Imbo Magazine January 2013

Page 56

AFRICA CONNECT

Namibia Africa`s own Braveheart Kudzai Mazvarirwofa

A country where the hearts of its people are as warm as the sun itself. Known for its harsh yet angelic plains it’s no wonder she’s knows as the land of the brave. Be brave to tame and discover the blessing bestowed upon its people. her hardships Although not as established as her other

T

he ancient sands of the Namib Desert are shifted by the whistling winds; the landscape undulates and moves along, leaving red clouds and dunes in its wake. Herds of antelope kick up dust as they roam the plains to the north for grazing and water. Elephants traverse the dry riverbeds to the west while the cheetahs play a silent, deadly game of hide and seek. This is Namibia, a wildly beautiful land with diversity in every element that makes up its existence.

her borders

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a Southern African state, whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. Although it does not directly border with Zimbabwe, less than 200 meters of riverbed separates them at their closest points.

56 IMBO/ ISSUE 9/ 2012

Namibia gained her independence from South Africa, in 1990, making her one of the few indigenously colonised states in African history. Namibia has a population of 2.1 million people and a stable multi-party parliamentary democracy. Agriculture, herding, tourism and the mining industry– including mining for gem diamonds, uranium, gold, silver, and base metals – form the backbone of Namibia’s economy. Given the presence of the arid Namib Desert, it is one of the least densely populated countries in the world. Approximately half the population live below the international poverty line, and the nation has suffered heavily from the effects of HIV/AIDS, with 15% of the adult population infected with HIV in a survey conducted in 2007.

her natural wilderness makes for an amazing sight

African counterparts, Namibia remains a gem for those searching for wilderness. Namibia is so untapped in her natural state, that she is the pinnacle of the juxtaposition between the desert and the wetlands (she is wedged between the Kalahari and the Atlantic); the dangerous and the luxurious, the raw and the posh, the wild and the tame. Roughly the size of Great Britain, Namibia is sparsely populated and this can be attributed to large parts of the landscape diverging in the oldest desert in the world, the Namib, as well as the northern reaches that creates some of the most inhospitable environments on the planet. Dry river beds, rich geological hills and incredible vistas make for an amazing sight. To the north eastern areas, the land is heavy with the weight of water. Twisting river systems and lush wetlands are home to a treasure chest of wildlife and flora species, marking Namibia as the beautiful, fruitful yet dangerous and dry as well. Namibia is one of those dreamlike places that make you question the existence of something so visually orgasmic. Time and space are less defined here, landscapes collide and experiences are developed. Watch a lion stalking its prey on a neverending plain in Etosha, attempt to ride a giant dune on a sandboard and spend a night alone in the desert under a sky so thick with stars you can’t differentiate them. Namibia is a fantasy land to those seeking visual stimuli, the epitome of the balance of nature.


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.