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Discover the destination
Iconic wildlife, travel stories, myths and legends… Learn more about Namibia and its people.
Best practices
To do A warm greeting is always appreciated, with a firm but not too tight handshake. In rural areas, a more formal greeting is preferred. Furthermore, using your right hand to give, receive or eat is a sign of respect. To avoid Touching children on the head can be perceived as intrusive and inappropriate. You should also avoid sudden gestures or an overly direct tone.
Fun facts
The Khoisan languages, found in South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana and Namibia, are known as ‘click’ languages and are characterised by the production of sounds with the tongue or lips without the aid of the lungs. South African artist Miriam Makeba performed the famous ‘The Click Song’ in the 1940s, which is a cover of a traditional song evoking the beetle, a bringer of good luck.
Essential vocabulary
While most tour guides speak English – Namibia’s official language since the 1990s – 80% of the population speaks other local languages, predominantly Oshiwambo. Good morning / good night: Walelepo / Nangalapo nawa Many thanks: Tangi unene Yes / no: Eeno / Aaye How are you? Ongepi? Fine: Onawa My name is...: Aame...
Gastronomy
Namibia’s cuisine reflects its German and South African influences. Meat is king here, often eaten as biltong (spicy dried meat) or at braais (barbecues), with beef, venison and boerewors (spicy sausage of South African origin). There are German specialities such as Apfelstrudel and Schwarzwälder, as well as excellent local beers. Head for Swakopmund or Walvis Bay if you fancy oysters and fresh fish.
Myths and legends
The Tokoloshe is an evil spirit originating from Zulu beliefs, a culture found throughout Southern Africa and deeply rooted in Namibia. This frightening little creature, who lives near the marshes and becomes invisible by drinking water, features prominently in rituals, songs and stories to evoke everyday worries. Used by sorcerers to spread misfortune, it is hunted by the Nganga, local healers.
In the spotlight
Thanks to the efforts of the Cheetah Conservation Foundation set up by American zoologist Laurie Marker in the early 1990s, Namibia’s cheetah population is now the largest in the world. Between 70% to 90% of the 3,000 to 4,000 individuals live in the wild, outside reserves and protected areas, cohabiting with farmers. The secret of this harmony? Breeding and training dogs to guard flocks.
Culture
Book For Red Himba: A Journal of Friendship with Namibia’s Nomadic Herders, published in 2024, Solenn Bardet, ethnologist and geographer, convinced cartoonist Simon Hureau to follow her on an immersion journey among the Himbas. This resilient community has decided to preserve its traditional way of life while adapting to the contemporary world. Music Music in Namibia reflects the country’s rich culture. Each ethnic group, such as the Owambo, Herero and San, has its own rhythms, songs and instruments. Contemporary styles such as kwaito, hip-hop and Afro-pop are gaining in popularity, led by artists such as King Tee Dee, a major kwaito figure in Namibia, and the charismatic rapper Lioness, who is also a hospital doctor! Film In 2013, the filming of Mad Max: Fury Road was moved to Namibia after exceptional rainfall in Australia. The production team chose the Namib Desert, particularly around Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Dorob National Park and the Skeleton Coast. These arid and spectacular locations provided the ideal backdrop for the film's action and chase scenes.
Key figures – 55 million
Formed 55 million years ago, the Namib Desert, which gives its name to the country, is the oldest desert in the world. It stretches for more than 1,500 kilometres and its dunes can reach 400 metres in height.
Discover the destination
From the vertiginous shadow of the Fish River Canyon to the dunes of the Namib Desert, from the Atlantic coastline with its colonies of sea lions to the silent remains of Kolmanskop, Namibia offers an immersion into the heart of a grandiose landscape.
Stare into the immensity of Fish River Canyon – the second-largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in the United States – and hear the silence. The warm air shimmers over the ochre rocks. Each step invites humility and contemplation.
Namibia is home to an abundance of marine life as it benefits from the cold, nourishing Benguela Current, which runs along the west coast of Southern Africa. The seal colony of Cape Cross is one of the most densely populated in the world.
Glide across the calm waters of Walvis Bay in a kayak, while thousands of pink flamingos take to the air. Feel the salty wind caress your skin. Watch the water sparkle as far as the horizon. Between sea and lagoon, nature unfolds here in a vibrant symphony of colour and life.
The UNESCO-listed Namib Desert is one of the oldest in the world, and the only dune desert shaped by oceanic influences. The dunes are home to a unique range of fauna and flora, including oryx, elephants, horses, hyenas, foxes and many reptiles.
Kolmanskop offers a fascinating and unique atmosphere. This abandoned mining town in southern Namibia is gradually being overrun by desert dunes, creating a striking backdrop where time seems to stand still. Exploring the houses engulfed in sand is a strange and fascinating experience.