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Locale & Accommodations Namibia is located in southern Africa. Its border countries are Angola to the north, Zambia to the northeast, Botswana to the east, and South Africa below. The South Atlantic Ocean borders Namibia to the west. Namibia, slightly more than half the size of Alaska, is also located in and between the Namib Desert along the coast, and the Kalahari Desert in the east.
Namibia’s population is estimated to be approximately 1,820,916. It is made up of various ethnic groups, of which the majority live in the rural areas. These ethnic groups include the Herero, Ovambo, Damara, Namas, Caprivian, Ovahimbas, Tswanas, Kavangos, San, Basters, "Coloureds," Afrikaners, English and German. Windhoek, the largest and capitol city in Namibia, is also the most diverse city where you will find representatives of all ethnic groups mentioned above.
Housing
Center for Global Education – Namibia maintains a large house in Windhoek for its semester study programs and short-term travel seminars. For many groups, this will be your home base while in Windhoek. The Center's Namibia facility is located in the residential neighborhood of Windhoek West, just four blocks from the Polytechnic of Namibia and a 10 - 15 minute walk to downtown. Our Namibia house has four bedrooms, all of which have bunk beds, closets, and a table. There is also a common living space and dinning room for classes, meals, conversation and leisure time. The center has two full bathrooms as well as a washing machine that can be used during the evening. Finally, the premises include a large yard, a nice patio, a small swimming pool and a veranda adjacent to the lounge.
In other parts of Namibia, you will stay at a modest guesthouse or church-run retreat center where rooms are semi-dormitory style with shared bathrooms. Some travel seminars may include a family stay to introduce you to family life in southern Africa. During a family stay, you may not always have access to hot water or standard mattresses. We are confident that this unique opportunity will enhance your understanding of the region in a challenging, experiential manner.
Library and ComputersThe Namibia center has a small resource room with books and other publications available for student use. Books are fiction and non-fiction, though most material is class or program-relate. The resource room is equipped with several computers and a printer for your use. Each computer has Internet access, and the house is now equipped with wireless internet as well. However, you should be forewarned that the computers are not as fast as those in the U.S. Internet cafes are available in Windhoek and in most South African cities.
Namibia is generally seven (7) hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST), eight (8) hours ahead of Central Standard Time (CST), nine (9) hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time (MST), and ten (10) hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST). Namibia and South Africa are in the same time zone.
However, Namibia changes to daylight savings time and South Africa does not. Also, since Namibia is in the southern hemisphere, when the time does change, it goes in the opposite direction from the northern hemisphere, and the dates of the time change are different from the U.S. As an example, depending on whether Namibia and the U.S. are currently on standard or daylight savings time, Namibia can be 6, 7 or 8 hours later than the U.S. Central Time Zone.
In February and March the average high in Windhoek is 80-88°F; the average low is 59-63°F. Namibia is a very dry country with February and March being two of only a few months in which there is rain. The average rainfall per month in February and March is 3 inches.
In northern Namibia, temperatures are likely to be 5-10° higher than in Windhoek; the western coast (Walvis Bay and Swakopmund), where you will be for a few days, will be somewhat cooler than in Windhoek at about 50-70°F year-round.
In April and May the average high in Windhoek is 68-77°F; the average low is 43-55°F. Rain is unlikely. In northern Namibia, temperatures are likely to be 5-10° higher than in Windhoek; the western coast will be somewhat cooler than in Windhoek.
In September, the average high in Windhoek is 77 °F; the average low is 53°F. Namibia is a very dry country with a “little rains” season between October and December. In northern Namibia, temperatures are likely to be 5-10° higher than in Windhoek; the western coast (Walvis Bay and Swakopmund), where you will be for a few days, will be somewhat cooler than in Windhoek at about 50-70°F year-round.
In November and December, the average high in Windhoek is 85°F; the average low is 60°F. In northern Namibia, temperatures are likely to be 5-10° higher than in Windhoek; the western coast will be somewhat cooler than in Windhoek.
In Johannesburg, the average high temperature during the spring (September) is 73 °F; the average low is 48°F. In the fall (our spring) the average high temperature is 58-70°F; the average low is 36-50°F. The nights tend to get quite cool. Many buildings are not heated, so when the mornings are cool the rooms are cold. We suggest bringing along a couple of warm sweaters and/or a jacket to use in South Africa as well as something warm to sleep in.
In the summer (December), Cape Town averages a high of 77°F; the average low is about 59°F. In the fall (March-April) the average high is 64-72°F; the average low is about 50°F. FoodIf you are staying at the Center's Namibia center, most of your meals will be prepared by the Center's Namibia cook staff. When you are away from Windhoek, you'll generally either eat as a group at a guesthouse or restaurant, or each person is given a food stipend to buy their own food or to eat out.
Electrical Current
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Namibia
The
Center for Global Education in Namibia is based in Windhoek. Located
in the geographical center of the country, Windhoek’s estimated
population is 250,000. A modern city, the majority of its citizens
live in the heavily populated suburbs of Katutura and Khomasdal,
near the industrial outskirts of the city. Other parts of the city
include Windhoek North, Ludwisgsdorf, Klein Windhoek, Pioneers Park,
and the Central Business District (CBD) to name a few.
As
do many capital cities, Windhoek serves as the transportation hub,
shopping and entertainment center, and administrative center of
Namibia. Here, you will find all the goods, services and amenities
of a modern city readily available. Trains, buses, and taxis connect
communities within Windhoek as well as towns throughout Namibia.
Malls, shopping centers, restaurants and nightclubs provide adequate
services for consumers. Finally, government operations occur daily
in Windhoek to maintain stability throughout the country.
Food
prepared by the staff is nutritious and great. At the Center, staff
will prepare dishes for vegetarians and vegans (and please be
appreciative of their efforts to meet your needs!) However,
vegetarians should be aware that since most fruits and vegetables
must be imported and most are only available when in season, the
range of produce available here is much more limited (and more
expensive) than it is in the U.S. While the staff will take pains to
make sure that there are vegetarian options available when the group
travels, vegetarians should expect that those options may be very
limited, and more basic than the sophisticated vegetarian cuisine
available in other parts of the world.
The
electrical current is 220/240 volts, the same as in Europe, but
different from the U.S. and Canada. Most U.S. appliances run on less
voltage (110 volts) so you need a transformer or voltage converter
unless the appliance already has a built-in switch to change the
voltage (many newer shavers, hair dryers, and computers do). Not
only is the voltage different, but so is the outlet plug; in
Namibia, the outlet typically has three large rounded prongs, but
some have two smaller rounded prongs. Almost all wall sockets in
Namibia take the big, round three-pin, 15-amp plug. If you have a
continental/European or U.S. adapter plug, you may find that it
won’t work. A cheap solution is to buy a plug that will fit between
your appliance and the transformer/voltage it won’t work. A cheap
solution is to buy a plug that will fit between your appliance and
the transformer/voltage adapter. Generally, the necessary adapters
are not available in the U.S. but they can be purchased easily in
Namibia for about US$4.00. The Center for Global Education also has
a few plug adapters that you can borrow and others in the group may
be willing to share. Most common sizes of batteries can be purchased
for appliances that use them. 
