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Country Information Namibia

A short history of Namibia
History Namibia was, due to its barren coastline, colonised by the Europeans as one of the last African countries. It was the German merchant and adventurer Adolf Luederitz from Bremen, who bought in 1883 the bay of Angra Peque from Nama Chief Joseph Fredericks from Bethanien. He also bought the area in a 20 mile radius around the bay. The purchase price was then 10 000 Reichsmark and 260 guns. The bay is today known as Luederitz Bay. In 1884, the German Empire took over the "protection" of Luederitz' possessions. A tiny corps of the "Kaiserliche Marine" landed in the bay and raised the German flag. From 1884 to 1914, Namibia was a "German Protectorate" called "Deutsch Sudwestafrika". The German Empire sent the "Deutsche Schutztruppe" (Protection Corps). It had the task to transform the area between Oranje and Kunene into a German colony. German settlers were supposed to buy land and freely and safely establish farms. For this purpose the indigenous population, mainly Nama and Herero, was to be subjugated. Initially the colonisation proceded more or less peacefully. Treaties were negotiated with Nama and Herero representatives. In these "Protection Agreements" both groups were assured of military support. In return, the Nama and Herero agreed to let German settlers take possession of their land and use it agriculturally. Eventually the Herero and the Nama realised that the German colonisation threatened their subsistence and their traditional way of life as free cattle and goat herders so both population groups rose in armed rebellion. These military conflicts lasted until 1908 and resulted in the total defeat of the black population.
Health Warnings

All water from taps is purified and visitors can drink it. Bottled water is also available in all towns and most establishments. Travellers to the northern parts of Namibia are advised to take anti-malaria precautions, especially in summer and early autumn. No injections against yellow fever and other tropical diseases prior to visiting Namibia are necessary. Namibia has excellent medical services. All larger centres have medical practitioners and hospitals or clinics and medical evacuation services can be arranged anywhere in Namibia. Currency: N $ (Namibia Dollar)$ Climate: The south, the central, the central north and the north-eastern parts of Namibia experience day temperatures between 15- 25C in winter. Winter temperatures in the early mornings can go down to below 0C. In the summer the max temperature averages between 30 - 35 C, but in the south and far north it can sometimes go even higher. Along the coast (the west) the temperatures are normally mild, ranging between 15 - 25C in summer and 12 - 20C in winter. The main rainy season is between January and March each year. Due to the fact that rain normally occurs as short intense showers, travel is not normally impaired.