Northern Namibia

Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, is in the country’s geographical centre at an altitude of around 1,700 metres, with a present population of about half a million. It was founded in 1840 by Orlam people (a sub-tribe of Nama), and in 1890, the Germans made it the capital of their colony. Further north, the inhabitants are Damara, who speak the Nama language, as well as Herero and Ovambo, speaking Bantu languages. Etosha Game Reserve is established not far from Fort Namutoni, formerly a German police post. The Namib Desert stretches along the coast, featuring the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain, as well as small towns.

The Kaiserstrasse in the centre of Windhoek (ǀAi-ǁGams in Khoekhoegowab and Otjomuise in Otjiherero). It is now called Independence Avenue.

The corner of Independence Avenue (formerly Kaiserstrasse) and John Meinert Street in the centre of Windhoek.

Sembla Stoet, a farm between Otjiwaringo and Otavi, in the north of Namibia.

Tin houses of Herero people along the railway, between Otjiwaringo and Otavi, in the north of Namibia.

The main street (now Sam Nujoma Drive) in Tsumeb (Nama: ǂAixorobes; Otjiherero: Okavisume), 68 kilometres north of Otavi.

The border with Ovamboland (Owamboland), a prohibited area, close to the Angolan border during the South African Border War (Namibian War of Independence, 1966-1990.

Fort Namutoni, built in 1899, originally a German Police post.

A leopard in Etosha National Park in northwestern Namibia, one of the largest national parks in Africa.

Gnus and zebras in Etosha National Park.

Shorthorned desert grasshoppers eating their squashed relatives on a road in Etosha National Park.

The Etosha pan, a large salt pan, forming part of the Kalahari Basin in the north of Namibia, protected as Etosha National Park.

View to Khorixas, previously known as Welwitschia, the capital of the Damaraland bantustan before Namibia's independence.

The bottle store in Khorixas, with Nama/Damara script.

Houses in the location of Khorixas, previously Welwitschia.

Damara (ǂNūkhoen) boys in Khorixas, previously the capital of the Damaraland bantustan before Namibia's independence.

Damara (ǂNūkhoen) children in front of their house in Khorixas.

The Petrified forest, a deposit of large tree trunks that have "turned to stone" through diagenesis, in which buried organisms are replaced by minerals.

View of the scenery at the Petrified forest, west of Khorixas.

A sandy river crossing, on the road between Khorixas and Twyfelfontein (ǀUi-ǁAis).

View to Brandberg Mountain (Damara: Dâures), the highest mountain in Namibia, 2.573 metres.

Damara huts along the road to Uis, at the foot of Brandberg Mountain (Dâures).

Damara huts along the road to Uis, at the foot of Brandberg Mountain.

The Namib desert, between Uis and Henties Bay.

The Namib desert, between Uis and Henties Bay, near the coast.

Sand dunes of the Namib desert, between Uis and Henties Bay, near the coast.

View of Henties Bay (Hentiesbaai), a coastal town 70 kilometres north of Swakopmund.

Turnoff to Wlotzkas Baken, a holiday settlement, approximately halfway between Henties Bay and Swakopmund.

The Deutsche Evangelisch-Lutherische Church in the centre of Swakopmund.

The road between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

View from the Namib desert to the harbour in Walvis Bay.

The road in the Namib Desert Park, heading east from Walvis Bay.

View near the Gamsberg Pass, 210 kilometres east of Walvis Bay.

The road on the way to the Gamsberg Pass, 210 kilometres east of Walvis Bay.

View from the road on the Gamsberg Pass, at 1,630 metres above sea level.