Namibia Will Take Your Breath Away

Namibia will take your breath away with her enormous variety of scenic beauty, abundance of wildlife and rich diversity of geological phenomena. The people are heart warming and friendly, the infrastructure well developed and there is an extensive choice of accommodation to choose from.

Situated along the southwestern coast of the African continent, Namibia is a land of remarkable contrasts. Despite its size, it is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Africa. Namibia is a country of clear blue skies, and pleasant climate. The country’s landscapes are an ever changing kaleidoscope from the Namib due sea, teak woodlands in the west and waterways in the northeast.

Namibia is a land of wide-open spaces. The unique diversity of plant and animal life is due to the strikingly different climate and landforms. The narrow strip of beautiful desert with towering sand dunes and wide open plains rapidly gives way to a rugged and steep escarpment containing ancient and awe-inspiring geological formations. On some of these ancient rocks are paintings of early man and the wildlife with which he lived in harmony. On the vast central plateau of Namibia, the diversity and contrasts continue. A diversity of wildlife thriving on the edge of the Etosha Pan. The great white pan is usually dry and presents a mirror of mirages as herds of wildebeest and zebra brave the bareness to reach localized water fountains on the edge. The rivers of the North-Eastern Region contrast with the aridity of the major portion of Namibia. Of the seventeen parks and reserves in Namibia, Etosha National Park is the most famous.

Namibia offers a wide range of tourism activities such as hiking, parachuting, micro-lighting, hot-air ballooning, dune skiing, hunting, wild river rafting, rhino tracking, cave exploring, lake diving, horse riding, abseiling and sport angling. A number tourist agencies, such as NatureFriend Safaris, operating from Namibia's capital Windhoek, specialize in fly-in safaris into exiting and pristine natural environments. NatureFriend Safaris, for example, are small, intimate enterprise and offer a hands-on approach, with responsibility to the natural environment.

The standard self drive itinerary covers most of the highlights of Namibia and there are many variations. The core of the business are the fly-in safaris throughout Namibia with emphasis on the NamibRand and Sossusvlei region. To observe the vastness of Namibia and the Namib desert from the air, or flying along the shoreline of the Skeleton Coast. Also private and exclusive fly-in safaris, named "Wings over Namibia Collection".

What remains is to enjoy the people, the smell of dust, the sunsets, the wildlife and all the little things that makes us passionate about Africa. There is no better to experience Namibia than on a mobile safari, setting up camp under the African sky, sitting around the campfire at night and being able to listen and smell and hear. These are the things that make a mobile safari so different. This is where the Aus mountain escarpment meets the desert plains and dunes. Here one can encounters the ultimate hiking experience, horse trails and guided Desert Horse viewing excursions. Or a candlelight dinner under a blanket of thousand stars.

The place worth visiting is Otjiwarongo, some 50 kilometers west of the Waterberg massif and 250 km north of Windhoek. The Herero, named it "Place of the Fat Cows". Today some of the biggest cattle breeding enterprises are situated in the Otjiwarongo area. Due to the good rainfall pastureland is good and the soil is fertile. Quite a new attraction in Otjiwarongo is the crocodile farm near the eastern border of town.

Situated in the Otjiwarongo area, are some of Namibia's most reputable private game farms and reserves with integrated lodges. Okonjima is the seat of the AfriCat Foundation, which is dedicated to the protection of African big cats. Both game farms are situated south-west of Otjiwarongo. The Cheetah Conservation Fund CCF, which is specifically dedicated to the survival of cheetahs, has established an information centre there.

NAMIBIA IN HISTORY
Namibia has come a long way since 1486 when the Portuguese navigator, Diego Cao, landed and planted a stone cross at Cape Cross. After a turbulent history of German and South African occupation, Namibila, Africa’s youngest nation, obtained independence on March 21, 1990.

Only few reliable sources are available on the prehistoric times and early human existence in Namibia. The first rock paintings were found in Hunsberg in southern Namibia and are dating back to 26.000 B.C. It is assumed that Bushmen lived in Namibia since about 3.000 B.C. In the 15th century, Bantu tribes of herdsmen moved from East Africa to the north and north-west of Namibia. The Himba stayed in the Kaokoveld, the Herero later moved further south, where they met the Nama who moved north from the Orange River.

The precolonial times until the beginning of the 19th century are characterized by the work of the missionaries. The missionaries were followed by merchants, scientists and adventurers. In the year 1840 the Nama Chief Jan Jonker Afrikaner founded a settlement in Klein-Windhoek, an area with good water. Foundations were laid for what later to become the capital city, Windhoek.

German Colonial Era
In the beginning of the German colonial era it was very difficult to find settlers. The main obstacle was the ongoing war between Herero and Nama. The Schutztruppe, which had landed in 1889 in Walvis Bay under the command of colonel Kurt von François, initially counted 23 men. Its main task was to mediate between the hostile groups. But the Nama under their leader Hendrik Witbooi resisted the new colonial power.

Although the German Empire generously gave farmland away, the settling process only took place very slowly. About 1000 whites settled in the country up to January of 1904. The Herero revolt under their chief Samuel Maharero broke out. He launched his revolt from Okahandja with 6.000 warriors and initially caused the German Schutztruppe heavy losses. After reinforcements and cannons were brought in and the blade General Lothar von Trotha had taken over command, the tides turned against the Herero people.

Two months later, in October 1904, the Nama in the south rose against the German oppressors, after having forfeited and combined forces with the Herero against the Germans. The fighting lasted until March 1907 and ended with the signing of the so-called Schutzverträge, Protection Contracts. As result, the colony "Deutsch Südwestafrika" started to flourish. Within a few years the number of settlers increased tenfold. In 1908, rich diamond deposits were discovered in the vicinity of Luederitz. The mining industry also developed in other places, like Tsumeb and Otavi. The beginning of the First World War put an end to the young German colony. In 1915, the German Schutztruppe was forced to surrender near Tsumeb to the South African troops fighting for the British. Deutsch Südwestafrika became a protectorate of the Union of South Africa.

The United Nations withdrew the mandate from South Africa in 1966. South Africa refused to accept this resolution and to hand its control over the country to the UN. The SWAPO, South-West African People's Organization, under the leadership of Sam Nujoma, started the armed liberation. Most of it took place in Ovamboland, at the Angolan border in the north-west. The diplomatic turmoil between the UN and South Africa and SWAPO lasted for 23 years. On November 11, 1989 the first free elections for the Constitutional Assembly were held. SWAPO won the elections.

Useful web sites:
www.scent-of-namibia.com
www.namibiatourism.com
www.windhoekcc.org.na
www.genet.gov.na
www.namibiaweb.com