Namibia
Namibia is a Southern African country bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the west with Angola, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa as its neighbors. Its capital is the city of Windhoek.
Having gained independence from South Africa in 1990, it is one of the youngest nations in the world deriving its name from the Namib Desert. Namibia is one of the least populated countries in Africa, with an estimated population of about 2.2 million people, as it is the driest country south of the Sahara. The official language of Namibia is English, but German may be spoken, especially in Swakopmund and the southern areas, as well as Afrikaans and various Bantu languages.
The economy is focused on mining, tourism, fishing and agriculture, but Namibia is also one of the world's major diamond producers. In Namibia there were many European colonies, mostly German, British, Dutch and French, leaving a legacy of European descendants.
The town center is characterized by vast, undulating plateaus covered by brush and sprinkled with "pan", a tyope of basin that during the dry season are covered with a crust of salt. The most famous of Namibians are pan to Sossusvlei and the inside of the Etosha National Park, which attracts large numbers of migratory birds when full. The coast of Namibia is entirely occupied by the sandy desert, the Namib, believed to be the oldest desert in the world, characterized by high dunes. The highest dunes meet in the Sossusvlei area, the highest being the "Big Daddy" which at 390 meters holds the distinction of the world's highest dune. This, however, is the most famous "Dune 45". The predominant color of the sand is red in all its nuances, due to the prevalence of iron oxides, and geographically similar to the deserts that cover the surface of Mars. The coast of Namibia was incisively defined as a cold desert, as the Benguela current coming from the Antarctic means that the daytime temperature does not exceed 17 ° even in summer. The northern stretch of the coast took the name of Skeleton Coast with reference to the shipwrecks that lie on its beaches, but also for the presence of several whale and dolphin carcasses.
Some useful info for travelers:
the prefix for calling from Europe is +264. The national currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD) which is rarely found in European banks. In its place you may buy South African Rands, which is legal tender in Namibia as the two currencies are linked (one South African Rand is equal to one Namibian Dollar).
No specific vaccinations are recommended.
They recommend comfortable clothing, which above all must be practical. Cotton or light linen clothes are good for the hot days. Not to be forgotten, especially in winter, is a heavy sweater or sweatshirt and a jacket, as during the evenings and nights the temperature can drop to 0 °C. Even in summer, however, it is foresighted to carry something warm because, especially in desert areas, there are considerable variations in temperature between day and night. Sunglasses and a hat are very important, as the sun is stronger than most travelers will be used to. In regions with more mosquitoes, it is also advisable to wear pants and long sleeve shirts during the day, in light fibers, to prevent bites. Insect repellants can also ensure a bit more comfort. We recommend hiking shoes or boots for routes in the desert and other invigorating hikes.
Enjoy your trip!