Southwest Africa.

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from the first Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April).

824,292 sq km (318,261 sq miles).

2.04 million (UN estimate 2006).

2.5 per sq km.

Windhoek. Population: 237,000 (UN estimate 2003).

Namibia is in southwest Africa. It is a large and mainly arid country sharing borders with Angola to the north, Botswana to the east, South Africa to the south and, in the Caprivi Strip, a narrow panhandle of Namibian territory jutting from the northeast corner of the country, with Zambia and Zimbabwe. To the west is 1,280km (795 miles) of some of the most desolate and lonely coastline in the world. Along the entire length of the country, the vast shifting sand dunes of the Namib Desert spread inland for 80 to 130km (50 to 80 miles). In the interior, the escarpment of a north–south plateau slopes away to the east and north into the vast interior sand basin of the Kalahari. In the far northwest, the 66,000 sq km (25,500 sq miles) of the Kaokoland mountains run along the coast, while further inland lies the Etosha Pan (a dried-out saline lake), surrounded by grasslands and bush which support a large and varied wildlife. The Etosha National Park & Game Reserve is one of the finest in Africa, in that it remains, to a large extent, free of human influence.

Republic. Gained independence from South Africa in 1990.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba since 2005.

Prime Minister Nahas Angula since 2005.

Hifikepunye Pohamba, representing the ruling Swapo party, won a landslide victory in presidential elections in November 2004 and was inaugurated in March 2005. He promised to pursue the land reforms proposed by his predecessor President Nujoma. The country is currently enjoying slow but steady economic growth, with tourism becoming an increasingly significant source of revenue. The government is taking steps to tackle the onslaught of HIV/AIDS and improve educational opportunities for ordinary Namibians.

English is the official language but is the first language of only 7% of the population. Afrikaans, the lingua franca, is the first language of most of the white population. German, Herero, Kavango, Nama and Ovambo are also spoken.

Christian (80 to 90%) and indigenous beliefs (10 to 20%).

220 volts AC, 50hz. Outlets are of the South African three-pin type (two small round pins over one larger round pin).

In urban areas, western customs prevail; normal courtesies should be shown when visiting someone’s home. In rural settlements, visitors should follow the advice of a local guide.