Namibia's Geography
Namibia's Borders
Namibia is a country located in southwestern Africa, known for its stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and unique geographical features. It covers an area of approximately 824,292 square kilometers (318,261 square miles), making it one of the larger countries on the African continent. Despite its size, it has a relatively small population, which is concentrated mostly in the north and central regions.
Location
Namibia lies along the Atlantic Ocean on its western border, giving it access to a long and dramatic coastline known as the Skeleton Coast. Its geographic coordinates range roughly from 17°S to 29°S latitude and 11°E to 25°E longitude.
Neighboring Countries and Border Lengths
Namibia shares borders with five countries:
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Angola (to the north)
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Border length: approximately 1,376 kilometers (855 miles)
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Separated by: the Kunene River in the northwest and Okavango River further east.
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Zambia (to the northeast)
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Border length: only about 244 kilometers (152 miles)
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The shortest border, located in the Zambezi Region (formerly the Caprivi Strip).
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Separated by: the Zambezi River.
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Botswana (to the east and southeast)
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Border length: around 1,544 kilometers (959 miles)
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Separated mainly by: a mix of natural boundaries and straight-line demarcations across the Kalahari Desert.
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South Africa (to the south)
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Border length: approximately 967 kilometers (601 miles)
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Separated by: the Orange River, which forms a large part of the southern boundary.
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Atlantic Ocean (to the west)
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Namibia’s coastline stretches for about 1,572 kilometers (977 miles)
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While not a country, the Atlantic Ocean plays a crucial role in Namibia’s geography and economy, especially through fishing and port activities (e.g., Walvis Bay and Lüderitz).
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Namibia's Natural Region
Namibia's Borders
Namibia is made up of several distinct natural regions, commonly grouped into five main areas:
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The Namib Desert, stretching along the western coast
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The Great Escarpment, a dramatic rise in elevation inland from the coast
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The Central Plateau, located in the heart of the country
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The Kalahari Basin, which lies to the east
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The Kavango-Caprivi Region, found in the far northeast
1. The Namib Desert
The Namib Desert, which gives Namibia its name, stretches along the Atlantic coast for about 2,000 kilometers—from northwestern South Africa up to Angola. In Namibia, the desert extends up to 150 kilometers inland, with an average width of around 100 kilometers. It is divided into several protected areas: Sperrgebiet National Park, Namib-Naukluft Park, Dorob National Park, and Skeleton Coast National Park.
The northern Namib is mostly made up of rocky gravel plains, while the central region is famous for its towering sand dunes, some of the highest in the world. Covering roughly 95,000 square kilometers, the Namib is believed to be the oldest desert on Earth. Despite extreme temperatures—soaring up to 50°C during the day and dropping below freezing at night—many plants and animals have remarkably adapted to survive in this harsh environment over millions of years.
2. The Great Escarpment
The Great Escarpment is a prominent geographical feature that separates Namibia’s coastal Namib Desert from the higher Central Plateau. It formed around 80 million years ago when the southern edge of Africa was uplifted following the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. Essentially, it can be described as a mountain range reaching heights of up to 1,000 meters. It runs from northern to southern Namibia but isn’t continuous, as erosion over millions of years has created large gaps in the range.
Several mountain ranges are part of the Great Escarpment, including the Hartmann, Baynes, and Joubert Mountains in the north; the Khomas Highlands, Gamsberg, and Naukluft in the central region; and the Tsaris and Tiras Mountains in the south. However, some well-known mountains like the Brandberg (home to Namibia’s highest point, Königstein at 2,579 meters), the Erongo Mountains, and the Spitzkoppe are not part of the Great Escarpment. These belong to the Damara Formation and have volcanic origins.
3. The Central Plateau
The Central Plateau is Namibia’s largest geographical region. It lies between the Great Escarpment to the west and the Kalahari Basin to the east. The plateau ranges in elevation from around 1,000 to 2,000 meters above sea level.
In the northern part of the plateau, you'll find the Etosha Pan at roughly 1,000 meters. The capital city, Windhoek, is centrally located on the plateau at about 1,700 meters, with nearby mountains rising over 2,000 meters. As you move further south, the land gradually slopes down to an elevation of around 1,200 meters.
4. The Kalahari
To the east of Namibia, beyond the Central Plateau and toward Botswana, lies the Kalahari region. Although it's commonly referred to as a desert, the Kalahari actually receives more rainfall than a true desert and is better described as a semi-desert. After periods of good rain, the area becomes lush with vegetation and supports a wide variety of wildlife.
Summer temperatures can soar above 40°C, while winter nights often drop below freezing. The Kalahari is especially known for its striking red sand dunes that stretch in long parallel ridges.
This region is part of the much larger Kalahari Basin, which spans across seven countries: Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The entire basin covers more than 1.2 million square kilometers.
5. The Kavango-Caprivi Region
The Kavango-Caprivi Region, located in northeastern Namibia, stands out from the country’s typically dry landscape due to its warm, subtropical climate. This narrow strip of land extends deep into central Africa and is much more humid than the rest of Namibia.
Thanks to the moisture and favorable conditions, the region supports a rich variety of wildlife. As a result, many parts of the Kavango-Caprivi have been designated as national parks or conservation areas to protect its natural biodiversity.
