National Museum

Arachnology & Myriapodology Collections

The department houses two important collections: the arachnid and myriapod collections. Arachnid collection: As the national repository of arachnids, the Namibia National Arachnida Collection houses various specimens, making it one of Africa’s largest collections of arachnids, with over 120,000 specimens. The collection represents seven orders of arachnids, including Acari, Araneae, Scorpiones, Solifugdes, Amblypygi, Opiliones, and Pseudoscorpions. Several research activities are being conducted in this section, including studies of non-acarine species (spiders, scorpions, solifuges, pseudoscorpions) and acarine species (mites and ticks). Myriapoda collection: The Namibia National Myriapoda Collection is the country’s repository for myriapods, containing approximately 1000 specimens from two orders – Chilopoda (centipedes) and Diplopoda (millipedes). The collection comprises myriapod materials collected from across Namibia. Research in this section focuses on both Chilopoda and Diplopoda.

Photo: Solifugid (Sun Spider)

 

Entomology Collection 

Entomology Collection, the biggest collection at the National Museum of Namibia and one of the biggest in Africa, presently contains about 1 Million Dry insect specimens and about 45 000 Wet insect specimens in 75% ethanol. The collection contains many insect orders, which include Mantodea, Orthoptera, Phasmatodea, Hemiptera, Neuroptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Collembola, Archaeognatha, Thysanura, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Blattodea and many more which are identified to species or family level of taxonomy classification and some are yet to be identified. Entomology provides accurate information on requests to a wide range of users, such as government bodies, research institutes and the general public.

Photo: Coleoptera: Scarabaidae: Eudicella smithii

 

Herpetology collection

Herpetology is the scientific study of reptiles and amphibians. As a national repository, the Herpetology collection is continuously improved by the fieldwork of its curator and researchers. The collection also receives materials through donations and exchanges or by direct requests made to the curator. Scholars, researchers, and the general public have access to the collection’s resources, which help them better understand the diversity of reptiles and amphibians and preserve endangered species. The majority of specimens in the collection are preserved in alcohol (70% for reptiles and 60% for amphibians), and the collection also houses skeletal specimens. Currently, the Herpetology collection holds over 10,000 catalogued specimens, including approximately 18 species of turtles, tortoises, and terrapins; 3 species of chameleons; approximately 145 species of lizards; approximately 50 species of frogs; and approximately 90 species of snakes. New specimens are continually being added. The collection of type specimens of amphibians and reptiles has about 27 nominal specimens represented by holotype, paratype, and allotype, which are used in the description of new species in science.

Photo: Chameleon preserved in alcohol

 

Mammalogy and Ornithology Collections

The museum’s Mammalogy and Ornithology (Birds) collections comprise over 40,000 accessioned specimens, including mammal skins, skulls, skeletal material, DNA tissues, anatomical wet specimens, and plaster casts of mammal tracks. Various researchers and staff members have collected these specimens. Mammals are preserved to serve as a reference for future studies and to obtain records for research purposes and comprehensive distribution maps. They are also conserved for the identification of unknown species and for conservation purposes. The department offers several services, including internships for students, guided tours of the collections, and permission to conduct research on specimens

 

                                                                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Honey Badger (Mellivera capensis)

  Photo: Rosy faced Love birds (Agapornis roseicollis)

 

Ichthyology Collection

Ichthyology is a branch of zoology that focuses on the study of fish. The National Museum of Namibia houses the Ichthyology Collection, which comprises three distinct collections: the Marine Fish Collection, Freshwater Fish Collection, and Aquatic Invertebrate Collection. Although the Aquatic Invertebrate Collection is housed within the Ichthyology Collection, it is separate. The Marine and Freshwater Fish Collections primarily contain alcohol-preserved specimens (70%) collected from various parts of Namibia and other parts of Southern Africa. Additionally, specimens from other regions of the world have been donated by scientists. The Marine and Freshwater Collections each have records of approximately 5,000 specimens. The Aquatic Invertebrate Collection includes a wet collection (preserved in alcohol, 75%) and a dry collection (mainly consisting of invertebrate shells). This collection has an impressive record of approximately 100,126 specimens, making it a vital resource for researchers studying invertebrates in aquatic environments.

Archaeology collection

The Archaeology Section at the National Museum of Namibia is the legal repository for archaeological collections in Namibia. It houses over 400,000 objects and documentation on over 3,500 archaeological sites. The Archaeology Department has representative stone tool assemblages from the entire Namibian sequence in its collection. Additionally, it contains a vast and historically significant series of rock art copies, including the work of pioneers such as Breuil, Maack, and Scherz. The department’s fieldwork has covered many parts of Namibia, including extensive surveys of the Namib Desert, the Brandberg massif, and the /Kuiseb Delta.

Photo: Human remains from the Kuiseb Delta. 

 

The Underwater Section

The Underwater Section in Oranjemund houses 5,438 artefacts of the Shipwreck discovered from a site within Namdeb’s mining area. This Portuguese ship is from the time period of 1526-1538 and was a trading vessel carrying copper ingots, ivory, and coins, among other artefacts. Namibia is the custodian of this world heritage site.

Photo: Spanish and Portuguese gold coins

 

Ethnographic Collection- Anthropology department

The Ethnographic study collection at the National Museum of Namibia consists of approximately 9,588 items. The collection holds unique pieces of Namibia’s historical and cultural heritage. It is categorized into four formats: Photograph Collection (approximately 5,877), Slide Collection (approximately 2,102), Audio Collection (number not determined), and Object Collection (approximately 1,609). These formats are further categorized into household utensils, tools, weapons, containers, basketwork, clothing, skin work/leatherwork, personal ornaments & jewellery, musical instruments, pipes and snuff boxes, art, construction, furniture, transport equipment, pottery, and woodwork. The collection’s employees continuously update it through research and collaborative projects. The Ethnology collection is open to researchers, scholars, and the public upon request.

The Independence Memorial Museum

The Independence Memorial Museum commemorates the Namibian people’s journey to autonomy, beginning with the brutal German colonial rule and the oppressive South African regime. The IMM is a repository of historical knowledge displayed through rare photographs, documents, media coverage, and materials used by freedom fighters against colonial oppression and the liberation struggle. The museum depicts the Namibian people’s resistance to colonial power and the Apartheid regime in three galleries: Colonial Repression, Liberation War, and the Road to Independence, culminating in Namibia’s independence. The museum is open Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 17:00.

 

The Owela Museum

The Owela is one of the three display centres of the National Museum of Namibia, depicting the Namibian people’s cultural and natural heritage and environment. The Owela’s displays on cultural heritage are unmatched, providing an authentic ambience because they were made in consultation with source communities. Even the sand used in displays is from respective villages! The various objects are displayed in the cultural context of use, providing visitors with a holistic understanding of the represented culture. Currently, the Owela is closed pending renovations.

 

The Alte Feste 

The Alte Feste is the oldest existing building in Windhoek, dating back to 1890, serving as a fort for the then-German Protective forces of German South West Africa. After the South African occupation of South West Africa, the fort was used as their headquarters, and in 1922, it became a school hostel for the Realschule. The fort was proclaimed a national monument by the National Monuments Commission in 1957 and has been used for museum purposes since 1958, housing displays of precolonial, colonial, and contemporary history. Currently, the Alte Feste is closed pending renovations.

 

The Museum Acre

The Museum Acre is the building complex that houses the administrative wing of the National Museum, often referred to as the “Kaiserliche Realschule” or “Emma Hoogenhout School.” It was the first school in Windhoek, and six schools developed from it, making it the city’s ‘mother of schools.’ The oldest part of the building complex, which comprises the northern wing, dates back to 1907. The Acre is the administrative wing of the museum, serving as an acronym for Administration, Curation, Research, and Education. The building houses the library and various collections of the National Museum, including archaeology and anthropology of the social sciences and natural sciences collections such as entomology, herpetology, ichthyology, mammology, myriapodology, and ornithology.

 

Library