Basic Language
Along with its incredible wealth of natural and geological heritage, Namibia also has a beautiful assortment of indigenous languages with English recognized as the official one. The major ethnic groups of Namibia include Herero, Owambo, Nama, Bushmen or San, Himba, Damara, Kavango, Tswana and Caprivian. The white community consists mainly of Afrikaans, German and English. There is also a small Portuguese presence from neighboring Angola to the north. For foreign travelers a myriad of local guides speak languages such as German, Italian, French and Spanish. Greeting someone in their own language is always a great way of showing respect. African communities highly prize their inheritance and to greet them in their own language, no matter pronunciation, is always a sure way of engaging them. Below is a list of a few common phrases used on travels in some of the local languages. Please feel free to download this for your Namibian safari, its use will surely add a warmth to your trip as you see the smiles on the faces of the local residents!
The Himba speaks a dialect of Herero
