Namibia Travel Guide


The latest travel Information on Namibia, includes ideas on Things to See and Do, Local Events, Consulate & Embassy Contact Addresses and much more, all from a first-time visitors point of view.

Namibia Information

Overview

Although not as well known as some of its African neighbours, Namibia is a gem for those in search of wildlife and wilderness.

Once governed by Germany and South Africa, Namibia has been independent since 1990. Germanic influence can still be found in the country’s well-maintained towns, roads and rest camps. Namibia is peaceful and more prosperous than many nearby countries because of its productive mining, farming, fishing and tourism industries. However, with half the country’s agricultural land owned by a few thousand white farmers, land reform is a burning issue.

Essentially a desert country, Namibia offers contrasting landscapes. The Namib Desert is a vast swathe of high dunes and desolate plains with an awe-inspiring sense of space. The thorn bush savannah and rugged mountains of the central plateau give way to the majestic Fish River Canyon in the south. In the north of the country, landscapes range from the dense bush and open plains of the great Etosha Pan, to woodland savannah and lush vegetation. Etosha National Park, the third largest in Africa, owes its unique landscape to the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow depression edged by waterholes to the south which guarantee rewarding game viewing.


Top Things To See

In Windhoek, the attractive capital, admire the German colonial architecture of the Alte Feste (website: www.natmus.cul.na), which houses a museum of Namibian history, the Tintenpalast parliament building and the Christuskirche, the city’s landmark church.

The Namib Desert, believed to be the oldest desert in the world, is extremely impressive. Visit Namib Naukluft Park, the fourth-largest conservation area in the world, where oryx stroll over apricot-, ochre- and fawn-coloured dunes tufted with grasses.

Be amazed by the Fish River Canyon, the world’s largest after the Grand Canyon, and the nearby Kokerboom Forest, home of bizarrely elegant kokerbooms (quiver trees). These giant aloes were often used by the San people to make quivers for their arrows and are now a protected plant in Namibia.

On a nature trail across the gravel plains of the arid and forbidding Skeleton Coast region, see ancient desert-adapted plant species such as welwitschia, lithops and delicate lichens.

See cheetahs, leopards, lions and endangered wild dogs in at the AfriCat Foundation, Okonjima, a predator rehabilitation centre and luxury lodge (website: www.africat.org). In the larger enclosures, the cats are radio-collared so guides should be able to guarantee close-up sightings.

Visit the huge, malodorous Cape fur seal colony at Cape Cross; around November plenty of young pups can be seen huddled next to their mothers on this isolated stretch of rocky shore.

In Damaraland, the Brandberg/Twyfelfontein area has some very ancient rock engravings and paintings, of which the White Lady of the Brandberg is the best known. Nearby, admire the unusual phenomenon of the Aba-Huab Petrified Forest, a collection of around 50 fossilised trees thought to be over 250 million years old.

Watch rare desert-adapted elephants as they browse the trees in the dry beds of the Ugab and Huab Rivers in northern Namibia, or dig down into the earth with their tusks in search of water.

Visit the kraal, or homestead, of indigenous semi-nomadic pastoralists, the Himba, in the Kaokoland region of northern Namibia, to learn about tribal customs and desert survival techniques.

In West Caprivi, stop at the Popa Falls Rest Camp, a popular haven on the banks of the Okavango River, where crocodiles and hippos bask in the water. About 12km (7 miles) to the south is Mahango Game Reserve, with elephants, buffalo and lechwe.

See ContactAddresses for further tourist information.


Top Things To Do

In Windhoek, shop for African crafts and curios and splurge on local game such as springbok or kudu at the city’s fine restaurants. Head for the hills to relax over a sundowner in the rose garden at the Heinitzburg Hotel.

Etosha National Park, one of the world’s best wildlife sanctuaries, is excellent for wildlife-watching. In a huge salt pan surrounded by over 22,000 sq km (over 8,500 sq miles) of grasslands and bush, encounter vast stocks of elephants, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest and antelopes plus hyenas and big cats.

Waterberg Plateau Park, Namibia’s only mountain game park, has striking red sandstone cliffs and is home to many rare and endangered animal and plant species. Ten hiking trails of one to three hours have been mapped out and are well signposted.

Camp at Sesriem, where the Tsauchab River disappears down a deep gorge in the plain (leaving pools of water where many animals feed) and climb some of the world's highest sand dunes at nearby Sossusvlei.

Hike the Fish River Canyon, a scenically impressive three-day endurance test that is strictly for the fit and hardy. Hikers need to join an organised trip with an experienced guide, and be self-sufficient throughout the trek.

Pay a visit to the delightful little seaside resort of Swakopmund. There is a strong Germanic flavour to its boarding houses and bars, and it is surrounded by desert that is great for quad-biking, dune buggy racing and sand-boarding.

Head northeast to East Caprivi, bordered by the Kwando, Linyanti, Chobe and Zambezi rivers. This region of swamps and flood plains has several safari lodges and offers boat trips, fishing, hiking and game viewing, particularly in the Mudumu and Mamili National Parks.

Join a party of professional conservationists as they track black rhino in Damaraland’s rugged wilderness as part of an ongoing initiative to monitor and protect this endangered species.

Go birdwatching in the Caprivi Strip’s parks and reserves, which have the highest concentration of birds in Namibia, including some near-endemic species. The Caprivi Strip is considered by experts to be one of Africa’s top 10 birding destinations.

See ContactAddresses for further tourist information.


Going Out

Food and Drink

Restaurants and cafes reflect the German influence on Namibia, and most dining rooms offer a reasonable choice of local and continental cuisine.

National specialities :
• Biltong (air-dried meat).
• Rauchfleisch (smoked meat).
• Game such as antelope, ostrich or zebra cooked on a braai (barbecue).
• Potjiekos (one-pot bush stew).
• Seafood, especially oysters, on the coast.

National drinks :
• Tafel lager.
• Windhoek lager.

Legal drinking age : The legal age to drink in bars is 18.

Tipping : 10% is customary.

Nightlife

In the central area of Windhoek, there are restaurants, cafes, cinemas and theatres.

Shopping

Windhoek has a selection of fashionable shops. Local crafts can be bought in some specialised shops and at the Windhoek Street Market, held every second Saturday. Good buys include diamonds and semi-precious stones, Herero dolls, hand-carved wooden objects, jewellery, karosse rugs, liqueur chocolates made in Windhoek and Swakara garments.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0900-1300. Some bigger supermarkets are also open Sun 1100-1300 and 1600-1900.


Climate

The cold Benguela current keeps the coast of the Namib Desert cool, damp and free of rain for most of the year, with a thick coastal fog. Inland, all the rain falls in summer (November to April). January and February are the hottest months, when daytime temperatures in the interior can exceed 40ºC (104ºF), but nights are usually cool. Winter nights can be fairly cold, but days are generally warm and pleasant.

Required Clothing

Light cottons, with slightly heavier cottons or light woollens for evening. Inland, shoes are essential during the day as the ground is very hot.


Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
21 Mar Independence Day.
21-24 Mar Easter.
1 May May Day/Labour Day/Ascension. 
5 May Cassinga Day.
25 May Africa Day (Anniversary of the OAU’s Foundation).
26 Aug Heroes’ Day.
10 Dec International Human Rights Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Family/Goodwill Day.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
21 Mar Independence Day. 
10-13 Apr Easter.
1 May May Day/Labour Day.
4 May Cassinga Day.
21 May Ascension.
25 May Africa Day (Anniversary of the OAU’s Foundation).
26 Aug Heroes’ Day.
10 Dec International Human Rights Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Family/Goodwill Day.


Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: Yes

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: Yes

Malaria

Special Precaution: Yes*

Rabies

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: Yes

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: No**

Health Care

Health insurance is essential. It is advisable to consult your doctor well in advance of travelling about immunisations and assembling a first aid kit.

Note

* Malaria risk exists in the entire northern third of the country (Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati, Ohangwenga, Otjozondjupa and Omaheke) from November to June and along the Kunene river and in Kavango and Caprivi regions throughout the year.

** A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from an infected area.

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

The Namibian Dollar (NAD; symbol N$) is in note denominations of N$200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of N$5, N$1, 50 cents, 10 cents and 5 cents. It is linked to the South African Rand (R) on a 1:1 basis (South African Rand = 100 cents). The South African Rand is also acceptable as currency in Namibia.

Currency Exchange

Available in banks and at bureaux de change.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Credit cards are not usually accepted at petrol stations.

Traveller's Cheques

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars or South African Rand.

Currency Restrictions

Restrictions apply.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1530, Sat 0900-1100.


Passport/Visa

British

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Australian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Canadian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

USA

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Other EU

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/1
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Passports

Passport valid for a minimum of six months after the date of departure from Namibia required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia who do require a visa.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the consulate or high commission for visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist, Business and Transit: US$50.

Validity

Valid up to three months from date of issue for stays of up to three months from date of entry. Extensions for a further three months are available from the Ministry of Home Affairs in Windhoek.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at high commission); see Contact Addresses.

Working Days Required

Three to four.


Contact Addresses

High Commission for the Republic of Namibia in the UK

6 Chandos Street, London W1G 9LU, UK
Tel: (020) 7636 6244.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

Namibia Tourism in the UK

Suite 200, Parkway House, Sheen Lane, London SW14 8LS, UK
Tel: 0870 330 9333.
Website: www.namibiatourism.com.na

Embassy of the Republic of Namibia in the USA

1605 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
Tel: (202) 986 0540.
Website: www.namibianembassyusa.org


Travel Advice

Warning

Most visits to Namibia are trouble-free, but travellers should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

In early September 2007 the Namibian Ministry for Health confirmed meningitis outbreaks in Onamakulikwa, Ohambala, Onkumbula, Ohashipepe and Omakunde villages in Oshikoto Region.

If travelling along the Caprivi Strip, travellers should stick to the well-travelled routes.

Wildlife and livestock pose a serious hazard; travellers should avoid driving at night.
Road accidents and muggings are the main types of incidents visitors suffer.

Travellers should carry some form of identification at all times. A photocopy of the relevant passport pages is sufficient.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisaions for the latest travel advice.

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel




Disclaimer
We've tried to make the information on this page as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information with the relevant authorities before you travel.