Life extinct at Sossusvlei, Namibia

Namibia – Our Truths & Trivia

In Africa, En-Route, Namibia, Our Journeys, Trip-Types, Truths & Trivia, World Travel by JanisLeave a Comment

Let’s start with the Truths about Namibia

So this page is a bit of fun, it is not meant to be a wiki one-stop-shop. It has some of the interesting stuff about Namibia, and then a bit of the trivial stuff, including our take on the place.

Petrified Trees in the pan of Deadvlei, Sossusvlei, Namibia
Location

The 3 C’s

Continent

Africa

Country

Namibia

Capital

Windhoek

Namibia is a wonderful location to bring out your inner adventurer. If you love a road trip and seeking out wildlife, it doesn’t get much better than this. With the sweeping red sand dunes in the Namib desert, the harsh Atlantic coast line of the Skeleton Coast and then the abundance of wildlife that can be found in the north of the country. Who could want more?

A mixed bunch, Etosha, Namibia

( Namibia’s place in Southern Africa)

(The stopovers of our 2013 tour of Namibia)

 
National Flag
 
In the cheetah's gaze, Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch, Namibia

A helpful guide

If you're considering a road trip through Namibia, then your in for a holiday of a lifetime. I always find it incredibly useful to plan our trips with the help of a guide book.

Take a look at this informative Bradt guide, it will give you great tips and advice.

It’s good to talk

What speaks?
Language

The official language is English, although Afrikaans and German is widely spoken.

Dialing code

+264

Currency

Namibian Dollar and South African Rand

What time

Timezone

West Africa Time (WAT)
Observes Daylight Saving (DST)

Difference from UTC

+1hrs

Chris Nel reflects amonst the dunes, Living Desert Adventures, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Namibia

So what’s this Trivia then?

Did you know?

  • The Namib Desert which runs along the Atlantic coast in Namibia, is considered to be the oldest desert in the world.
  • Namib-Naukluft National Park is the largest game reserve in Africa.
  • It is Illegal to venture onto the sands of the protected diamond area of “Sperrgebiet’, just outside Lüderitz. They take their diamonds very seriously you could face a heavy fine or imprisonment.
  • The threatened Mountain Zebra, found only in Namibia, south-western Angola and South Africa are typically different from the plains Zebra, as its stripes do not loop around its belly, there is a distinctive gap. Also, they are often browner in colour.
  • The elusive Desert Elephants that frequent the Kunene region, can only be found in this part of Namibia and Mali in north Africa.
  • Namibia was a German colony from 1884 until 1915, and still has an evident German influence through the larger towns
  • The indigenous Himba people are considered the last semi-nomadic people in Namibia.
On the outskirts of town, Kolmanskop, Namibia

Famous for?

Food & Drink

  • Brai
    BBQ – only African style.
  • Sundowners
    With the sun setting over a Namibian desert there is no better place – we’ll have a G&T
  • A long way to travel for…
    Infamous apple pie at McGregor’s Bakery in Solitaire
  • Visiting Swakopmund
    try one of the German restaurant and bars
Sundowners at Camp Kipwe, Twyfelfontein, Namibia

See & Do

Wildlife that we saw – to name just few

We know there’s no guarantees of what you will see – but we were lucky enough to spot the following – what will you see?

  • Mammals
    Desert & Bush Elephants, Lions, Mountain Zebra, Rhino, Cheetah, Giraffe, Antelopes & Buffalo.
  • Birds
    Flamingos, Pelicans, Ostrich, Vultures, Kestrels & Bustards.
  • Reptiles & Insects
    Chameleon, Skink, desert lizard, gecko, turtles & sidewinder snake.
  • Plant Life
    Welwitschia Mirabilis (lives to upto 2,000 years), Acacia trees of deadvlei, Baobab tree, Quiver Tree, Nara Plant, Palm trees & Dollar bushes.
A young springbok, Morning Game Drive, Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch, Namibia
  • Sossusvlei
    Watch the sunrise over the iconic red sands of the Namib Desert
  • Skeleton Coast
    Search out the Shipwrecks along the unforgiving Skeleton Coast.
  • Etosha National Park
    Drive amongst the watering holes in Etosha National Park, to catch sight of a pride of lions.
  • Deadvlei
    Walk amongst the trees in Deadvlei, which died over 600 years ago.
A lone living Acacia tree in the pan of Deadvlei, Sossusvlei, Namibia
  • The Sky at Night
    Be sure to keep looking up of an evening, the night skies are amazing for Stargazing.
  • On Safari
    Take a ride in the back of a safari truck, day or night, you won’t regret it.
  • Little 5 Living Desert tour
    Whilst in Swakopmund embark on the informative, Little 5 Living Desert tour.
  • Visit Kolmanskop
    Wander through the mining town of Kolmanskop swallowed up by the Namib Desert.
The night sky from our lodge, Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch, Namibia
  • The Deserts
    Visit the Namib and Kalahari deserts for an unforgettable experience.
  • The Himba People
    If you get the opportunity visit the Himba People with their ochre coloured painted skin.
  • Fish River Canyon
    Overlook Horseshoe Bend at Fish River Canyon, Africa’s largest canyon.
A tribal dance of the Himba, Damaraland, Namibia

Movies & TV

  • Mad Max – Fury Road 2015
    Max Rockatansky returns, this time to the ‘wastelands’ of the Namib Desert – and it’s east to see why.
  • The Mummy 2017
    Tom Cruise stars in this movie about the discover of an ancient princess.
  • Flight of the Phoenix 2004
    The Mongolian desert is swapped for the Namibi desert in this remake of the 1965 classic.
  • The Cell 2000
    This Sci-fi thriller featuring J. Lo picks some key locations in Namibia.
  • BBC & David Attenborough
    If you enjoy wildlife documentaries then David Attenborough and the BBC documentaries “Life”, “Life on Earth”, “The Living Planet” & most recently “Planet Earth II” feature this amazing landscape.
  • The Grand Tour – Amazon
    The Amazon Grand Tour -featuring the trio from Top Gear featured a 2 part special in Namibia.

Our favourite travel reads

Why not?

Start creating your own adventure, and discover the amazing scenery & African wildlife of Namibia for yourself. We chose British Airways, and it was all done with a few clicks, a brief stopover in Johannesburg, and our luggage was there for our arrival in Windhoek.

And your thoughts on the place?

Return-a-bility

or What are the chances of us revisiting?
(0% – You’ll have to drag us over hot coals to go back 100% – Why am I not there now?)

80%
Notes

We’d love to head back one day, probably visit the Caprivi strip in the north of Namibia. Gary will want to find the ghost ships of the Skeleton coast.

Another victim of the skeleton coast, Swakopmund, Namibia

Value for Money

Our value for money index.
Don’t forget we’re Londoners, and that means our baseline is quite high.
(0% – How much? I wanted to buy a drink, not the bar 100% – How much? I’ll take two.)

60%
Notes

Prices generally not too bad, but a lot of the tourist activity is priced for the market, rather than actual cost. We found it cheaper in the south, but not so much wildlife.

An evening dinner at Camp Kipwe, Twyfelfontein, Namibia

Behind the wheel – the driving karma

What’s it like driving in the country.
Which side of the road do they drive on? They drive on the right.
(0% – They’re suicidal – they’re out to kill us 100% – I’m in driving paradise.)

85%
Notes

Over to Gary: “I loved it. In towns the driving standard were good, on the open roads fun, and on the dirt trails (That made up for about 70% of the mileage) is was fabulous – just remember to open the vent in the pick-up! Also keep an eye on your fuel level and It’s possible you may get a puncture.

Heidi - offroad, Lüderitz, Namibia

Something to make your travels easier?

  • 6-Port Desktop USB Charging Station

  • Mini Dual USB Car Adapter

  • Portable Charger 2 USB Ports Power Bank

  • Bose SoundLink Revolve, Portable Bluetooth Speaker

  • USB rechargeable LED Flashlight

  • Collapsible Water Bottle

Janis’s Hi’s & Lo’s

Highlight

So many to choose from; watching the Desert Elephants & the sunrise over Sossusvlei.

Lowlight

Unable to fly direct from London, so it is quite a long round trip.

Kicking up the dusk, desert elephants, Kunene Region, Namibia

Gary’s Hi’s & Lo’s

Highlight

Coming face-to-face with Lions at Etosha and of course Sossusvlei. The organised trips were all great, lovely people and the magical night sky.

Lowlight

Probably the journey, but the free upgrade from BA on the return leg from Jo’burg to London meant it ended well.

A pride of resting lions, Etosha, Namibia

Something for the Traveller

  • Children's World Globe 3D Jigsaw Puzzle

  • Travel-Size Laundry Bag

  • Metallic World Globe

  • RFID Blocking Cards

  • The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World

Inspired to visit Namibia?

Tempted to plan your self-drive safari? There’s plenty to experience that will leave you with a lifetime of memories.

Why not checkout the latest deals on Booking.Com?

Booking.com
Namibia – Our Truths & Trivia

(Why not Pin It for Later?)

About the Author

Janis

Janis, the co-founder of Our World for You, was born in London and raised in Kent and the Isle of Wight. Along with Gary her partner, they have been travelling part time since 1995. In 2016, they decided that enough was enough with the 9 to 5, so armed with the knowledge and experience that they had gained on their adventures, that they wanted to inspire others to travel the world near and far.

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