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Full country name:Republic of Namibia
Area: 825,418 sq km (318,261 sq mi)
Population: 1.8 million
Capital city: Windhoek (pop 161,000)
People: 86% African (50% Ovambo, 9% Kavangos, 7% Herero, 7% Damara, 5% Nama, 4% Caprivian, 3% Bushmen, 2% Baster, 0.5% Tswana), 6.6% white, 7.4% mixed
Languages: English, Afrikaans, German, Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
Religion: Christian, Lutheran, native religions
Government: Republic
President Sam Nujoma

GDP: US$6.6 billion
GDP per head: US$4100
Annual growth: 2%
Inflation: 7%
Major industries: Meat packing, fish processing, dairy products, mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper), millet, sorghum, peanuts, livestock, fish
Major trading partners: UK, South Africa, Spain, Japan, Germany, US

Events

A big event to watch for is Maherero Day, towards the end of August, when the Herero people gather in traditional dress at Okahandja (just north of Windhoek) for a memorial service to the chiefs killed in the Khoi-Khoi and German wars. In October there's a similar event for the Hereros in Omaruru (north-west of Windhoek) to honour their chief Zeraua. Independence Day on 21 March is celebrated with feasts and festivities all over Namibia. The Windhoek Carnival held over a week in late April is a big social event for city sophisticates, as is the Küste Karnival at Swakopmund in late August or early September, and the Windhoek Agricultural Show in late September. Oktoberfest, with all its beer swilling and sausage sizzling, is vigourously celebrated throughout the country in late October.

Traveling Guidelines

Visas: Most visitors to Namibia do not require a visa
Health risks: Bilharzia (in the east), malaria (in the north-east)
Time: GMT/UTC plus two hours
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric

Ideal Time to visit

The dry winter season (May to October) is the most pleasant time to visit Namibia. It's best to avoid Namib and Etosha national parks in the extreme heat between December and March. Resort areas are busiest during both Namibian and South African school holidays, which usually take place from mid-December to mid-January, late-April to early June, and late-August to mid-September.