Lonely Planet Says...
"Wedged between the Kalahari and the South
Atlantic, Namibia enjoys vast potential as one of the youngest countries in
Africa. In addition to having a striking diversity of cultures and national
origins, Namibia is a photographer’s dream – it boasts wild seascapes, rugged
mountains, lonely deserts, stunning wildlife, colonial cities and nearly
unlimited elbow room.
A predominantly arid country, Namibia can
be divided into four main topographical regions: the Namib Desert and coastal plains
in the west, the eastward-sloping Central Plateau, the Kalahari along the
borders with South Africa and Botswana and the densely wooded bushveld of the
Kavango and Caprivi regions. Despite its harsh climate, Namibia has some of the
world’s grandest national parks, ranging from the wildlife-rich Etosha National
Park in Northwestern Namibia, to the dune fields and desert plains of the
Namib-Naukluft Park in Western Namibia. Windhoek, in the Central Highlands, is
the country's geographical heart and commercial nerve centre, with an ethnic
mix of people, while surfers and beach-lovers won't want to miss Swakopmund.
Namibia is one of those dreamlike places
that make you question whether something so visually orgasmic could actually
exist. Time and space are less defined here. Landscapes collide. Experiences
pile up. Watch a lion stalking its prey on a never-ending plain in Etosha. Fly
down a giant dune on a sandboard. Spend a night alone in the desert under a sky
so thick with stars you can’t differentiate between constellations."
You should go online and read what they have to say... I find then an invaluable resource when travelling... anywhere..!
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History of Namibia The Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão reached Cape Cross, north of the bay, in 1485. There followed Bartolomeu Dias, who anchored his flagship São Cristóvão in what is now Walvis Bay on 8 December 1487, on his expedition to discover a sea route to the East via the Cape of Good Hope. He named the bay "O Golfo de Santa Maria da Conceição." However, the Portuguese did not formally stake a claim to Walvis Bay.
The Herero called the place Ezorongondo. Little commercial
development occurred on the site until the late 19th century. During the
scramble for Africa, the United Kingdom occupied Walvis Bay and a small area
surrounding the territory, and permitted the Cape Colony to annex it in 1878,
both to forestall German ambitions in the region and to ensure safe passage of
British ships around the Cape (Walvis Bay was the only known natural harbour on
the Namibian coast). The Cape government, correctly predicting a German
invasion of the region and desiring protection for its Griqualand diamond
fields, originally requested permission to incorporate the whole of South West
Africa, but this was blocked by Britain. Consequently when the Germans later
colonised the region, only Walvis Bay remained as an enclave out of its
control. In 1910, Walvis Bay, as well as the Cape Colony, became part of the
newly formed Union of South Africa. Subsequently, a dispute arose with Germany
over the enclave's boundaries. This was eventually settled in 1911 and Walvis
Bay was allocated an area of 434 square miles (1,124 km2).
The enclave was overrun by the Germans during the South-West
Africa Campaign early in World War I. But South African Forces eventually
ousted the Germans in 1915 and Walvis Bay was quickly integrated into the new
martial law regime established in South-West Africa. South Africa was later
awarded control (a "C" class mandate) over South-West Africa by the
League of Nations to administer SWA as an integral part of South Africa.
Civilian rule was restored in South-West Africa in 1921 and administration of
Walvis Bay was transferred to SWA by Act of the South African parliament in
1922.
In 1971, anticipating an imminent ceding of its control over
South-West Africa, South Africa transferred control of Walvis Bay back to its
Cape Province, thus making it an exclave. In 1977, in an attempt to avoid
losing control of Walvis Bay to a possibly hostile SWAPO-led government, the
South African government reimposed direct rule and reasserted its claim of
sovereignty based on the original annexation. In 1978, the United Nations
Security Council provided for bilateral negotiations between South Africa and a
future Namibia to resolve the political status of Walvis Bay.
In 1990 South-West Africa gained independence as Namibia,
but Walvis Bay remained under South African sovereignty. At midnight on 28
February 1994 South Africa formally transferred sovereignty over Walvis Bay and
the Penguin Islands to Namibia
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| When we finally saw land it was impressive... The desert as far as you could see, with no trees... Stopping at the sea. |
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| Namibian Harbor Pilot |
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| Gangway watch as usual... I work days and am off nights... Hard to see the country in the dark after midnight! |
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| But we did find "THE RAFT" an AWESOME restaurant who looked after us v ery well for both nights! |
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| The Raft was managed by Wally, who took great care of us and showed us a great time in Walvis Bay! |
