Cultural Tourism in Namibia

Cultural tourism is a growing interest in the Namibian travel market. The country boasts diverse populations widely distributed over the country. Every area has a traditional culture and a vibrant history. Though cultural aspects are worked into most packaged safaris, custom-made safaris are widely available and many operators specialize in cultural tours. Namibia has a population of about 1.8 million and a density of about 2 people per 1km². English is the official language. The indigenous languages are mostly divided into Bantu languages spoken by the Herero, Owambo, Kavango, Caprivians and Tswana, indo-Germanic languages spoken by the Afrikaners, German, English and Khoisan languages spoken by the Bushmen and Damara/Nama. Community based tourism is heavily supported by government and many conservancies offer activities and camping facilities. NACOBTA is a Namibian NGO that supports, develops and markets these operations - inquiries can be made through their office.

Other cultural interest may be found in most towns, as many boast local museums and numerous historical buildings, monuments and sights. Apart from the indigenous cultures Namibia has a kaleidoscope culture to share with the visitor where everyday life consists of a blend between traditional and colonial heritage, easily experienced in the Namibian cuisine and architecture.

For further information and contacts please contact the Namibia Tourism Board.