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Ongwediva
ℹ️Practical info — Ongwediva
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Plan your visit for August to experience the famous Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair.
- Take advantage of the modern shopping malls; Ongwediva is one of Namibia's fastest-growing towns.
- The climate is very hot; schedule any outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon.
- Visit Bennies Entertainment Park for relaxation and pool facilities.
- Don't confuse Ongwediva with the neighboring town of Oshakati, they almost blend into each other.
🍽 Food
Try Mopane worms (dried or fried), a protein-rich local delicacy highly prized in the North.
Served in local eateries, this is a firm, flavorful organic village chicken.
Look for cookies and pastries made from local millet (Mahangu) in the supermarkets.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
A great place for fresh produce, traditional pottery, and colorful local fabrics.
During fair season, this is the premier spot to find products from all over Namibia.
During the rainy season, the surrounding water pans offer a peaceful backdrop for bird watching.
When the fair is not running, these grounds are spacious and very quiet for a walk.
Water temperature…
Ongwediva is situated in the Oshana Region of northern Namibia and forms part of the country's second-largest urban complex. The town was established in the 1960s during the South African administration, originally serving as an educational and missionary outpost. Today, it is widely recognized for the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF), which started in 2000 and has grown into the premier economic exhibition in northern Namibia. The local geography is characterized by 'oshanas', shallow, seasonal floodplains that are crucial for traditional farming and the regional ecosystem. The town is a major educational hub, housing a campus of the University of Namibia (UNAM) that focuses on engineering and technology. Over the last twenty years, Ongwediva has seen rapid infrastructural growth, evolving into a modern commercial center with extensive residential developments. Its central location makes it a vital link for trade moving between the central highlands and the Angolan border.
- Location: Namibia
- Nearby: Oshakati (7 km)
- Population: ~24.012 (2024)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is May, Jun, Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 27 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Rain mm | 100 | 114 | 86 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 38 | 62 |
Geography
Facts
- Established in the 1960s
- Host of the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair since 2000
- Located in the Oshana Region at 1,100 meters altitude
- Home to a UNAM campus specializing in engineering
- Part of the Oshakati-Ongwediva-Ondangwa urban area
- Population of approximately 20,000 residents
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Notable places around
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Sights in the town Ongwediva (1)
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