages. Approximately half of the population speaks Oshiwambo.
• With over 300 days of sunshine per year, Namibia is a year-round destination. Summer is from November to April; daytime temperatures are hot in the desert interior, and nights can be chilly. The winter season is from May to October, where days are pleasantly warm, yet nighttime temperatures can become very cold.