National Museum

Ms. / Director /
CONTACT US:

National Museum

Tel: (+264 61 293 ) 

Government Office Park, Luther Street, Windhoek

The National Museum of Namibia

The National Museum of Namibia (NMNW), located in Windhoek and identified by the international institution code NMNW, is a division within the Directorate of National Heritage and Culture Programs. The museum is comprised of various buildings, including Administration, Displays and Education, Natural Science, and Social Science subdivisions. The NMNW manages and stores numerous national collections, including archaeological, anthropological, historical, and zoological artefacts. Additionally, the museum facilitates research on Namibia’s national heritage through national and international collaborative projects. The NMNW also plays a vital role in educating schools, universities, and the public. They offer various on-site and outreach events and publications and have an affiliated organization, EduVentures. A library is also available for visitors and researchers located at the ACRE building.

Sub-Divisions

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.

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.

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.

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

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.