Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary Volunteers

Country Information

The Republic of Namibia is situated in the southwest of Africa; it is a large country with a fairly parched landscape. It shares borders with Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south. The Caprivi is a narrow strip of land 400km long jutting out of the northeast corner of the country. The Caprivi Strip borders Zambia and Zimbabwe. The western coastline is extremely desolate and spans for 795 miles. The general landscape is mainly central highlands, with the Namib Desert bordering to the west and the Kalahari Desert to the east. The Orange River forms Namibia’s southern border to South Africa.

The capital city is Windhoek, situated in the centre of the country; additional towns of note are the ports, namely Walvis Bay. The climate fluctuates from desert to subtropical conditions; it is mainly hot and dry, whilst precipitation is sparse and unpredictable.

Namibia was under German control during the 19th century, however, it was South Africa that occupied the country during World War I and administered it as a League of Nations Mandate until after World War II. In 1966 a SWAPO guerrilla group initiated a war of independence against the South African occupation, however it wasn’t until 1989, after a UN peace plan that the South African regime agreed to end its administration. Independence was achieved in 1990, making the Republic of Namibia one of the youngest nations in the world.

Namibia is known for its contrasting landscapes. The desolate Namib Desert is said to be the oldest in the world, with its high dunes and awe-inspiring sense of space. The central plateau, with its thorn bush savannah and rugged mountains, rising abruptly from the plains, gives way to the majestic Fishriver Canyon in the south.

In the north of the country, landscapes range from dense bush and open plains of the great Etosha Pan, to woodland savannah and lush vegetation. Dinosaur footprints preserved in sandstone, prehistoric rock art, the ancient fossil plant, Welwitschia mirabilis, all bear witness to the timelessness of this country.

Time
Namibia is one hour ahead of GMT.

In Africa, time is not a priority like it is in much of the western world – there is a saying that Africa works to ‘Africa Time’, which basically means you must exercise a lot of patience! If a boat is due to leave at 12pm, don’t be surprised if it still hasn’t a couple of hours later… keep an open mind, and arrive in Africa ‘Expecting the unexpected’.

Getting There

Fly to Windhoek International Airport, where you will be met by project staff.

Climate

Namibia has 300 days of sunshine on average per year. The climate is an archetypal semi desert climate, with extremely hot days and cool nights. Temperatures are lower in the central areas of the country where the land plateaus. Rain occurs in the summer months in the form of thunderstorms, consequently the riverbeds fill extremely fast with large quantities of muddy water. Temperatures can reach up to 40°C during the day, however it is significantly cooler during the evening. During the winter months, temperatures during the evening can often drop below freezing, so remember to pack your clothes accordingly!

Climate chart for Windhoek