Namibia
The haunting landscapes of the Skeleton Coast and giant dunes of Sossusvlei, the animal wonderland of Etosha and the awe-inspiring Fish River Canyon are just some of the memories a visitor to Namibia will treasure.
Sometimes called Africa's Gem, Namibia boasts prolific wildlife yet the abiding impression will be the vast landscapes of deserts and plains stretching seemingly into infinity. Namibia has rich ethnic diversity, perhaps most visible is the dramatic dress styles of groups such as the Herero and the Himba. This is also one of the last refuges of San (Bushmen) who will still practise their hunter-gatherer way of life in remote areas.
Namibia's year-round sunshine makes it an excellent destination for outdoor activities. The entire coast is a fisherman's paradise and there are excellent opportunities for dune skiing, hiking and climbing. Horseback and camel safaris, gliding, sky diving, and mountain biking are also popular pastimes.
The magnificent and varied National Parks and game reserves, including the famed Etosha, offer endless opportunities for bird-watching and big game safaris. Hotels and game lodges are of an international standard, but a special feature of Namibia is its network of comfortable guest farms.
Population
The latest figures estimate 1,4 million
Language
Although English is the official language, both Afrikaans and German are frequently used
Capital City
Windhoek
Namibia is a large and mainly barren country sharing borders with Angola to the north, Botswana to the east, South Africa to the south and, in the Caprivi Strip, a narrow panhandle of Namibian territory jutting from the northeast corner of the country, bordering with Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Namibia is a place where desert runs down from the central highlands to a long coastline, bordered to the north and south by semi-desert where infrequent rains allow some vegetation to survive. The water-rich north east of Namibia is particularly interesting in terms of fauna and flora. Due to its high average summer rainfall, the area comprises a myriad of rivers, forests, swamps and flood plains.
The country has a long coastline which borders on the Namib Desert. An escarpment leads on to the central highland regions and mountain ranges. The rest of the land is arid semi-desert which is crossed by some major rivers. The extreme northern areas are tropical, especially near to the Kunene River and in parts of the Caprivi Strip, with the typical vegetation and climate of such regions.
The Fish River Canyon, the second largest such natural feature in the world, offers both a unique geology and plenty of game viewing on its extensive hiking trails.
The Namib Desert is one of the world's true deserts. Towering dunes and remarkable animals which have adapted to the harsh conditions here are to be seen.
There are some ten indigenous cultures, including the Ovambo majority (about 50 percent), the Kavango, the Herero, the Damara, the Nama, the Caprivian, the Bushmen, the Basta and the Tswana, all of whom each make up less than 10 percent of the population.
One of the country's oldest heritages comes from the small Bushman community, whose ancestors, the stone-age San, produced a wealth of rock art across the country. Painted with natural pigments on caves and cliffs wherever these hunter-gatherers made their home, there are several different styles discernible to the careful viewer.
Religion
There is a majority following of Christian beliefs and social customs, with some tribal beliefs maintained in rural areas. Over 80 percent of the population follow Christian beliefs, mainly in the Lutheran tradition, and some 20 percent continue tribal beliefs.
The constitution provides for a multi-party democracy. Headed by the president, Sam Nujoma, the executive body is assisted by the cabinet. The bicameral legislature comprises an 80-member National Assembly and the National Council, which reviews bills passed by the National Assembly.
The earliest available evidence shows that the Khoi-Khoi culture came from the south, gradually displacing the original inhabitants, the San, and remained in control of Namibia until around 1500. The first Bantu-speaking peoples appeared in south and central Namibia, around 2 300 years ago. Their arrival marked the first tribal structures in southern African societies that followed a modern model, rather than the simple hunter-gatherer societies which preceded them. Other tribes either retreated to the desert or the swamps of the Okavango Delta in neighbouring Botswana, or were enslaved into Bantu society.
In the 19th century, Namibia was annexed by Germany, except for the enclave of Walvis Bay, which was taken in 1878 by the British as part of the Cape Colony. Meanwhile, in the south, diamonds had been discovered east of Lüderitz by a South African labourer. Rapidly, the German authorities proclaimed the entire area between Lüderitz and the Orange River a sperrgebiet, or forbidden area. German rule came to an end during WWI when German forces surrendered to a South African expeditionary army fighting on the side of the British.
The South African government maintained its resulting control of the territory and, in 1949, granted parliamentary representation to the white population. The bulk of Namibia's viable farmland was parcelled into 6 000 farms owned by white settlers, while black workers and their families were confined by law to reserves.
Forced labour had been the lot of most Namibians since the German annexation, and was one of the main factors which led to mass demonstrations and the development of nationalism in the late 1950s. Around this time, a number of political parties were formed and strikes organised. By 1960 most of these parties had merged to form the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), which took the problematic issue of South African occupation to the International Court of Justice.
The court's outcome was inconclusive but, in 1966, the UN General Assembly voted to terminate South Africa's mandate and set up a Council for South West Africa to administer the territory. SWAPO adopted guerrilla tactics at the same time, but the organisation's failure to establish an internal government in Namibia made it easy for South Africa to assert control. South Africa refused to negotiate on the UN-supervised programme for Namibian independence unless an estimated 19 000 Cuban troops were removed from neighbouring Angola. In response, SWAPO intensified its guerrilla activities, severely restricting movement in the north of the country.
The Namibian population grew tired of the war and the economy suffered badly. By 1985, South Africa was also under economic pressure and was distracted by internal unrest of its own. A UN-sponsored deal ensured Cuban troops left Angola if South African troops exited Namibia. UN-monitored elections were held in November 1989 and SWAPO won a clear majority of the votes. A constitution was adopted in February 1990 and independence granted the following month under the presidency of SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma. Nujoma was re-elected in 1994 and embarked on a reconstruction programme for the country based on the retention of a mixed economy and partnership with the private sector. Nujoma tied Namibia's currency to the South African Rand in March 1998 and economic ties between the two countries still remain strong.
Mining
Mining accounts for about one third of Namibia's GDP, with a range of minerals from diamonds and other precious and semi-precious stones, to lead, zinc, uranium and even guano, sourced from various islands off the coast. The other major sectors of the economy are agriculture (cattle farming), an extensive fishing industry and tourism.
Agriculture
Livestock dominates the agricultural sector, although a sizeable proportion of the population is engaged in subsistence farming of crops such as wheat, maize and millet. Agriculture is becoming increasingly difficult as the country is suffering from the encroachment of the desert on farming areas. It has also been negatively affected since the early 1990s by the drought afflicting the whole region.
Fishing
Namibia enjoys some of the richest fishing grounds in the world, although catches of pilchard, the main species in the area, have been depleted by uncontrolled fishing prior to Namibian independence. Commercial shipping has picked up since the return of Walvis Bay, the best deep-water port in Africa on the Atlantic side, to Namibian jurisdiction.
Exports
Most of the country's trade is with South Africa: raw materials are exported in exchange for manufactured goods. This pattern is likely to continue for the foreseeable future although there is ongoing growth in trading links with other countries.