Namibia Sights

Namib Desert - the main attraction of the country and the oldest desert in the world, its age is estimated by scientists at 60-80 million years. Stretching to 1600 km. the coast of the country, the desert is striking diversity of its landscapes - brown weathered rocks, numerous dry river canyons, constantly moving huge sand dunes and extensive detrital wasteland interspersed with tiny oases. It is a dry area, where for years without a single drop of rain falls, the desert, however, full of life and attracts thousands of tourists. Winter parched animals congregate around the tiny ponds where you can see and take pictures of almost all representatives of the Namibian fauna.

Northern Namibia - the main "bread basket" and the most densely populated region of the country. Here are a few major cities - the majority of the population (mostly belonging to the tribe "Ovambo") live on large farms and small towns.

City Ochivarongo ( "beautiful") was founded in 1892, despite the fact that the city is most often used as a transit point for trips to national parks, he zaluzhivaet some attention - there are a cheetah conservation center with nursery shepherd dogs and the only farm in the country crocodiles, which are bred Nile alligators (up to 30 thousand individuals). Vast expanses of "Bushveld" stretching around the city, replete with many farms, the owners of which (mostly white) is pleased to host tourists.

Damaralend - desert and mysteriously beautiful wilderness area, which lies south-west Ochivarongo. The highest mountain in the country (an array of Brandberg, Königstein mountains, and Shpittskopp Pondoks) coexist here with vast plains, dry riverbeds, framed by a surprisingly lush vegetation, stretching through the arid desert sands, and formed by volcanic activity laccoliths Barnt Mountain and Organ Pipes-cut waterfalls knows where who took the rivers. There are interesting rock paintings in Tvayfilfonteyn (refer to the period 4.2 millennium BC. E.) Colorful erosional forms Vingerklip, "Stone Forest" (National Wildlife Refuge, where you can see fossils 250-300 million years ago, trees), covered with petroglyphs (ages 7 to 20 thousand years ago) rocks White Lady, as well as perfect for mountaineering and trekking mountains Shpittskopp (1728 m) and peak Pondoks (1692).

Cities Ondangwa and Oshakati, lying north of the Etosha National Park, are major shopping centers and an excellent place to get acquainted with the culture of the people Ovambo. By the attractions area, in addition to traditional markets, include the National Monument and Museum Olukonda Nakambale - a monument and museum in the building of the first Finnish (!) Christian Mission in Ovamboland. The museum, along with the house of a missionary Martti Rautenena, who earned the locals nicknamed "Nakambale" demonstrates a culture of northern Namibia and the chronology of Ovamboland. Also of interest to farm "Ndong", where you can taste the traditional dishes of local residents and meet and practice with the unique culture, many hundreds of years developing in these harsh conditions. Interesting, too, Center for Crafts Cunene and Kayoko-Info-Center in the capital area of Kaokoveld - Opuvo.

Across the northern coast stretches one more exotic locations - Skeleton Coast. This section of coastline, starting north of Swakopmund, is a long strip of coastal plains, employed dunes, rocky massifs and sites of ancient volcanic activity. A wild and rough country is considered one of the most untouched by civilization places on the planet. At 700 km. are stretched many parts of shipwrecks - around the coast are seen corroded by sea water "ribs" lost ships (dense fogs, frequent in these places, "resulted in" stranded several hundred ships). You can see a colony of fur seals at Cape Cross (the second largest in the southern hemisphere), found in the sand thrown up by storm ancient coins or other evidence of the past, enjoy the unreal landscape of barren desert into the ocean, as well as a ride in a jeep on the dunes or take a hike on most picturesque places of the park (a medical certificate). Wind, ocean currents and "floating" sands are constantly changing landscape of the Skeleton Coast - Harbor are lagoons, coastal islands that are hidden in the abyss, then arise again. And thanks to the cool stream, coastal waters - one of the richest areas of the world ocean fish, an angler is a true paradise.

Hrutfonteyn (large fountain) - a small town in the north of the country, founded by German settlers in the late XIX-th century. Quiet town, surrounded by bush and farms, known to the world that it is far from the place of the fall of the world's largest meteorite Khoba, superbly, by the way, preserved. Weighs about 50 tons of meteorite fell in these parts about 80 thousand years ago and today is a real place of pilgrimage for tourists. A built in 1896, "German fort" now contains an exposition of local lore museum Hrutfonteyna.

Tsumeb - one of the most picturesque cities in the northern part of the country. The difference between it and other Namibian towns feel almost immediately after entering the city - the streets are straight and well maintained, lots of trees and parks and children play football in the parks and riding bikes. This German "Ordnung" in pure form. Despite the fact that Tsumeb is one of the centers of the mining industry of Namibia, dust, common in other northern cities, there are practically absent, so here love to stop the expedition, following in the national parks. In addition, interest Tsumeb Museum on Main Street with an extensive collection on the history of the region, as well as the Center for Applied Art with a large exhibition and sale of products of local craftsmen.

The central part of the country lies on the vast plateau of the same name, which is slightly softens the heat and allow to develop industry, agriculture and tourism.

Capital of Namibia - Windhoek ( "windy corner", often the name is pronounced "Vinduk"), founded in 1840, is situated at an altitude of 1650 m. above sea level, between the mountains Awas and Eros. Being the largest city in the country, Windhoek has a population of only 300 thousand people), but it stretches for 15 kilometers. from north to south and 10 km. - From west to east. This relatively mild climate and fairly large by local standards the amount of precipitation, therefore, Windhoek is the most "green" city in the country.

By the sights of the city include the Old Fort (Alte Feste, 1880), numerous colorful houses, almost locks in a German style - Hayntsburg (now a hotel here), Sanderburg (privately owned) and Shverinsburg (residence of Italian Ambassador), the Supreme Court building, Parliament in the palace "Tintenpalas, Presidential Palace and the National Theater, Robert Mugabe Avenue, an exhibition of meteorites on Post Street, neo-Gothic church Kristukirhe and colorful Lutheran Church.

Worth a visit National Museum of Namibia (some rooms are scattered throughout the city, including the Old Fort), which has exposure for teaching about nature, history and culture of the country, the National Art Gallery with an extensive collection of African art, a nonprofit Folklore Center Penduka ( "Awakening"), "the area of Arts and Crafts Center Varehaus Namibia Katatura, as well as gallery Omatako-Kyurios.

In addition, there are many modern hotels and restaurants, variety stores and markets, including such exotic ones as markets in northern and southern exits from the city, as well as a lively nightlife - clubs Chas-Ntemba, Thriller Club, Tower Bar and dance floor Li-Di-Da is well known far beyond the capital.

Reputation of "green capital" is supported by a large water sports complex at Jean-Zhonker Road, Vernhill Park, Park Mall, Pioneer Park and the many small gardens zones (almost every yard has a small lawn or park, often with a pool), as well as the Zoo and a vast area of the National Botanical Institute and its gardens. Around Windhoek are several so-called "German Farm", and numerous parks - Okapuka, Melrose, Dan Vilhun and others, on whose territory the safari, observing wildlife, as well as organized hunting is allowed to shoot animals.

The small resort town of Rehoboth, located south of the capital, was founded in 1844, Spa was formed around the hot mineral springs and boasts fine museums Rehoboth, located at the residence of the first postmaster of the city (1903). Another interesting place - an ancient crater of an extinct volcano Boukkaros diameter of more than 2 thousand meters right next to the main road leading from Windhoek in the capital of the south "Keetmanshoop.

In the Keetmanshoop, founded in 1866, the Rhenish Mission Church of interesting (XIX cent.), Which is situated in Keetmanshoop Museum, National Monument Kuiver-Tri-Forest (17 km. North-east of the city) and the geological phenomenon as a pyramid composed of natural way of giant boulders Giants-Pleygraund.

Walvis Bay - the main port and largest industrial center of Namibia, which lies 30 km. south of Swakopmund. Sights are Dunn-Seven (the highest dune in the region), the lagoon of Walvis Bay (Walvis Bay), which is often observed large herds of whales, bird sanctuary, lagoons Ramser site where more than 50 nesting bird species (here inhabit 70% of flamingos in South Africa), the Esplanade around the lagoon, where, even without binoculars you can observe the life of animals and birds, salt panning sites Salt-Works with huge white towers evaporated from sea water salt, and numerous oyster farms, as well as resort-Dale Davey-Edvenche specializing in recreational activities, including various extreme sports.

The southern part of the country is dry and austere, much of it (Sperrgebiet - "forbidden territory") is not available for tourists because of the diamond mines are located, to which access is forbidden. Nevertheless, there are many noteworthy places.

Swakopmund - a small port on the ocean. Founded Bremen tobacco merchant Adolf Lüderitz in 1884, this city was the first German settlement in the then "Zyudvestafrika. But nowadays it has become the largest center of lobster and oyster farming in Africa. It should examine the church Felsenkirhe (1911-1912 gg.) House Goerke House on the Hill Diamond Hill (saying the name is not it? "), A small private museum Luderitz and apartment buildings in colonial style, preserved since the Gold Rush . On both sides of the city limits of the coast is a closed zone, but extremely picturesque - rocks, caves, reefs, lagoons and miles of wild coast, on which are constantly broken down the mighty ramparts of the Atlantic Ocean. Here lives a great variety of marine animals - sea lions at Diaz Point, a flamingo at Grosse Bucht, penguins on the island of Halifax, and numerous colonies of sea birds along the shore.

And, of course, is to visit the abandoned city and the diamond mines to the south of Lüderitz - Elizabeth Bay, Pomona, Bogenfels and the famous "ghost town" Kolmanskop. In all these cities the overall romantic and sad story. In the early twentieth century, these places were found lying almost on the surface of diamonds, and the "Diamond Beach" flowed into yearning for profit. In the vicinity of established mining town had a railroad, and launched an infrastructure and begun to build houses, schools, hospitals, etc. But diamonds are quickly over, and sand storms, lack of drinking water and the heat kicked out the locals from their homes in search of richer deposits . Since there are amazing and the abandoned town in the middle of the desert.

Separate sublating deserves town Ai-Ais, known for its hot springs and the fact that it is here that originates Fish River Canyon, which is considered the second largest in Africa after the Blue Nile gorge in Ethiopia. And not far from the river Fish, in the open in 1969, the cave "Apollo 11", are the most ancient rock paintings in Africa - their age is estimated at 27 thousand years.