A Short History The first European to set foot on Namibian soil was the Portuguese Diogo Cão in 1485, who stopped briefly on the Skeleton Coast, and raised a limestone cross there on his exploratory mission along the west coast of Africa. The next visitor was also Portuguese, Bartholomeu Diaz, who stopped at what today is Walvis Bay and Luderitz in 1486 on his way to the Cape of Good Hope. The inhospitable Namib Desert constituted a formidable barrier and neither of the Portuguese explorers went far inland. It was also thanks to this barren and inhospitable coastline, that Namibia was one of the last regions in Africa to be colonised by the Europeans. The German merchant and adventurer Adolf Luderitz arrived in 1883 at the bay of Angra Pequeña and renamed it Luderitz after himself. In 1884, the German Empire established a tiny corps of the "Kaiserliche Marine" there, and until 1914, it was a German Protectorate called "Deutsch Südwestafrika" (German South West Africa). Initially the colonisation proceeded more or less peacefully and treaties were negotiated with the local Nama and Herero people. In return for the German settlers taking possession of their land for agriculture, both groups were assured of support and protection. But they soon realised German colonisation threatened their subsistence and their traditional way of life as cattle and goat herders, so both populations rose in armed rebellion. Military conflicts lasted until 1908 and resulted in the total defeat of the black population by the Germans. In 1904 especially, there were many bloody battles, and large percentages of the Herero and the Nama populations were wiped out. After Germany's defeat in World War I, South Africa took control of South West Africa, and while it never became part of South Africa, it was governed by the South African parliament. By the 1960s, pressure was strong for independence. The South West Africa Peoples' Organisation (SWAPO) began guerrilla attacks on South Africa and there was an international call for South Africa to withdraw so elections could be held under United Nations (UN) supervision. This was stalled for a number of years because of a disruptive civil war over the border in Angola, but it was finally agreed in 1988 that Cuban troops would be withdrawn from Angola, Soviet military aid to the region would cease, and South Africa would withdraw from Namibia. UN supervisors formulated a framework constitution, and organised free and fair elections. Elections were finally held successfully in 1989, with SWAPO taking the majority of the vote. Sam Nujoma was sworn in as the first President of Namibia and the country became independent in 1990. Nujoma was replaced as president in 2004 by his hand-picked successor Hifikepunye Pohamba. Climate Namibia's climate is typical of semi-desert terrain, with hot days and cool nights and an average of 300 days of sunshine per year. Only during the summer months from November to February does rain occur, mostly as heavy thunderstorms. Then the usually dry riverbeds become saturated with torrents of muddy water in a very short time. On all our tours, it's best to bring warm clothing - raincoat, warm hat, socks etc. - as across Africa wet/dry and hot/cool climatic periods change invariably. Start or Finish in Namibia Windhoek Windhoek is one of the world's sleepiest capital cities. It combines the modern city architectural style with that of the German colonial era, and there are German restaurants where one can have traditional German dishes and a flagon of beer. There is a craft market in Post Street Mall in central Windhoek where there is also a display of meteorites collected from around Namibia. Accommodation We can organise pre and post accommodation for you in Windhoek at the Roof of Africa, a comfortable centrally located hotel with a full range of facilities including a swimming pool and travel centre. Bed and Breakfast p/p/p/n; Twin/Double: N$300, Single: NS$450, One Way Airport Transfer: N$160. Health Matters Yellow fever: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas. Malaria: A low malaria risk occurs in the north eastern region of the country, though on our longer tours, in countries to the north of Namibia there is a high malaria risk so prophylaxis are recommended. Precautionary measures to take to prevent contact with mosquitoes include: insect repellent, cover up at sundown, sleep under a mosquito net and wear long sleeve clothing and long trousers in the evenings. Other: Seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic at least six weeks prior to departure about what vaccinations you require. Typically the list includes typhoid, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and B and meningitis. All tap water is treated and safe to drink. Hospital facilities are generally very good in towns and cities but in rural regions medical facilities are limited. Insurance: Health insurance is essential; adequate medical provision is often only provided privately and may require health insurance or a cash payment before admission. It is recommended that visitors carry personal medical supplies with them. Money Guide Currency: Namibian dollar (N$) Exchange Rates: US$1 = N$7.31, GB£1 = N$13.90 The following information is provided to assist you in planning the finances you will require for your safari. It is intended as a general guide only and may change with local conditions. African currencies tend to fluctuate more rapidly than your own currencies. You are able to change money and use ATMs at banks at each sizeable town. Bureau de Changes offer quicker and commission free service but are only found in Swakopmund and Windhoek. ATMs are widely accessible and very reliable and offer the best rates of exchange for cards. The Rand and Namibian dollar are tied to each other on an equal level and as such the Rand and Namibian dollar can be used interchangeably in Namibia. However Namibian dollars are not accepted in South Africa. All unused Namibian Dollars need to be exchanged to South African Rand before leaving Namibia. The Rand can then be used in Botswana or South Africa. N$ can be changed to Rand at banks and bureau de changes and swapped over in some shops. All souvenirs, snacks, refreshments and local services such as taxis, internet and laundry are payable using N$ or Rand. Optional activities in Namibia are mainly adventure or scenic activities in Swakopmund. These activities can be paid for using credit card (no fees), traveller's cheques, US$, GBP, Euros and Rand cash. Visa requirements: Only very few countries require Namibian visas and these must be obtained prior to entry into Namibia. Average Costs Internet, N$15 per half hour. Beer, N$8-10. International phone call, N$20 a minute.