If you tell tourists in Namibia that they do not know everything about her, they’d almost beat you up for trying to ridicule them. Today, I’m putting it out here that there are definitely things you never knew about Namibia. I’m wrong? I’ll tell you.
Although Namibia only gained independence in 1990 and has a rather small population as far as African countries go, it’s got a long history. From the San people, to the massive deserts, to ancient meteorites, there is plenty to discover in this isolated land.
Here are few things things you probably didn’t know about Namibia.
The Sand Dune Actually Roar
You might have though this was just a special effect heard only in movies but it’s a real-life phenomenon! Though not all dunes on Earth roar, they do in Namibia. The dunes are so large that air trapped between the millions of grains of sand creates a rumble that can sound like an airplane passing overhead.
Over 20 movies have been shot here
“Mad Max: Fury Road” is the most recent blockbuster to be filmed in Namibia, but plenty of other movies have used the country’s breathtaking landscape as a movie set. Some of the more famous ones include “The Cell,” “10,000 BC,” and “Red Scorpion.” Thank me later after you see these movies.
It has one of Southern Africa’s oldest tribe
Some of the earliest inhabitants of southern Africa were the San people; nomadic hunter-gatherers who adapted to the severe terrain over the centuries. Today, San people still live in Namibia, and some still adhere to the traditional lifestyle that has remained unchanged for over 20,000 years.
Wild Horses
Namibia is one of the few places in the world that still has wild horses, but not many. The population of Namiba Desert horses sits at just 90-150 individual animals, according to the latest estimate. These horses have to contend with predatory wildlife such as the spotted hyena, which often goes after newborn foals.
Largest Underground Lake In the World
If you were to start digging a hole about 46 kilometers northwest of the town of Grootfontein, you would eventually reach the largest underground lake in the world. Known as Dragon’s Breath Cave, this lake can only be accessed from above using ropes and caving equipment.
More Cheetahs Than any other Country
There are more cheetahs in Namibia than any other country in the world.
Largest Meteorite in the World
The ancient Hoba meteorite is thought to have landed on earth around 80,000 years ago and has a mass of more than 60 tons. The enormous object was discovered in 1920, when the owner of the land was plowing his fields with an ox.
The Oldest Desert in the World
The Namiba Desert is the oldest in the world and some of the granites there dates back an estimated 700 million years. There also hasn’t been surface water in the area for 55 million years.
What did I miss out? Fill it in!