Outapi

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Outapi

Seal
Outapi
Location in Namibia
Coordinates: 17°31′S 15°0′E / 17.517°S 15.000°E / -17.517; 15.000Coordinates: 17°31′S 15°0′E / 17.517°S 15.000°E / -17.517; 15.000
Country  Namibia
Region Omusati Region
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 6,437
Time zone South African Standard Time (UTC+1)

Outapi, also known as Uutapi and Ombalantu, is a town in northern Namibia near the border with Angola situated 90 km (56 mi) northwest of Oshakati. It is the capital of Omusati region and the district capital of the Outapi electoral constituency. The town normally receives an annual average rainfall of 440 millimetres (17 in), although in the 2010/2011 rainy season 723 millimetres (28.5 in) were measured.[2]

Within the former South African Army base is the famous Omukwa Ombalantu baobab tree, a Baobab whose huge hollow trunk has been used in the past as a post office, a chapel and a coffee shop, and is now a craft shop.[3]

In 2001, Outapi was the smallest town of Namibia with a population of just over 2,600.[4] However, it is developing rapidly. There is a large number of newly constructed government buildings and shops in the south of the town. The language spoken there is Oshiwambo. Outapi is one of the hottest place in the northern Namibia with temperatures ranging between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius.[5]

Outapi features several schools, a community hall, a hospital and a police station.[6] There are two open markets, one at the baobab tree and one at Onhimbu location. There is also a tourist lodge.

The town hosts the annual Olufuko Festival, which was initiated in 2012. The festival is a combination of a business expo and cultural celebrations, of which the initiation ceremony that prepares teenage girls for womanhood is the core part of the festival. Namibia's first president and founding father, Sam Nujoma, is the patron of Olufuko Festival.

References

  1. ↑ "Table 4.2.2 Urban population by Census years (2001 and 2011)". Namibia 2011 - Population and Housing Census Main Report. Namibia Statistics Agency. p. 39. Retrieved 10 September 2013. 
  2. ↑ Menges, Werner (26 May 2011). "Rainy season was one for the record books". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 15 Dec 2011. 
  3. ↑ "North (Omusati): Ombalantu Baobab Tree Heritage Centre and Campsite". Namibia Travel Online. Retrieved 16 March 2011. 
  4. ↑ 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 0-86976-614-7. 
  5. ↑ http://www.healthnet.org.na/directorates/regional/omusatiregion.html
  6. ↑ "Presidential and National Assembly Elections 2009". Supplement to several Namibian newspapers (Electoral Commission of Namibia). November 2009. 
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