Message from the Namibia Tourism Board

Dear Friends of Namibia,

Namibia is becoming ever more popular with travellers. In recent years visitors from all over the world have travelled to the land of vastness. No wonder, Namibia is one of the most diverse countries in Africa: breathtaking landscapes, intense colours, an abundance of animals and plants and the extraordinary mixture of African culture and European influences make Namibia an ideal destination for independent holidaymakers, animal lovers and those looking for activity or nature.

The unique dune formations of the Namib, the red sands of the Kalahari, the green river landscapes in the northeast, the rough Atlantic coast, gravel plains, rugged canyons and untamed savannahs – all this is Namibia. But there is more. Because Namibia is huge, about three times bigger than Britain. And new adventures await everywhere.

Xenia Ivanhoff-Erb

Have you been to the Owambo region north of Etosha National Park yet? Also known as the "Four O Region", it is the most densely populated part of the country. About half of the total population lives there. Tourism is still in its infancy, which makes the Owambo experience all the more authentic. Goats, donkeys and cattle block the traffic, small food stalls line the roadsides and lively markets sell mopane worms, bright pink garments and Kalahari salt.

The harbour town of Lüderitz in the south, on the other hand, is quite placid. With its colourful Art Nouveau buildings it is still reminiscent of the time when Namibia experienced a diamond rush. Did you know that Halifax Island, a small rocky outcrop off the coast of Lüderitz, is home to the country’s only penguin colony? Halifax is part of the Penguin Islands, a group of more than 20 small islands. As the name suggests, the black and white tuxedo birds are more than comfortable there. Although elsewhere the numbers of African penguins are shrinking due to overfishing of coastal waters, the Namibian population is stable.

A greater variety of animals can only be seen in Etosha National Park? Far from it. Namibia's secret wildlife paradise is its northeastern corner. Four large rivers – the Okavango, Kwando, Zambezi and Chobe – criss-cross the region and make it a haven for animals, including hundreds of bird species. Huge elephant herds graze on the riverbanks, hippos inhabit the quiet side arms and rare antelope species hide in the dense vegetation.

Anja Denker

Off the beaten track Namibia still has some surprises in store that we do not want to keep back from you. This issue of Travel News Namibia is dedicated to our favourite country’s secrets, small and large. Meet people of different cultures, discover exciting small towns, breath-taking views, hidden animal paradises and adventures that are often overlooked.

No doubt you have come across Namibia in your everyday life as well – on television, in the newspaper, on your favourite blog or at the till after shopping. Thanks to the wide coverage of our media and marketing co-operations we are generating positive attention for the travel destination Namibia on all platforms. We also work closely with strong brands from relevant industries to conduct innovative marketing campaigns. However, this would not be possible without the excellent and longstanding cooperation

with our partners in the travel industry in Europe and at home in Namibia. This is an opportunity for a big thank you for your continuous support!

Yours sincerely,

Maureen Posthuma Head: Marketing (Global) Namibia Tourism Board