NAMIBIA
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INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE NAMIBIA TOURISM BOARD

General Information
Population
Physical Infrastructure
Enviroment
Flora
Fauna
Economy
Entry Requirements
Social Infrastructure
Foreign Representation
Transport
Medical & Emergency Services
Tax & Customs
Money Matters
What To Pack
Electrical Appliance
International Telephone Code
Time Zone
Drinking Water
Temperature Table

General Information

Surface Area: 824 268 km2
Capital: Windhoek
Independence: March 21 1990
First President: Sam Nujoma
Current President: Hifikipunye Pohamba
Multiparty Parliament
Democratic Construction
Division of power between executive  legislature, judiciary
Secular State- Freedom of Religion (90% Christian)
Freedom of Press/Media

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Population

1.826 854 million
Density: 2.2 per km2
13 Regions
240 000 inhabitants in Windhoek (15 %)
Official Language: English
13 Ethnic Cultures
16 Languages and Dialects
Literacy Rate: 65%
Life Expectancy: 56 Years
Population Growth Rate 2.9%
1450 Schools- 94% of children attend school

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Physical Infrastructure

5450km tarred roads
37000km gravel roads
Main Harbours: Walvis Bay, Lüderitz
Airports & airstrips: Windhoek main airport: Hosea Kutako International, Windhoek city:Eros Airport.Airstrips: 46
Rail Network: 2382km narrow gauge
6.2 telephone lines per 100 inhabitants
Direct-dailling facilities to 221 countries
Mobile communication system: GSM]
Agreements with 40 countries / 80 networks
Postal service affiliated with Universal Postal Union

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Enviroment

Nature Reserves: 15% of Surface Area (105 559 km2)
Highest Mountain: Brandberg 2579m
Other Mountains: Spitzkoppe 1728m,1584, Molteblick 2480m, Gamsberg 2349
Rivers: Orange River ( Southern Border with South Africa)
Kunene, Okavango, Zambezi and Kwando/Linyanti/Chobe, ( Northern Border with Angola, Zambia and Botswana
Ephemeral Rivers: Fish-, Kuiseb-, Swakop and Ugab river

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Flora

14 vegetation zones
120 species of trees
200 endemic plant species
100 species of lichen
Living Fossil plant: Welwitschia mirabilis

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Fauna

Big Game: Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Buffalo, Cheetah, Leopard, Giraffe Antelope
20 Species of Antelope
240 species of mammals (14 endemic)
250 species of reptiles
50 species of Frogs
+- 630 Species of Birds
Endemic Birds: Herero Chat, Rockrunner, Damara Tern, African Fish Eagle, Monteiro's Hornbill

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Economy

Main sectors: Mining, Fishing, Tourism & Agriculture
Biggest Employer: Agriculture 46%
Fastest growing sector: Tourism
Mining: Diamonds, Uranium, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Magnesium, Cadmium, Arsenic, Pyrites, Silver, and Gold, Lithium minerals, Dimension stones (granite, marble, blue sodalite) and many semi-precious stones.
GDP per Capita: N$ 11736

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Entry Requirements

Passport- valid six months after date of entry
Citizens from the following countries are exempted from visa requirements if entering Namibia as bone fida tourists: Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal , Russia, Scandinavian Countries, Singapore, Spain, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, UK, USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
For further info contact
Ministry of Home Affairs: Tel (++264-61) 292-2102

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Social Infrastructure

One medical doctor per 3650 people
Windhoek: two privately run hospitals
Intensive-care units
Medical practitioners-world standard
24 Hours medical emergency services

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Foreign Represenation

More than 50 countries have Naibian consular or embassy representation in Windhoek. For more information,
Contact: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Information and Broadcasting
Tel (+264 61)  282 9111

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Transport

Public transport NOT available to all destinations in Namibia. Bus service from Windhoek- Cape Town/Johannesburg/Vic Falls/Swakopmund.
Namibia's main railway line runs from the South African border, connecting Windhoek to Swakomund in the West and Tsumeb in the North.
Desert Express operates a scenic route between Windhoek and the Coast.
Extensive Network of international and Regional flights from Windhoek. Domestic Charters to all destinations.

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Medical & Emergency Services

International SOS
Windhoek                 
TEL: (+264 61) 230 505/249 777

Netcare 911 Namibia
TEL: (+264 61) 22 3330
Swakopmund            
TEL: (+264 64) 400 700
Tsumeb                     
TEL: (+264 81) 128 5501
Walvis Bay                
TEL: (+264 64) 200 200

E-Med rescue
081 924

CELLPHONE/MOBILE PHONE Dial:  112

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Tax & Customs

All Goods are priced to include value-added tax of 15%. Visitors may reclaim VAT.
Enquiries: Ministry of Finance TEL: (+264 61) 23 0773

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Money Matters

Currency: The Namibian Dollar (N$) is fixed to and equals the SA Rand, South African Rand is also a legal tender .
The Traveler's cheques, foreign currency, International Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club credit cards are accepted.
Travelers cheques in foreign currency can be exchanged during banking hours, weekdays 09:00-15:30 and on Saturdays from 08:30-10:30, at any commercial bank in most towns. Bureau de Change offices at the International Airport and Levinson Arcade  in Windhoek.
No Credit Cards accepted at petrol service stations. Most petrol/garage cards accepted. Personal cheques and foreign currency or foreign Travelers Cheques are not accepted at rest camps.

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What To Pack

As temperatures can be very high during the summer months, clothing made from cotton rather than synthetic fibres is preferable. During winter, light clothing combined with a sweater and/or jacket is recommended, as it becomes cold in the evenings and early mornings. Important items to pack: comfortable walking shoes, swimsuits, binoculars, sun hats and sun glasses, sunscreen/sun block, mosquitoes repellent and battery operated or conventional razors for visiting remote areas

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Electrical Appliances

All run on 220/240 volts. Outlets are of the round 3-pin, 15-amps type, same as in South Africa

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International Telephone Code

To phone Namibia internationally, dial (++264) and then the local code, omitting the first 0, then the local number. Include the zero when phoning within Namibia.

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Time Zone

Summer time: GMT + 2 hours from the 1st Sunday in September to the 1st Sunday in April
Winter: GMT + 1 hour from the 1st Sunday in April to the 1st Sunday in September

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Drinking Water

Most tap water is purified and safe to drink. Visitors should exercise caution in rural areas.

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Temperature Table