Fun Facts About Namibia – From Tourism to Sports!

Women’s Rights

Did you know- By the early 2000s, Namibia had Africa’s fourth highest proportion of women in its National Parliament, behind Mozambique, South Africa and Rwanda. 25.0 percent of the seats in the National Assembly were occupied by women (compared with 14.0 percent in the United States).

World-Famous Icons

Did you know- During the 1990s, Frankie Fredericks, an American-trained business administrator, was one of the world’s top sprinters, along with Carl Lewis, Linford Christie and Donovan Bailey. Thanks to his talent, Namibia, an obscure nation, won two medals, 100m & 200m (both silvers), in the 25th Summer Olympics in Spain. Mr. Fredericks was born on October 2, 1967 in Windhoek, Namibia.

Independence

Did you know- The country, formerly known as South-West Africa, gained its independence on March 21, 1990. About the same time, the Sub-Saharan African nation was the world’s youngest republic.

Location

Did you know- Located in Southern Africa, the country is bordered on the north by Angola and Zambia, on the south by South Africa, on the east by Botswana, on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Around 80% of the country’s terrain consists of deserts.

Population

Did you know- The nation’s population is around 2.5 million people. The Ovambo is the country’s largest ethnic group; they make up some 50% of the population. The English-speaking state, twice the size of California, is the most sparsely populated republic in the African region.

Tourism

Did you know- The country, known as the “Gem of Africa”, is a unique place for eco-tourists. Much of Namibia is as it was centuries ago. Due to this, it has a host of natural wonders and amazing places. From one of the world’s biggest deserts and national parks to tropical forests and savannahs with one of Africa’s most concentration of wild animals, including lions, zebras, elephants, rhinoceros, hyenas, and marine mammals. Here, there are so many bigger cats that Namibia has the world’s largest population of cheetahs (home to up to 3,000 animals). The country’s nature reserves are home to several species of exotic birds. For the last two decades, Namibia a been a favorite destination for South African tourists.

Mineral Resources

Did you know- Like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola, Namibia is one of Africa’s richest places in strategic minerals (diamonds, uranium, and gold). Mineral resources are the backbone of the country’s economy.

Michelle McLean

Did you know- The tallest Miss Universe (from 1952 to 2009) is Namibia’s Michelle McLean, who is 1m 83. McLean is Africa’s second MU since 1952. Beginning in the 1990s, in Bangkok (Thailand), Miss McLean, a 19-year-old student-turned-model, was named Miss Universe by a panel of celebrity judges, which included Miriam Makeba, a South African-born singer, and Vijay Amritraj, one of the world’s top tennis players in the mid-70s. In the mid-1990s, she became an outspoken champion for children in her homeland. During that time, she set up the “Michelle McLean Children Trust”, an organization that work to improve the lives of children.

Summer Olympics

Did you know- Since the early 1990s, Namibia became an independent state, with help of the United Nations, and it was allowed to compete on the Olympic circuit (Commonwealth Games – African Games – Olympics). For the past two decades, it has had a handful of famous athletes in the African continent: Lucktz Swartbooi (track & field/marathon), Monica Dahl (swimming/ 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, and 100m butterfly), Friedhlem Sack (one of Africa’s top shooters), Joseph Jermia (one of the Continent’s top boxers), and Agnes Samaria(athletics/800m/ one of the best runners of Africa).

Swakopmund

Did you know- Swakopmund, the nation’s second largest city, has some of the best-preserved colonial buildings on the African continent.

International Organizations

Did you know- The Sub-Saharan African state, a predominantly black country, was admitted to the United Nations (UN) and the Commonwealth of Nations in 1990. It also is member of the Organization of African Unity (OUA).

Etosha National Park

Did you know- This English-speaking republic is home to the Etosha National Park, one of the most famous national parks on the Planet. Due to its abundant and unique wildlife, its geography and spectacular landscapes, it has been visited by numerous naturalists, travel writers and wildlife photographers. This nature refuge is one of the largest national parks in Southern Africa.

Miss Universe in Namibia

Did you know- In mid-1994, Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, was elected as host city for the 1995 Miss Universe Pageant. Over 80 countries and territories participated in Namibia’95. The telecast, backed up by Head of State Sam Nujoma, served as a springboard to attract more foreign visitors and investors. The event was televised in America and other 60 nations. For the first time in MU history, Africa hosted the global event.

Rossing

Did you know– In the 20th century, the Rossing Uranium Mine -located in the heart of Namibia — was the world’s largest uranium mine.