Outjo

Outjo
—  Town  —
Outjo Location in Namibia
Coordinates: 20°06′32″S 16°09′17″E / 20.10889°S 16.15472°E / -20.10889; 16.15472Coordinates: 20°06′32″S 16°09′17″E / 20.10889°S 16.15472°E / -20.10889; 16.15472
Country	Namibia
Region	Kunene Region
Constituency	Outjo Constituency
Government
– Mayor	Kleophas Geingob[1]
Population (2001)[2]
– Total	6,013

Outjo (Otjiherero: small hills) is a city^[3] of 6,000 inhabitants in the Kunene Region of Namibia. It is the district capital of Outjo Constituency. It is best known as a main gateway to Etosha National Park.^[4]

Overview

The town was founded by Germans under the command of Colonel Theodor von Leutwein in 1897 as a small military base in order to explore the northern area of German South-West Africa. The local historical museum (Franke Haus Museum) details the campaign of Major Viktor Franke in Ovamboland.

The "Impalila monument" commemorates the small expedition on the Portuguese fort of Impalila in Angola by Major Viktor Franke in October 1914 following the massacre of a German delegation which had been sent to negotiate a treaty of non-aggression.

The town lies near Gamkarab Cave, known for its stalactites and stalagmites and its pietersite. The caves are on private ground and not open to the public.

Transport

Outjo is the Gateway to the Etosha National Park. Situated on the C38, +/-90 Southwest of the Southern entrance, the Anderson Gate. Outjo is also the last frontier before going into Damaraland (C39 towards Khorixas) and Kaokoaveld (C40 towards Kamanjab). Outjo has an airstrip that accommodates small fixed winged planes +/-10km from the CBD. Outjo is the terminus of a branch railway of the Namibian railway system. Currently not in use.

References

1. ^ New mayor warns of ‘rush hour’ New Era, 6 December 2010
2. ^ Republic of Namibia 2001 Population and Housing Census (Basic Analysis with Highlights ed.). Windhoek: Central Bureau of Statistics, National Planning Commission. July 2003. p. 21. ISBN 0869766147. 
3. ^ Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa
4. ^ "Outjo - town in Namibia". namibweb.com. http://www.outjo.com/. Retrieved 27 September 2011. 

External links

• Up to date relavant information about Outjo and events around town