Otjiwarongo
Encyclopedia
Otjiwarongo is a city of 20,000 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia
. It is the district capital of the Otjiwarongo electoral constituency
and also the capital of Otjozondjupa
.
Otjiwarongo is situated in central-north Namibia on the TransNamib
railway. It is the biggest business centre for Otjozondjupa Region. Otjiwarongo is located on the B1 road
and its links between Windhoek
, the Golden Triangle of Otavi
, Tsumeb
and Grootfontein
, and Etosha National Park
. It is one of Namibia’s fast growing towns, with a neat and peaceful quality environment, and many excellent facilities including supermarkets, banks, lodges and hotels. Some of Namibia's best-known private game farms and nature reserves are located in and around the town. Otjibamba Lodge, an afro-colonial style lodge, is situated on the southern side of the town near the Otjiwarongo Golf Course.
Otjiwarongo is one of Namibia's towns with a large population of German-speaking people. German influence is also evident on its Germanic buildings. The school "Donatus School Otjiwarongo" (D.S.O.) was once known as "Deutsche Schule Otjiwarongo".
first settled in Otjiwarongo in 1900. A bloody war was fought in the area between the Hereros and the Germans in 1904 where many of the tribes people died. The Hereros where the only African settlers in the town until 1906 when few amount of Ovambo and Damara tribes migrated to the town for settlement. This happened when Otjiwarongo was established as an administration point for the Germans and officially became a town. A narrow-gauge railway was built from Swakopmund
on the coast, to the Otavi
copper mine which helped Otjiwarongo became a prosperous agricultural centre. The three tribes where separated like in many of Namibia's towns, where each lived in a separate neighborhood such as Ovambo Location, Damara Location and Herero Location respectively. The three locations together made up the suburb of Orwetoveni.
The main interest for tourists is Otjiwarongo's proximity to the Waterberg Plateau Park. Otjiwarongo is home to the Cheetah Conservation Fund
, an internationally-recognized organization dedicated to ensuring the long-term survival of the cheetah through research, conservation and education. Also about 50 miles from Otjiwarongo is Okonjima
, the home of the Africat Foundation
, a successful cheetah and leopard rehabilitation centre, with viewing made possible by staying at the adjacent Okonjima Lodge. On the edge of town is the Crocodile Ranch, one of the few captive breeding programs for the Nile Crocodile
that has been registered with CITES. The ranch exports the skins, but sells the meat locally. Also in town is Locomotive No 41
, originally brought from Germany to haul ore
between Tsumeb
and the port at Swakopmund
.
It is home to 20 percent of the world's cheetahs, mostly on private ranch land.
Built 15 km outside of town, the Omatjenne Dam
provides artificial recharge of local groundwater.
" is rated as one of Namibia's best schools, with students reaching overall top number one student for the grade 12 Cambridge examination
. Over the years many students have reached the top five. Many of the students who graduate from this school study at Stellenbosch University
, University of South Africa
, University of Cape Town
and the University of Namibia
. "Deutsche Schule Otjiwarongo" is also rated as one of the best schools in Namibia.
There are also a number of institution for higher education in the town such as the "Monotronics Success College" which offers basic courses such as computer
, accounting, marketing
, business administration and many other. "MTI" and "COSDEC" are one of the two most popular vocational institutions
in the town. There are many other institutions that covers the fields of art and culture. Theres is also a convent
institution for Nuns. The Polytechnic of Namibia
and the University of Namibia
had plans to build their central campuses in the town, the two institutions already have their regional centers in the town where distance students
interact with the two institutions respectively.
. About 75% speaks English and 35% German. Other languages includes indigenous languages like Otjiherero, Damara-nama
and Oshiwambo.
is the town's major football team. Mokati Stadium
, the smallest of two stadia in Otjiwarongo, is located in Orwetoveni and its the main football stadium in town. There are also grounds for basketball
, netball
, and tennis
. The largest, Paresis Park also known as The Show Ground, is located in the upper suburb of the town. It is the towns biggest sport ground and one of the biggest in Namibia
. It has two soccer fields and two rugby fields. There is also grounds for hockey
, tennis
, netball
and cricket
. The park is also used to hold sport tournaments and business events such as the Otjiwarongo Trade Show.
In 2011, it host the main event of the 21st Independence Celebrations of Namibia.
through to Windhoek, to the North, Otavi
through to Ondangwa and Oshakati
, to the West, Kalkfeld through to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay
, and to the North-West, Outjo
through to Opuwo
. Taxi is one of the towns main transportation. Some people make use of the municipal bus service to get to work, while others use their private cars. Otjiwarongo is the junction for the branch railway to Outjo
.
Otjiwarongo has a well-developed road network as well as an air strip. There are plans to develop an international airport. The trans-caprivi highway also passes through Otjiwarongo. The railway line links other towns: Windhoek, Walvisbay, Tsumeb and Oshikango. On many occasions the Council has budgeted for upgrading roads in the town. Today Otjiwarongo is one of the few towns that has tarred roads even in the townships.
), with hot summers and mild winters. The average annual precipitation is 457 mm (18 in).
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. It is the district capital of the Otjiwarongo electoral constituency
Otjiwarongo Constituency
Otjiwarongo Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia. It has 22,614 inhabitants and consists of the town of Otjiwarongo and the surrounding rural area...
and also the capital of Otjozondjupa
Otjozondjupa
Otjozondjupa region is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. An outstanding landmark within this region is the Waterberg Plateau Park. Administration offices are based in Otjiwarongo which is the largest town in the region....
.
Otjiwarongo is situated in central-north Namibia on the TransNamib
TransNamib
TransNamib is the railway parastatal of Namibia. Organised as a holding company, it provides freight by rail and road as well as passenger services. Its administration is located in Windhoek.-History:...
railway. It is the biggest business centre for Otjozondjupa Region. Otjiwarongo is located on the B1 road
B1 road (Namibia)
The B1 is one of the most important roads in Namibia, passing through the centre of the country in a north-south direction. It connects Noordoewer on the South African border with Oshikango in the north on the Angolan border...
and its links between Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
, the Golden Triangle of Otavi
Otavi
Otavi is a town of 4,000 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is the district capital of the Otavi electoral constituency. Most of the area is dolomitic and the district was in the past renowned for its mineral wealth...
, Tsumeb
Tsumeb
Tsumeb is a city of 15,000 inhabitants and the largest town in Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Tsumeb is the home of the world-famous Tsumeb mine, and the "gateway to the north" of Namibia. It is the closest town to the Etosha National Park...
and Grootfontein
Grootfontein
Grootfontein is a city of 14,200 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is one of the three towns in the Otavi Triangle, situated on the B8 national road that leads from Windhoek to the Caprivi Strip...
, and Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park is a national park in the Kunene Region of northwestern Namibia. The park shares boundaries with the regions of Oshana, Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa....
. It is one of Namibia’s fast growing towns, with a neat and peaceful quality environment, and many excellent facilities including supermarkets, banks, lodges and hotels. Some of Namibia's best-known private game farms and nature reserves are located in and around the town. Otjibamba Lodge, an afro-colonial style lodge, is situated on the southern side of the town near the Otjiwarongo Golf Course.
Otjiwarongo is one of Namibia's towns with a large population of German-speaking people. German influence is also evident on its Germanic buildings. The school "Donatus School Otjiwarongo" (D.S.O.) was once known as "Deutsche Schule Otjiwarongo".
History
The Herero people were the original settlers of this area, and they called the place Otjiwarongo, meaning "Place Where Fat Cattle Graze". The name is appropriate as Otjiwarongo is home to some of the biggest cattle-breeding companies in Namibia. German NamibiansGerman Namibians
German Namibians are a community of people descended from ethnic German colonists who settled in present-day Namibia. In 1883, the German trader Adolf Lüderitz bought what would become the southern coast of Namibia and founded the city of Lüderitz...
first settled in Otjiwarongo in 1900. A bloody war was fought in the area between the Hereros and the Germans in 1904 where many of the tribes people died. The Hereros where the only African settlers in the town until 1906 when few amount of Ovambo and Damara tribes migrated to the town for settlement. This happened when Otjiwarongo was established as an administration point for the Germans and officially became a town. A narrow-gauge railway was built from Swakopmund
Swakopmund
Swakopmund is a city on the coast of northwestern Namibia, west of Windhoek, Namibia's capital. It is the capital of the Erongo administrative district. As a seaside resort, the weather is cooler here in December to January so the territorial administration moves to Swakopmund for these months...
on the coast, to the Otavi
Otavi
Otavi is a town of 4,000 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is the district capital of the Otavi electoral constituency. Most of the area is dolomitic and the district was in the past renowned for its mineral wealth...
copper mine which helped Otjiwarongo became a prosperous agricultural centre. The three tribes where separated like in many of Namibia's towns, where each lived in a separate neighborhood such as Ovambo Location, Damara Location and Herero Location respectively. The three locations together made up the suburb of Orwetoveni.
The main interest for tourists is Otjiwarongo's proximity to the Waterberg Plateau Park. Otjiwarongo is home to the Cheetah Conservation Fund
Cheetah Conservation Fund
Founded in 1990, the Cheetah Conservation Fund has as its mission to be the world’s resource charged with protecting the cheetahs and ultimately ensuring its future on our planet...
, an internationally-recognized organization dedicated to ensuring the long-term survival of the cheetah through research, conservation and education. Also about 50 miles from Otjiwarongo is Okonjima
Okonjima
Okonjima is a village in Namibia. It is located among the Omboroko mountains,and overlooking is a small waterfall. The AfriCat Foundation is located in the village....
, the home of the Africat Foundation
Africat Foundation
The AfriCat Foundation was founded in 1992. It is recognized by the Ministry of Environment & Tourism of Namibia as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of African big cats, especially cheetahs and leopards. It is based in Otjiwarongo, Namibia.The organization offers farmers the...
, a successful cheetah and leopard rehabilitation centre, with viewing made possible by staying at the adjacent Okonjima Lodge. On the edge of town is the Crocodile Ranch, one of the few captive breeding programs for the Nile Crocodile
Nile crocodile
The Nile crocodile or Common crocodile is an African crocodile which is common in Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Gabon, South Africa, Malawi, Sudan, Botswana, and Cameroon...
that has been registered with CITES. The ranch exports the skins, but sells the meat locally. Also in town is Locomotive No 41
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
, originally brought from Germany to haul ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
between Tsumeb
Tsumeb
Tsumeb is a city of 15,000 inhabitants and the largest town in Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Tsumeb is the home of the world-famous Tsumeb mine, and the "gateway to the north" of Namibia. It is the closest town to the Etosha National Park...
and the port at Swakopmund
Swakopmund
Swakopmund is a city on the coast of northwestern Namibia, west of Windhoek, Namibia's capital. It is the capital of the Erongo administrative district. As a seaside resort, the weather is cooler here in December to January so the territorial administration moves to Swakopmund for these months...
.
It is home to 20 percent of the world's cheetahs, mostly on private ranch land.
Built 15 km outside of town, the Omatjenne Dam
Omatjenne Dam
Omatjenne Dam is a dam in Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia. Located 15km northwest of Otjiwarongo, it dams the Omatjenne River and was built for the purpose of artificial recharge of ground water. It has a capacity of 5.063 Mm3 and was completed in 1933, when the country was controlled by South Africa....
provides artificial recharge of local groundwater.
Education
The town of Otjiwarongo operates six primary schools, three high schools and junior high schools. There are about eleven schools in Otjiwarongo, five private schools and six public schools. All schools final exams for grade 10 and 12 are regulated by the Ministry of Education. The schools of Otjiwarongo attract more and more non-resident students. "Otjiwarongo Secondary SchoolOtjiwarongo Secondary School
Otjiwarongo Secondary School is a high school in Otjiwarongo. It frequently produces good results compared to other schools in Namibia.Otjiwarongo Secondary School finished third in the country for NSSCH and 9th for the ordinary level examinations....
" is rated as one of Namibia's best schools, with students reaching overall top number one student for the grade 12 Cambridge examination
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. Over the years many students have reached the top five. Many of the students who graduate from this school study at Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University is a public research university situated in the town of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Other nearby universities are the University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape....
, University of South Africa
University of South Africa
The University of South Africa is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 300 000 enrolled students, it qualifies as one of the world's mega universities.-History:...
, University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
and the University of Namibia
University of Namibia
The University of Namibia is the national university of Namibia, located in the Pioneers Park district of Windhoek. Established by an act of National Assembly on 31 August 1992, UNAM includes Colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Economics & Management Science Education, Humanities and...
. "Deutsche Schule Otjiwarongo" is also rated as one of the best schools in Namibia.
There are also a number of institution for higher education in the town such as the "Monotronics Success College" which offers basic courses such as computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
, accounting, marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
, business administration and many other. "MTI" and "COSDEC" are one of the two most popular vocational institutions
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
in the town. There are many other institutions that covers the fields of art and culture. Theres is also a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
institution for Nuns. The Polytechnic of Namibia
Polytechnic of Namibia
The Polytechnic of Namibia, locally also known as Poly or Polytechnic, is an institute of tertiary education in Windhoek, Namibia. It has been established by Act 33 / 1994 of the Namibian Parliament.-History:...
and the University of Namibia
University of Namibia
The University of Namibia is the national university of Namibia, located in the Pioneers Park district of Windhoek. Established by an act of National Assembly on 31 August 1992, UNAM includes Colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Economics & Management Science Education, Humanities and...
had plans to build their central campuses in the town, the two institutions already have their regional centers in the town where distance students
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
interact with the two institutions respectively.
Public Schools
- "Karundu Primary School"
- "Orwetoveni Primary School"
- "Rogate Primary School"
- "Spes Bona Primary School"
- "Paresis Secondary School"
Private Schools
- "Privatschule Otjiwarongo"
- "Otjiwarongo Christian Primary"
- "Edugate Academy"
Public/Private Schools
These are schools that used to have less influence from the government, however still follow government syllabus.- "Donatus Schule Otjiwarongo" formerly "Deutsche Schule Otjiwarongo"
- "Otjiwarongo Secondary SchoolOtjiwarongo Secondary SchoolOtjiwarongo Secondary School is a high school in Otjiwarongo. It frequently produces good results compared to other schools in Namibia.Otjiwarongo Secondary School finished third in the country for NSSCH and 9th for the ordinary level examinations....
" - "Vooruit Primary School"
Health facilities
Otjiwarongo State Hospital is the biggest hospital in the town, it is mostly used by the middle and low income residents. A number of private clinics and hospitals are also present in the town, this includes the ever popular MediCity Private Clinic.Language
About 90% of the town’s residents speaks and understand AfrikaansAfrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
. About 75% speaks English and 35% German. Other languages includes indigenous languages like Otjiherero, Damara-nama
Damara people
The Damara are an ethnic group who make up 8.5% of Namibia's population...
and Oshiwambo.
Sport
Mighty Gunners FCMighty Gunners FC
Mighty Gunners is a football club in Otjiwarongo, Namibia. It plays in the Namibia Premier League and in Mokati Stadium....
is the town's major football team. Mokati Stadium
Mokati Stadium
Mokati Stadium is a stadium in Otjiwarongo, Namibia. It is the home stadium of Mighty Gunners FC, who play in the Namibia Premier League. Mokati is situated in the surbub of Orwetoveni.-References:...
, the smallest of two stadia in Otjiwarongo, is located in Orwetoveni and its the main football stadium in town. There are also grounds for basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
, and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
. The largest, Paresis Park also known as The Show Ground, is located in the upper suburb of the town. It is the towns biggest sport ground and one of the biggest in Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. It has two soccer fields and two rugby fields. There is also grounds for hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
. The park is also used to hold sport tournaments and business events such as the Otjiwarongo Trade Show.
In 2011, it host the main event of the 21st Independence Celebrations of Namibia.
Transport and Transport infrastructure
The town connects to the South, OkahandjaOkahandja
Okahandja is a town of 14,000 inhabitants in Otjozondjupa Region, central Namibia, and the district capital of the Okahandja electoral constituency. It is known as the Garden Town of Namibia. It is located 70km north of Windhoek on the B1 road...
through to Windhoek, to the North, Otavi
Otavi
Otavi is a town of 4,000 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is the district capital of the Otavi electoral constituency. Most of the area is dolomitic and the district was in the past renowned for its mineral wealth...
through to Ondangwa and Oshakati
Oshakati
Oshakati is a town of 30,000 inhabitants in the Oshana Region of Namibia. It is the regional capital and was officially founded in July 1966. The city was used as a base of operations by the South African Defence Force during the South African Border War and Namibian War of Independence...
, to the West, Kalkfeld through to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
, and to the North-West, Outjo
Outjo
Outjo is a city of 6,000 inhabitants in the Kunene Region of Namibia. It is the district capital of Outjo Constituency...
through to Opuwo
Opuwo
Opuwo is the capital of the Kunene Region in north-western Namibia. The town is situated about 720 km north-northwest from the capital Windhoek, and has a population of 5,100...
. Taxi is one of the towns main transportation. Some people make use of the municipal bus service to get to work, while others use their private cars. Otjiwarongo is the junction for the branch railway to Outjo
Outjo
Outjo is a city of 6,000 inhabitants in the Kunene Region of Namibia. It is the district capital of Outjo Constituency...
.
Otjiwarongo has a well-developed road network as well as an air strip. There are plans to develop an international airport. The trans-caprivi highway also passes through Otjiwarongo. The railway line links other towns: Windhoek, Walvisbay, Tsumeb and Oshikango. On many occasions the Council has budgeted for upgrading roads in the town. Today Otjiwarongo is one of the few towns that has tarred roads even in the townships.
Climate
Otjiwarongo has a semi-arid climate (BSh, according to the Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
), with hot summers and mild winters. The average annual precipitation is 457 mm (18 in).
Notable residents
- Otto IpingeOtto IpingeOtto Ipinge is a Namibian politician. A member of SWAPO, Ipinge was re-elected as mayor of Otjiwarongo. As mayor, Ipinge focused on attracting investment to the city, effective management and efficiency as well as increasing tourism, agriculture and mineral management. As of June 2009, he was the...
, former mayor and regional councellor for Otjiwarongo ConstituencyOtjiwarongo ConstituencyOtjiwarongo Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia. It has 22,614 inhabitants and consists of the town of Otjiwarongo and the surrounding rural area... - Lazarus Kandara (deceased), Kandara was a well-known businessman in Namibia
Reference
- The Municipality of Otjiwarongo Annual Report 2006/07.