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O'Connell's website with biography and other books.

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Copyright © 2011 Caitlin O'Connell. All rights reserved.

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Namibia is one of the safest countries in Africa. The Namibia region was colonized by Germany in the late 1800's and was taken over by South Africa later on. Eventually, it became it's own country. It's official language is English.

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Namibia, a large and sparsely populated country on Africa's south-west coast, has enjoyed stability since gaining independence in 1990 after a long struggle against rule by South Africa.

Germany took control of the area which it called South West Africa in the late 1800s.

The discovery of diamonds in 1908 prompted an influx of Europeans.

South Africa seized it during the First World War and administered it under a League of Nations mandate.

Namibians achieved independence in 1990 after a bush war of almost 25 years. Inter-racial reconciliation encouraged the country's white people to remain and they still play a major role in farming and other economic sectors.

Read more country profiles - Profiles by BBC Monitoring

FACTS

LEADERS
President: Hage Geingob
Hage Geingob was voted in as president in the November 2014 elections while serving as prime minister.

He succeeded Hifikepunye Pohamba, who stepped down at the end of the two terms allowed by the constitution.

Dr Geingob, who was born in 1941, chaired the constituent assembly which drafted the constitution which came into effect with Namibian independence from South Africa in 1990.

He was independent Namibia's first prime minister.

The president, who shares executive power with the cabinet, is limited to two five-year terms.
Prime minister: Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was appointed prime minister in 2015, having served as finance minister for several years.

A longtime member of the ruling South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), she went into exile with the group to Sierra Leone at the age of 13.

After completing her economics degree in the United States, Ms Kuugongelwa-Amadhila returned to Namibia and worked briefly in the office of founding President Sam Nujoma, who quickly promoted her to head the National Planning Commission.

She then served as minister of finance from 2003 until her promotion to the position of prime minister by President Geingob.

MEDIA

Namibia is one of the more media-friendly countries in Africa.

Broadcasters and the private press give coverage to the opposition, including views critical of the government.

Read full media profile

TIMELINE
Some key dates in Namibia's history:
1886-90 - Present international boundaries established by German treaties with Portugal and Britain. Germany annexes the territory as South West Africa.

1892-1905 - Suppression of uprisings by Herero and Namas. Possibly 60,000, or 80% of the Herero population, are killed, leaving some 15,000 starving refugees.

1915 - South Africa takes over territory during First World War.

1920 - League of Nations grants South Africa mandate to govern South West Africa (SWA).

1946 - South Africa refuses to place SWA under UN trusteeship.

1961 - UN General Assembly demands South Africa terminate the mandate and sets SWA's independence as an objective.

1966 - South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo) launches armed struggle against South African occupation.

1990 - Namibia becomes independent, with Sam Nujoma as first president.

2004 - Germany offers formal apology for colonial-era killings of tens of thousands of ethnic Hereros.

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Namibia, a large and sparsely populated country on Africa's south-west coast, has enjoyed stability since gaining independence in 1990 after a long struggle against rule by South Africa. Germany took control of the area which it called South West Africa in the late 1800s. The discovery of diamonds in 1908 prompted an influx of Europeans.

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Visit the National Park

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Landscape and Vegetation

Namibia is a very diverse country with an array of habitats and vegetation. It is also one of the few countries where animals still roam freely mostly unrestricted by human influence. The country has a great mix of desert, semi- desert and savannahs. As you travel further north in Namibia towards Etosha National Park, you will find a place that offers visitors a complete contrast of wide open grasslands, a massive pan that covers 4731km² and large camel thorn trees mixed with Mopani trees. This diverse vegetation accounts for the abundance of wildlife that thrives in the park.

Accommodation

The various accommodation options in Etosha National Park are well equipped with restaurants, shops, curios, swimming pools and petrol stations. The three main camps ( Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni) offer various types of accommodation from camping to chalets overlooking floodlit waterholes. Situated deeper in the park are the more exclusive camps ( Dolomite and Onkoshi) that provide a safari experience for discerning travelers.

About the Park

Before you decide to visit Etosha National Park, it is always a good idea to learn more about its many intricacies and what to expect. Below we have information on the park that will guide and inform you, leaving you well informed before your trip to this beautiful place:

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Welcome to Etosha National Park, Namibia Etosha National Park is unique in Africa. The park's main characteristic is a salt pan so large it can be seen from space. Yet there is abundant wildlife that congregates around the waterholes, giving you almost guaranteed game sightings.

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Donate to Save The Elephants

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Because of the Elephant Crisis Fund, we've had a plane, fuel, and manpower to conduct more than 110,000 miles of aerial reconnaissance routes across the vast Tsavo National Parks, allowing a bird's eye view to direct anti-poaching teams more swiftly. With the ECF's help, we've seen elephant poaching plummet by more than half.

Richard Moller

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From France to Samburu: How one young student got to meet her donor

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As Save The Elephants works towards building a tolerant relationship between man and elephants, the STE/Elephant Watch Safaris Elephant Scholarship Programme is furthering this mission by providing students with an opportunity to change lives. In 2016, we admitted the fourteen year old who hails from Isiolo, Naima Mohamed into the programme after she had performed so well in her final primary school examinations.

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Adopt an Elephant

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Symbolically adopt an elephant from Defenders Gift Center. Defenders of Wildlife's adoption kits make the perfect gift! Adopt an elephant today and help support our work to save imperiled species.

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Asian elephants are endangered with only 20,000 left on Earth. African elephants are "vulnerable" with only 500,000 left. How can we help?

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savetheelephants

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This video explains O'Connell's research and has her in the video!

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Studying Elephant Communication | HHMI BioInteractive Video

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Elephants use seismic waves to communicate with each other. Seismic signals can also be used to detect natural disasters like earthquakes and landslides.

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Other Animals That Use Vibrations to Communicate

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Other Animals That Use Vibrations to Communicate

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Caribbean White-Lipped Frogs, Jumping Spiders, Elephants, Mole Rats, Kangaroo Rats, Termites and Treehoppers.

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Ideas and Insight From National Geographic

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other animals

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Asian elephants have smaller ears, a dome shaped back and one finger-like projection from their trunk. African elephants have large ears, concave back and two finger like projections (O'Connell et. al, pg. 22, 2016). African elephants typically have longer trunks.