Namibia is the place for adventurers.

And if you are one of those lucky souls planning an escape to this magical country, you are probably looking for some information about the land before you embark on your epic odyssey.

This land is one of exciting things to see and do, and when on a guided Namibia tour, you’ll be seeing all of the best places over the space of a week or so. And if you book your tour with Cross Over Africa, there is always the option of adding a few extra days.

There are a few ways that you can gather information about Namibia. You can go the book route and visit all of the best bookshops and collect a number of books that you’ll treasure for the rest of your life. Or you can take another route,  the one that you are likely to be on right now, which is to browse the internet.

Not only will you find a wide range of resources regarding the ins and outs of Namibia, but you’ll also be treated to a bunch of interesting facts, just like the ones we are about to share.

Namibia Facts

1. Named after the desert

The famous, red gold sands of the Namib Desert are the stuff of legends and they are certainly one of the many sights you’ll see when on a Namibia tour. But did you know that Namibia is named after the Namib Desert? There is evidence that the desert is over a million years old, but scientists are not sure exactly how old these rolling red sands really are.

2. A Land of Few People

Namibia is the second least populated country in the world, after Mongolia. There are only roughly 2 million people living in Namibia and this makes spotting wildlife a breeze. There is a reason why so many people say that Namibia is a place of solitude.

3. The Country has 13 Ethnic Groups

For a place that is quite sparsely populated, Namibia is more diversity than most other countries as it is home to 13 ethnic groups. One of the best known ethnic groups living in Namibia is the Himba people. They are modern-day nomads and stick to their very traditional ways. They prefer to live in seclusion and they take very little from the outside world. In fact, they are so unto themselves that they only came into contact with the rest of the world about 20 years ago. When on a Namibia tour, you can spot these interesting people and there is the option of visiting a Himba village.

4. Home of the Desert Elephants

There are only two countries on the planet where you will see the desert elephant and Namibia is one of those countries. They are not exactly a distinctive species of elephant but they are considered very special. Their bodies, while resembling that of an African elephant, have adapted to the harsh desert environment. They have a smaller body, longer legs and bigger feet, a structure that allows them to travel across miles of uneven sands and dunes in order to find water. Along with the desert elephants, Namibia is also home to the normal African elephant.

5. The Highest Dunes in the world

Our tours will take you into the breathtaking Sossusvlei, which is home to some of the biggest sand dunes in the world. Many travel to Namibia just to see the legendary dunes, the biggest of which is over 325 meters tall. It is an exhausting climb to the top, but it is well worth the view. The massive dunes of Namibia are some of the most photographed in the world.

6. Plenty of Sunshine

Namibia experiences up to 300 days of sun every year making it one of the sunniest places on earth. Considering that much of the country is desert, it’s quite easy to imagine that most days will be sun filled. This might also help you with your planning.

7. The Skeleton Coast

It sounds like something out of a horror movie, and for those who were once shipwrecked here, it would have been the stuff of nightmares. The Skeleton Coast is one of the most amazing places to visit and it is named after the whale and seal skeletons dotted along the coast as well as the shipwrecks. Over 1000 ships have wrecked here. Although it sounds like a place of doom and gloom, the coast is also home to one of the biggest seal populations!

Namibia is an incredible land; you’ll never forget your time here. It is a real African wildlife destination along with being a place of adventure. If you are planning your Namibia tour, be sure to have a look at our various Namibia tours and take note of our exclusive travel dates.