You can’t help but notice the stark landscapes and stunning scenery as you arrive on your flight to Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia. I recently visited the Republic of Namibia, thanks to Air Namibia Nigeria for inviting me and showing me the rare beauty of the country.
I have always believed that every destination is unique in its own way, but Namibia is quite outstanding. The country has quietly become one of the most amazing destinations to visit in Africa. Often referred to as “the best-kept secret of Africa”, Namibia is located in the southern part of the continent. With a variety of natural treasures, spectacular landscapes, abundant wildlife, and beautiful coastlines, rich culture and history as well as friendly people, the country has so much to offer.
The South African country is a place every Nigerian needs to visit at least once in a lifetime. Here are surprising things most Nigerians probably don’t know about Namibia:
1. Namibia is a hidden gem
Located in southwest Africa, Namibia is often underrated because it doesn’t have the economic status of its neighbouring countries including South Africa. But when you visit, you’ll discover a fascinating country blessed with everything beautiful, even more than its neighbours.
2. It’s easy to get there
Photo by: NaijaNomads
Namibia has finally stepped out of the shadows, and it’s now easily reached from Nigeria. Air Namibia Airline now flies four times a week, directly from Lagos – MM2 (4.5 hours flight) to Windhoek in Namibia. They launched in June 2018, to bring the country a bit closer to Nigerians.
3. Getting a Namibia visa is easy and stress-free
We all know how almost difficult it is for most Nigerians to get visas to most destinations across the world. Well, getting a Namibia visa is like taking a candy from a baby. You don’t need to waste your life on a long queue at VFS office or the embassy. Here’s a detailed information on how you can apply for Namibia visa in Nigeria.
4. Currency Exchange
Photo Source: Continentalcurrency.ca
Namibia Dollar is the official currency of the country. The South African Rand is also accepted all through the country. (1 South African Rand equals to 1 Namibia Dollar.) You can use both your Nigerian credit and debit cards in Namibia. However, it’s advisable to change your Naira to Dollars before you leave Nigeria to avoid foreign transaction fee on your card transactions. When you get to Namibia, you can easily change your US dollars to the local currency at the airport or the nearest bureau de change in town. As at 13th November 2018, 1 Namibia dollar equals 25.81 Naira.
5. It’s sparsely populated
This will amaze you! Namibia is one of the largest countries in the world. The country has a total area of 824,292 km2 (318,261 sq miles) while Nigeria has a total area of 923,768 km2 (356,669 sq miles). Yet, Namibia is one of the sparsely populated countries in the world with about 2.5 million population. We all know that Nigeria is densely populated with about 200 million inhabitants. You can calculate the difference and how less densely populated Namibia is. It’s been said that Namibia is twice the size of California in the USA or twice the size of Germany. This means that if half of the Nigerian population decides to visit Namibia today, we will definitely find a place to pitch our tents while we enjoy all it has to offer. About 10% of Namibian land is inhabited, and the remaining 90% is a natural habitat.
6. Windhoek is the ‘new’ Stew for Nigerians…
Brimming with historic buildings and a wide range of fascinating attractions, steeped in history and culture, Windhoek belongs on your bucket list. It’s the capital and largest city of Namibia, steeped in history and culture, and complemented by modern amenities. The city is clean, well-groomed and easily accessible. The roads are also clean and well-kept; you will think they are painted every day if you think about most of our Nigerian roads. The city’s unique flavour is evident wherever you go. It’s a place that balances its dazzling modern-day with its charming past. You’ll definitely love it here!
7. Walvis Bay and Swakopmund are amazing
Want to get away from it all? You should visit Walvis Bay and Swakopmund – some of the major cities in Namibia. Walvis Bay is a beautiful harbour town located about 30km of Swakopmund. The town is a perfect place for pleasure seekers looking for gorgeous beaches, glorious sunshine, and a relaxed atmosphere. Swakopmund is also a spectacular hotspot! We stayed here for a night at the Swakopmund Hotel like a royalty. When we woke up the next morning, we discovered that the city remains in its pristine state with fresh fragrances intermingling with the coastal air, infusing it with a serene ambience you can’t even find anywhere in Nigeria.
8. Rich Culture
Namibia boasts different cultures and traditions with a strong German influence. You’ll find the German imprint on some of the architecture in the country especially in Swakopmund. The indigenous people of Namibia are the San people, the Himba people, the Damara, the Nama, Herero, and the Ovambo. The most fascinating tribe of Namibia is the Himba tribe, they are semi-nomadic pastoralist people. We were fortunate to meet some Himba women selling souvenirs in front of our hotel in Windhoek. With their mesmerizing appearance, you will think you have travelled back in time.
The Himba women of Namibia colour their skin red – with a mix of resin, butter, and ocher to protect their skin from the sun. The women leave their upper body bare and wear skirts on their lower body. They were friendly as we purchased some souvenirs from them. However, they won’t allow you to take a photo of them or with them if you don’t buy anything from them. After someone from our group bought the souvenirs, they were happy to take a photo with him. They even learnt how to dance one of the Nigerian signature dances – “Shaku Shaku”.
9. English is widely spoken
Namibia is an English speaking country. But there are about 30 local languages spoken in the country. The most popular native language is called Oshiwambo, and it’s spoken by most Namibians.
10. Driving in Namibia
Driving in Namibia is quite different from driving in Nigeria. If you are used to driving in Nigeria, you may enjoy driving in Namibia. However, you’ll need to be aware of the weather, windy roads and of course the various road rules before you even start the car. In Namibia, the steering wheel is on the left-hand side of the car and this means you need to adapt to this new position when driving.
11. The culinary scene is exciting
Photo Source: HafeniTradition
The Namibian cuisine is varied. Due to the German influence, you will find a wide range of German and international cuisine in Windhoek and other major cities. For a taste of local foods, you should visit Swakopmund. The city has an interesting gastronomic scene too; don’t leave without having a taste of the local delicacies in Hafeni Traditional Restaurant. The restaurant looks like a local “Mama put” in Nigeria, and the food is delicious. Just like our favourite Nigerian suya meat or the Nyama Choma of Kenya, you will love the Kapana (grilled meat) of Namibia.
12. Beers are plentiful
Namibia is a paradise for beer lovers. You will find a wide range of beers including the Windhoek Lager, which is one of the top beers in the world.
13. It has the oldest desert in the world
The Namib Desert is the oldest desert in the world, and it’s a coastal desert with massive dunes along the Atlantic Ocean. The name “Namib” means vast place, and the desert covers about one-fifth of Namibia. You will also find some of the world’s highest sand dunes rising to about 383 metres. You can indulge in a wide range of activities on the dunes. I think we did a little dune bashing with our desert vehicle. However, some amazing people on our group – Zainob of Zeegoes and Yejide of Naijanomads indulged in sand boarding and quad biking on the dunes and they definitely had fun.
14. It’s got a Fish River Canyon
Yes, Namibia has got one of the largest canyons in the world after Arizona’s Grand Canyon in the US. Hiking the Fish River Canyon is an absolute delight if you are a passionate hiker. It’s been said to be one of the best hikes in the world.
15. Get your Adrenaline Fix
Photo Source: Syn on Flickr
Namibia is an ideal place to get your adrenaline pumping with a wide range of extreme sports to enjoy such as paragliding in Swakopmund, kitesurfing, sandboarding on the dunes of Namibia, hot air ballooning over the plains, skydiving, and mountain climbing, quad biking, and of course surfing.
16. Wildlife Safaris
There are several wildlife safari attractions in the country including one of the world’s largest national parks – Etosha NP. The park is home to a wide range of wildlife species including elephants, springboks, giraffes, lions and many more. You can indulge in some game drives and wildlife viewing on a safari while on holiday in the country. You will also find several accommodation options around the national parks.
17. Luxury Accommodation
Photo Source: BucketListTraveler
Namibia boasts a wide range of accommodation options, from the five-star hotels in Windhoek’s to the beach resorts in the coastal cities. If you are an urban traveller, you can stay in the only five-star hotel in Windhoek – Hilton Windhoek and enjoy all its luxurious amenities. If you prefer to stay in a place with a true country atmosphere in Windhoek, you should consider Windhoek Country Club Resort. For those looking to enjoy luxury without breaking the bank, you should consider Safari Court Hotel. There are also a variety of luxury hotels as well as self-catering accommodation options in other major cities including Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, and Lüderitz.
18. Friendly & Welcoming People
I have always thought my Kenyan people are the best when it comes to being openhearted to foreigners. But I experienced more from the Namibians; they were friendly and very welcoming.
19. Favourite Hollywood Movie Set
Photo Source: Autotrader.ca
Namibia has become a favourite location for Hollywood blockbusters. The sprawling desert and its sand dunes have been frequently used as a location for big screen movies such as Mad Max: Fury Road, Beyond Borders, The Cell, The Prisoner, and many others. Even the popular Bollywood movie, Dhoom 2 had its opening train scene shot in the country. Love that movie!:) With its stunning scenery, a location like Namibia will give any movie a run for its money. Just maybe, Nollywood will have the huge budget to shoot a blockbuster movie in Namibia someday!
20. It’s a safe country
With low crime rates and low risks of natural disasters, Namibia is a safe country to visit. According to the Global Peace Index 2018, It is one of the safest countries with ‘high’ state of peace. No pun intended, Nigeria is at the lower end of the list. But we continue to hope for a better Nigeria!
Between the spectacular landscapes, abundant wildlife, luxury hotels, rich cultures, and majestic dunes, this South African country has so much to offer Nigerians. The most difficult part is having enough time to explore all the country has to offer.
If you are tired of Dubai or South Africa, Namibia should be your next destination. If you have been to the country, kindly share your experience with us.
4 responses
I already know. Truly a lovely, safe place to visit. Was in Walvis bay and Swapkopmund back in 2010.