Capital: Windhoek

Time: GMT + 1 hour (March- September)
          GMT + 2 hours (October-February)
 
Population: 1.8 million

Area: 825,418km˛

Currency: Namibia Dollar (N$). South African Rands (R) are also accepted

Climate: Most of the country is arid, with subtropical conditions in the north-east.  The hot summers (between November and April) have temperatures rising to 35’C and although winters (May to October) are cooler, it is still quite warm compared to other parts of the world.  Daytime temperatures average around 23’C, however at night, temperatures can dwindle to a chilly 0'C.  Rain is extremely rare in Namibia.

People: Black 86% (Owambo 50%), Mixed 7.4%, White 6.6%. 

Official language: English. Other national languages include Afrikaans, Oshiwambo and German.

Geography: The country consists mostly of a high plateau with the Namib Desert along the western coast and the Kalahari desert to the east.  The formidable Skeleton Coast spans the majority of Nambia's western coastline.

Neighbouring countries: Angola, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia.
 
Economy: Namibia is a developing country and its economy depends largely on mining. The
country is the fourth largest exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa and the world’s fifth largest
producer of uranium. It also is a rich source of alluvial diamonds.  Despite the country’s mineral riches, most Namibians are unemployed and live in poverty, making a living from subsistence farming.  The government has recently privatised a number of enterprises to stimulate foreign investment in the economy, which has experienced mild growth over recent years.  

When to go: It is best to visit Namibia in the dry winter season when it is cooler, to avoid the high summer temperatures. This is also the best season for game viewing as animals are more easily spotted around waterholes and dams.

What to pack: Bring comfortable, light-weight clothes. If you are coming on safari, try to keep your baggage to 12-15kg, preferably in a soft bag, as space is limited on safari transport.

• Shorts, T-shirts, sun dresses
• Swimming costumes
• Good comfortable walking shoes
• Casual lightweight cotton, khaki or neutral coloured clothes for safaris
• Fleece or sweater and a warm jacket for game drives or cool evenings
• Wide brimmed hat
• Lots of sun tan lotion, sunblock and lip cream – most foreigners tend to underestimate the hot, African sun and end up with uncomfortable sunburn that can tend to dampen the holiday spirit
• Anti-malaria prophylactics – consult your doctor/pharmacist about the regions you will be visiting as the southern parts of the country do not have malaria, but if you are going to the far north, you will definitely need them
• Insect repellent creams
• Binoculars, camera (different kinds of film are widely available )
• Sunglasses