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The Erongo Region as part of Namibia stretches along the Atlantic
Ocean in the west including the municipal areas of Walvis Bay in
the south to Swakopmund and Arandis in the central part , in the
north Hentiesbay to the northeastern inland including Uis, Omaruru
and eastwards from the coastal belt and the Namib Desert Karibib
and Usakos.
It offers incredible variety to each and every
visitor. From the cold Atlantic Ocean with a great variety of birds,
fish and other marine life to seemingly endless desert with dunes
of a thousand shapes and colours, from a strangely eerie moonlandscape
to the famous "White Lady" of the Brandberg, the rockformations
of the Pontok mountains with the distinctive Spitzkoppe and the
equally stunning Erongo Mountains, to farmland at Omaruru teeming
with game and wildlife. Sightseeing is not only limited to landscapes,
fauna and flora, but also historical sites, museums, tannery, winemaking,
carpet weaving and many more.
The climate at the coast is mild ranging generally
from 12 degrees Celsius to a pleasant 24 degrees throughout the
year. Very hot eastwinds with sandstorms can at times be expected
for short periods of usually two to three days in the wintermonths,
in particular May to July. Rainfall is limited to 10mm average per
year. Fogpatches are mainly to be expected in the late winter and
spring from August to November, which often clear during the day.
The inland, including Karibib, Usakos, Uis and
Omaruru has hot summers with temperatures ranging up to 34 degrees
Celsius and could experience frost in the wintermonths. Rainfall
to be expected mainly in the summermonths.
Accomodation caters for a wide variety of tastes
and pockets from five star hotels to community campsites. Restaurants
cater for the international and local taste from haute cuisine,
fresh Atlantic seafoods, steaks or "Eisbein" to take aways
and pizzerias. The towns offer good general shopping for the selfcaterer.
A large number of activities are for old and young, the layback
tourist and the adrenaline junkies. Transport is available by air
and road as well as rail, including a luxury overnight railcoach
from the inland to the coast.
The Erongo Region produces and/or offers a wide
variety of Namibian products of outstanding quality in boutiques
and factory shops including but to name a few handcrafted jewellery,
the handwoven karakul carpets, semi precious stones, wine a la Felsenkellerei
in Omaruru, the famous Namibian beers, brewed according to the "Reinheitsgebot",
leathershoes from kudu antelope or sealskin, woodcarvings, swakara
furriers and toprate leather products.
Tourism, however, should also include the safety
of the visitor and the Erongo Region is linked up to medical air
and road rescue services of international standards with bases in
Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. The region boasts excellent medical facilities
with a number of specialists and private hospitals.
With regard to crime, the local police force and
certain public initiatives eg Carguards will do their utmost to
ensure a safe stay for every visitor, but basic precautions to prevent
becoming a victim of crime should always be adhered to.
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