Namibia Local Custom Tips by DAO Top 5 Page for this destination

SHUT THE GATE BEHIND YOU!

Many campsites, motels and holiday ranches have big metal gates you must open before you can drive your car though. Please always shut and latch them behind you. They not only keep livestock and wild animals in – they keep them out. One of the places they keep them out of is the road you were just driving down. It also helps keep down the spread of Foot & Mouth Disease. Also remember to make sure the gate won’t swing back and hit your car as you drive through!

THE CONSIDERATE HERDSMAN

See all the cows on the side of the road? Yep, they would be a real danger, day or night, for drivers. Except in this case they are being managed quite well by a good herdsman. That’s the guy holding the red flag to wave at YOU to slow down so he can cross the road sometimes. His cows are contained at night and are not a danger to road users. Nice man.

The biggest question I have is whether the Red Flag he has is a smart choice if he has any bulls. They may take this flag waving to mean “Go ahead and gore me!”

By the way there are the inconsiderate cow owners who help spread foot & mouth disease, cause carnage on the roads and generally wonder where their cows are. Idiots.

DISEASE CONTROL POINTS

If you are driving across the sometimes barren interior of Namibia, you will come across checkpoints with gates across the road. They are Veterinary Disease Checkpoints. They were put in place to prevent the transport of livestock that have (or could have) Foot & Mouth Disease. You have to stop and check in. Some say Police checkpoint, but are usually manned by other government workers. Just be polite and friendly and you will soon be on your way. The gates to the Skelton Coast Park double as such a checkpoint.

Website: http://www.ifad.org/lrkm/region/pf/na_362.htm

THE SUNDOWNER

A Sundowner is a delightful expression used across Southern Africa to describe having and adult beverage at sun down. Of course it can be any time, but the best time to do so is at sunset watching a beautiful African sky. This can be enjoyed anywhere. All you need is: You, a few friends (optional but preferred), a drink and nature.

Please have a look at some sundowner pictures taken here.

Enjoy!

ENGLISH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

An amazing fact that I did not know until I want inside the National Museum of Namibia in Windhoek. Despite its history as a German Colony, the official language of government and the legal system is English. This is enshrined in Article 3 of the Preamble of the Constitution (pictured). People are, of course, allowed to practice any language they wish in Namibia. German and Afrikaans is still widely spoken and more than 20 tribal languages still thrive here.

If you would like to know more about the exciting exhibits at the National Museum of Namibia, please see my ‘Things to Do’ tips on this page.

Website: http://www.orusovo.com/namcon/

SKELETON COAST

Why do they call it the Skeleton Coast? The vast majority of the Namibian coast is a graveyard of animals and sailors over hundreds of years. The coast suffers form foggy weather that hides rocky and sandy shallows. There is no water source for many miles inland. No trees, no shade, no food and no shelter. Because of the barren nature of the coast, any shipwrecked sailors were doomed to die of thirst and exposure. The lack of any sustainable resources also meant there were no lighthouses or warning beacons. So year after year ships ran into hidden dangers and die horrible prolong deaths.

Have a good look at the pictures and take plenty of water and fuel in your vehicle!

Website: http://www.namibweb.com/skeleton.htm

ELECTRICAL PLUGS IN NAMIBIA

Electricity in Namibia is 220 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. They use the round, South African pins. So if you are from Western Europe, you need an adapter. If you are from North America, you need a converter or your electrical item will blow up.

Website: http://treehouse.ofb.net/go/en/voltage/Namibia