This obvious misery life is unreliable but somehow animals, plants, and human have adjusted themselves in this environment.
The country is perfect for those who are adventurous and ready for adventure anytime. Everlasting deserts, thorn bush savanna, deserted wind damage coastlines, imposing chasm, and sun baked saltpans are some surprises that traveler gets on reaching the country.
Etosha National Park is Namibia’s one of the top rated places. Birding experience and unsurpassable physical environment are most astonishing.
If you are visiting the place for first time then ballooning over the desert, skydiving over land and sea, paragliding, whitewater rafting and sand skiing are good options to start exploring with.
If you want to have something more enjoyable then go for abseiling, coastal and fresh water angling, desert camel riding, scuba diving, hiking and rock climbing are best options.
Namibia has four geographical regions. On north is Etosha pan popular for its wildlife. Between Zambia and Botswana is a slim Caprivi Strip which is a damp region accompanied with some rivers.
With the shoreline, Namibia desert is located. This desert is said to be oldest desert of world with the age of eighty million years old. At the shoreline is meeting of Atlantic with the burning African desert causing intense fogging in the area.
Namibia is half the size of France with the population of 1.8 million only. Just like the place, residents too are quite different. San also known as Bushmen are most fascinating among all. The people have all the knowledge about their surroundings.
Their environment is different and it is amazing to look how well they have accepted and adjusted to it. We can’t even imagine living without water for a day but it’s absolutely surprising to see these people living in conditions where water is not always available.
Today, population of Bushmen is 50,000. According to historians approximation, Bushmen have had been living as hunter and gatherers for last 25,000 years. Bushmen have their own language to communicate and have special in born skills of storytelling, imitation, and dance.
Other people of Namibia include Bantu who are natives of this place. It is said that they migrated from western Africa about 2,400 years ago. Owambo, Kavango, Caprivians, Herero, Himba, Damara, Nama and Tswana are other African group of people.
In the development of African nation, not only Africans have taken part but also 15% of other groups. Population of white Namibians is almost 120,000 and is mostly German and Afrikaners. Germans moved here in and after 1884 when the country was given a status of German’s territory by Bismarck.
While on the other hand, Afrikaners, mostly white Dutch, migrated to north from Cape ager the Dutch cape colony was surrendered to British in 1806. This people have characteristics of strong and independence and their ancestors disliked British.
Basters and Coloreds are two other groups of people that reside in Namibia. Colored in Namibia and South Africa are considered as people with mixed ethnic tradition as in black and white. These people have different individuality and background.
Namibia’s infertility and rude shorelines restricted European explorers. But in 1884, German merchant Adolf Luderitz settled permanently in between Namib Desert and Atlantic seaboard. Bismarck then confirmed the area covered by Namibia a German colony and called it South West Africa. It was expected that successors of land will clash when German settlers will move in land.
Herero were not very happy and content about the profession of Germans. Herero always dislikes the cruel and chauvinistic law of Germans and their violation and interference in African land, lives, and way of life. In early 1904, Herero unexpectedly rose in weapons against their colonial overlords.
Later this revolution was joined by Nama. Authorities were not able to control the situation in six months. Many German pioneers and armed forces died in this revolution.
Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha was given this authority to turn down the revolution. Rudolf Goering, who was the father of Herman Goering, was assigned as governor general of region. Lothar von Trotha had kind of thinking that became the policy of government under the third Reich. His argument was to demolish the Herero as a people and he did not care about women and children dying. In the end, many Nama and Herero died. Many awful things took place in camps of survivors. The Herero lost very poorly, 80% of people were destroyed. Population of Nama too was declined by 35-50%.
The only right city in the country is now Windhoek with the population of 165,000 people. This is the city to resolve practical issues. The features of German period can be noticed in looks of old buildings of the city. State Museum, State Archives, and the Namibia Crafts Center are the appealing places to visit.
Another place to visit is the Dan Vilijoen Game Park located in 24 kilometers west of Windhoek. Here you can take a look of beautiful creatures of God like ostriches, baboons, zebras, and 200 plus species of birds.
Those who like to roam the city on weekends; The Waterburg Plateau Park is just perfect to visit. It is place in 230 kilometers from Windhoek. This mountain located place is habitat to cheetah, leopard, kudu, giraffe, and white rhinos.
Namibia is quite special for those who love wildlife. Reason of the specialty is Etosha National Park. In this park, you will find vast variety of species. This abnormal land of Etosha carries Savanna grassland in it along with dark bush and forest.
But sometimes it’s a depression that grips water and cover up the area of 5000 square kilometers in Etosha pan. The continuing spring adjacent the pan is what attracts birds and land animals in winters. The view is amazing and excellent for photography.
The park is home to almost 144 species of animals and elephants in particular are plenty. Giraffe, leopard, cheetah, jackal, blue wildebeest, gemsbok, and blue rhino are among other animals. Over 300 bird species live here.
Lodging facilities are excellent here and you can spend three days observing this nature of God. Time between May and September is best to observe the animals. Etosha is located in 400 kilometers to the north of Windhoek.
Fish river valley is the only valley in the US larger. The valley is located 160 kilometers and has a breadth of 27 kilometers and deepness of 550 meters. But this is not only the size that makes this canyon attractive.
What appeals are the stunning views from different angles. Hiking is another feature that attracts adventurous people. 90 kilometer hiking track is especially developed and can take four to five days to complete.
The track ends in Ai-Ais spring resort, the best place to relax. Hiking is allowed from beginning of May to end of September. The hike is definitely exhausting and you have to be in good shape to proceed. The authorities won’t allow you to go on a hike before seeing your medical fitness certificates. Fish river valley is located 580 kilometers to the south of Windhoek.
The skeleton coast is a burial ground of seafarers and whales. Intense fog is the issue of this place. Next to the place is one of the most dry and hostile placing called Namib Desert. Adventurous people trek here along the shoreline to absorb the beauty of the place. On the south Cape Cross is located where whole colony is developed having many seals. The coast park covers the area of 16,400 square kilometers and is 355 kilometers northwest of Windhoek.
In 1486, Diego Cao, a Portuguese explorer, explored this area. He is one of those who depressed Europeans through his experiences from venturing ashore until the arrival of Germans 400 years later. On the south, Namib-Naukluft National Park is located. It is the backwoods covering the area of 50,000 square kilometers.
The land is varied and has the features of mountain outcrops, majestic sand dunes, and deep cut gorges. The Sossusvlej area is supreme for stunning dunes.
Kavango and Caprivi Strip region is located at the northeast of the country. The area is perfect for camping and for bird lovers. Kaudom, Caprivi, Mahango, Mudumu, and Mamili are the game reserves of area. During the civil war in Angola, Poachers did huge harm to wildlife. Now animals are increasing at big rate. Leopard, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, lion and other different species are including in wildlife.
More than half of the year is summer in Namibia and sun is shining for 300 days. The temperature of shoreline varies between 5C to 25C. The temperature of land varies between 20C to 34C and can increase up to 40C in north & south of the country. Not only summer is severe but winter is equally severe and ice crop up in most parts of country. The rain falls take place in summers and Caprivi region faces most heavy rains of the season. Rains do not affect travel plans. March to October is the best time to visit the place. December to march is worst time to visit the Namib desert and Etosha.
Cotton clothes are best options for summers. For winters, go for warmers, sweaters, and heavy cottons. In summer, land get hot so make sure you have good pair of shoes. Camera, binoculars, sunglasses, sun hats, sunscreen, mosquito repellant are stuff you should have in travelling. The places are quite foggy so make sure to have dust proof luggage. Do remember that things made of ivory are not allowed to carry through customs so don’t buy it.
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