What animals live in Namibia?

Namibia is one of the best places on Earth to spot wild animals in their natural home! The Namib Desert and the Etosha salt pan are full of creatures — lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and black rhinos all roam here. Etosha National Park is especially famous because animals gather around watering holes, so you can watch them up close. Namibia also has some animals you won't find many other places. The desert-adapted elephant has learned to walk huge distances across dry sand to find water — their feet are even slightly bigger to help them move through the dunes. Cheetahs are common here too, and Namibia actually has more wild cheetahs than almost any other country in the world. Every one of these creatures was designed by God, and the people who live among them every day are the ones we most want to hear about Him.

What do kids eat in Namibia?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Namibia often eat a thick porridge called *pap* (say it like 'pop'), made from ground corn. It is filling and simple, and many families eat it almost every day, sometimes with a little meat or vegetables stirred in. Rusty loves this part — in Namibia you might also find dried meat called *biltong*, which is chewy and salty, a bit like jerky. Some kids in rural areas eat goat or beef stew when the family has it, and wild fruits like the marula are a real treat when they are in season. Food here tells you a lot about how people live and take care of each other.

How do people say hello in Namibia?

Great question for any explorer! Namibia has many languages, so 'hello' sounds different depending on who you meet. In Afrikaans, one of the most widely spoken languages, people say 'Hallo' — which actually sounds a lot like the English word. In Oshiwambo, spoken by the largest group of people in Namibia, you would greet someone by saying 'Wa lalapo' in the morning, which means something like 'Did you sleep well?' The Herero people have their own greeting too — 'Kukuhepa' is a way to say hello and ask how someone is doing. And in the Nama and Damara language, you might hear 'Mats' as a friendly greeting. Namibia has more than a dozen languages, which means missionaries there have a big and important job — making sure people can hear about Jesus in the language that speaks deepest to their hearts.

What sports or games do kids play in Namibia?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Namibia love football — what many countries call soccer — more than just about anything else. You'll find them kicking a ball around on dusty open fields, in villages, and in city neighborhoods, often with bare feet on hard-packed ground. Rusty wants to add that rugby is also huge in Namibia, especially since the national team has played in the Rugby World Cup — that's a big deal! Kids also play netball, which is a bit like basketball but without dribbling, and you'll find traditional games too, like games involving stones or sticks that families have passed down for generations. It's a good reminder that wherever kids are in the world, God gives them joy and play — and those same kids need to hear about Jesus just as much as anyone.

What's the weather like in Namibia?

Namibia is one of the driest countries on Earth! Most of it is covered by desert — the Namib Desert along the coast is so old and dry that some riverbeds only see rain once every few years. Temperatures can swing from very hot in the daytime to surprisingly cold at night. The rainy season runs roughly from November to April, mostly in the north and east, where you might see thunderstorms roll across the savanna. But the famous Namib Desert in the west gets almost no rain at all — some creatures there survive by drinking the morning fog that drifts in from the Atlantic Ocean. It is a rugged, striking land.

Tell me a fun fact about Namibia.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Namibia is home to the Namib Desert, which is one of the oldest deserts on Earth — scientists think it has been dry for around 55 million years. It stretches right along the Atlantic coast, so you can actually stand where giant orange sand dunes meet the cold ocean waves. Those famous dunes have names, and the tallest ones near a place called Sossusvlei rise over 300 meters high — that is taller than the Eiffel Tower! The desert also has strange plants called welwitschia that can live for more than a thousand years, growing slowly in the dry heat. Namibia is a place where God's creation is truly striking and unlike anywhere else on the map.

What is school like for kids in Namibia?

In Namibia, school is serious business — and many kids work hard to get there. Some children walk a long way across dry, sandy land just to reach their classroom. The school day is taught in English, even though most kids grow up speaking languages like Oshiwambo, Afrikaans, or one of Namibia's many other local languages. Not every family can afford school fees, uniforms, or supplies, so some children have to stop going before they finish. In rural areas, classrooms can be crowded and short on books. But there are Namibian Christians and missionaries who care deeply about these kids — not just to help them read and write, but to make sure they hear about Jesus too. A child who knows how to read can one day open a Bible for themselves, and that is a gift that lasts forever.

Who are the unreached people in Namibia?

Great question! Namibia is a big, dry country in southern Africa — much of it is the Kalahari and Namib deserts. Many Namibians have heard about Jesus, but there are some groups who have had very little chance to hear the gospel. The San people, sometimes called Bushmen, are one of the oldest people groups on earth, and many of them still have few believers and very little of God's Word in their heart language. There are also smaller groups like the Himba and some Kavango communities in the north where the church is young and missionaries are still working hard to share the good news. When people don't have the Bible in the language they grew up speaking, it is much harder for them to truly understand who Jesus is and why He came. That is why Bible translators and local Namibian Christians are doing such important work — so every person in Namibia can hear, in their own language, that Jesus is the Savior who loves them.

How can I pray for the people of Namibia?

What a great thing to bring to God — prayer for the people of Namibia! Many people in Namibia have heard the name of Jesus, but some still follow traditional beliefs that mix in ancestor spirits and other teachings. You can pray that those people would hear the true gospel clearly and trust Jesus as their only Savior. You can also pray for the churches in Namibia to grow strong and faithful, teaching the Bible well. Pray for Christian leaders — especially Namibian ones — who can reach their own people in ways that feel real and close to home. And pray for children and families across the dry Namib Desert and the wide savanna to come to know Jesus personally, not just as a name they have heard, but as the living Lord who loves them.

What is a holiday or celebration in Namibia?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One big celebration in Namibia is Independence Day on March 21st. That is the day in 1990 when Namibia became its own free country after many years under foreign rule. People gather, sing, and watch parades — it is a very proud day for Namibians. Rusty wants to add that many Namibian Christians also celebrate this day by thanking God for their nation. Namibia has a large number of people who call themselves Christians, so you will often hear prayers and church services mixed in with the national festivities. It is a good reminder that every good gift — including freedom — comes from God.

What language do people speak in Namibia?

Namibia is a place with many languages! The official language is English, so you would see signs and government buildings using English. But most people grow up speaking their own tribal language at home, like Oshiwambo, Afrikaans, or Otjiherero. There are actually around 30 different languages spoken across Namibia. That means some people groups still need the Bible translated into their own heart language — the language they think and dream in. Missionaries work hard to make sure every person can hear about Jesus in the language that means the most to them.

What's a famous place to visit in Namibia?

Herman here, with Rusty peering over my shoulder! One of the most jaw-dropping places in Namibia is the Namib Desert — it stretches along the entire Atlantic coast and is considered one of the oldest deserts on Earth. The sand dunes near a place called Sossusvlei rise so high they look like giant red-orange waves frozen in place. Rusty wants to add that those dunes get their deep reddish color from iron minerals in the sand — the older the sand, the redder it gets. People travel from all over the world to climb Dune 45, named simply because it sits at the 45-kilometer mark on the road. Standing at the top, you can see for miles across one of the quietest, most striking landscapes on the planet — a reminder of just how creative God was when He made this world.

Namibia — Kids Missions Explorer

Oryx

The gemsbok oryx can survive scorching Namib Desert heat by letting its body temperature rise instead of sweating away precious water.

African Elephant

Namibia's desert-adapted elephants have learned to walk dozens of miles in a single day to find water in one of the driest places on Earth.

Meerkat

Meerkats take turns standing guard on termite mounds, watching the horizon and calling out specific alarm sounds for different predators.

Biltong

Strips of beef or game meat are salted and dried in the open air, making a chewy, savory snack that Namibians carry on long journeys.

Oshifima

This thick porridge made from pearl millet is the daily staple for many Ovambo families in northern Namibia, often eaten by hand with a vegetable stew.

Kapana

Informal street vendors in Windhoek grill fresh cuts of beef right on open charcoal fires and serve them with chili sauce and fresh bread.

Namibia

Things you should know about Namibia

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Namibia

Missions in Namibia

Pray for Namibia