Travel in Namibia - questions and answers

You've never been to Namibia before? You want to travel well prepared? Find the answers to frequently asked questions:

Money

Currency: 1 Namibia-Dollar (N$) = 100 Nam. Cent.
Business hours of banks: Monday to Friday 9.00 to 15.30 h, Saturday 9.00 to 10.30 h). Foreign currency exchange services offered in banks in all major towns in the country.

Credit Cards: MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club. Credit Cards are commonly accepted by almost all hotels, lodges, restaurants and shops. Major credit cards are accepted, as are travellers cheques, which are best taken in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. The South African Rand is acceptable as currency throughout the country.

Please note: At the filling stations you can only pay cash!

Do I need a visa?

The following nationalities do not require visas for stays of up to 3 months: Angola, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Cuba, Iceland, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, New Zealand, Norway, Russian Federation, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and USA . Passports must be valid for a minimum period of 6 months after the expected date of departure. Please ask any Namibian consulate or embassy for detailed entry regulations for your nationality.

Phoning

There is a direct telephone dialling facility to 201 countries from Namibia. Telecards for making local and international calls are available at post offices and teleshops. You can also use your cell phone (dial Namibia's national code 00264 first) but bear in mind that outside the major towns there are also many areas of no reception. Internet cafés are available in Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

Electricity

Electric Power is 220 V running at 50 Hz. The type used is round pins with ground, adapters can be bought in all the major towns like Windhoek or Swakopmund.

Health Care

Namibia does not have a national health welfare scheme. It is therefore advisable to obtain medical insurance prior to arrival. Private health care standards in Namibia are high, with the best hospital being in Windhoek. All main towns have well stocked pharmacies, but as some of the tourist areas are in remote areas, it is recommended that you bring any medicines you may require with you. If you need medical care whilst in Namibia, it is best to be aware that medical providers may not accept payment through your insurance company. In these circumstances you will have to pay in full after your treatment and file a claim with your insurance company for reimbursement. Therefore you should have access to cash, either from a credit card or by wire transfer. It is advisable to always ensure you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy which covers you for repatriation to your home country.

Do I need vaccinations?

Vaccinations for Namibia are not compulsory at the moment. Tap water is 100% purified and safe to drink in major cities, towns and game reserves. Bilharzia and Sleeping sickness occur only in the North-East. The incidence is low, but visitors to Okavango and the Caprivi should use insect repellent, dress in dull colours and cover as much of the body as possible. Swimming in stagnant water and drinking dam water should be avoided in the Caprivi and Okavango. (Bilharzia parasite).

Do you recommend a malaria prophylaxis?

Malaria risk exists in the northern regions and in Otjozondjupa and Omaheke from November to May / June and along the Kavango and Kunene rivers throughout the year. The necessity of a malaria prophylaxis has always been a bone of contention within the medical profession. There are physicians who strongly recommend a prophylaxis as a precaution in any case. However, homeopaths have pointed out the side effects of Chloroquine that can damage the liver. We cannot resolve this dispute at this point of time and every traveller will have to make a decision of his own after consulting the doctor at home. If you want to be on the safe side, take a stand-by-medicine with! Also make sure to get yourself insect repellent lotions or sprays and sleep under a mosquito net at night when visiting Northern Namibia. Put on long sleeved T-shirts and long pants when sitting at the water holes.

Which sunscreen do we need for Africa?

SPF 15 bis 20 will be enough. For nose, cleavage or very sensitive skin sunblocker is advisable... Also remember to take caps and sun glasses along.

Which clothes shall we take with?

Generally, casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year. Layers are most practical for the fluctuating day / night temperatures of Namibia. Dull and/or neutral colours are more suitable for safari. Cotton clothing is recommended for summer. It is best to pack hardy, durable clothing and also solid shoes. Also remember to take a warm sweater and a windbreaker with - it will be chilly - especially at the coast and in the nights between July and September.

Shall we travel with suitcases or travelling bags?

Please don't use hard-top-cases. However, a soft suitcase, hold-alls and soft bags can always be stowed easily.

How about the road system and conditions of driving in Namibia?

The country has a well-maintained network of surfaced and gravel roads covering more than 40 000 km in total. Trans-Caprivi and Trans-Kalahari highways give the country access to Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. There are 22 airports for domestic and regional flights. You have to drive on the left hand side. Wearing of seat-belts is compulsory. Speed limit on tarred highways (every tar-road outside urban areas) 120 km/h, non-tarred highways 100 km/h and urban areas 60 km/h. Speed advice for non-tarred highways is 80 km/h. It is important to look carefully for any passing animals, especially Kudus. Don't drive at night and see to it to arrive at your accommodation before sunset. On gravel roads there are no road markings and it's hard to tell the road from the desert. The entrances at Etosha will close at sunset and open after sunrise only.

Do I need an international driver's licence ?

An international driver's licence and the driver's licence from your home country is necessary. However, many car rental companies are not so strict about the international licence. If you are member of an Automobile Club you can get information from AAN (Automobile Association of Namibia) in Windhoek free of charge.

Driving with with 4x4 vehicle

There are only few areas with a lot of sand that require a 4x4 vehicle: Kaokoveld (Opuwo), Khaudum Park, the national parks in Caprivi and the last 5 kilometres before Sossusvlei. Inexperienced drivers should drive in a convoy with one more vehicle.

Driving on gravel roads

Always keep the vehicle in the tracks. Changing tracks safely on a gravel road can only be performed at very low speed. Be on the lookout for potholes, sand risings and thicker gravel. In bright daylight most of these obstacles are only visible at very close range. A river, which is in flood, should never be crossed. Stay on the gravel roads and do not try to create new ways off road. Due to minimum rainfall especially around Hartmann Valley in Kaokoland and in the Namib desert tracks can be visible up to 100 (!) years. At some place you can still make out the tracks of the first settler's ox wagons. Don't cross the riverbed of Skeleton Coast Park but use the official entrance.

Tips and equipment for photographers

Films and batteries for cameras are much more expensive in Namibia than in Europe, North America or Australia. You can process colour photos in major towns like Windhoek or Swakopmund. Because of the vivid desert colours films with 50 or 100 ASA will be fine for excellent photos. It is also advisable to have all lenses fitted with UV or have filters due to harsh light. The main problem for your camera in Namibia will be dust and sand - you should therefore only replace the films in closed rooms. A special bellow brush, cleaning liquid and special tissues may help to get the camera clean again. Keep the films in a cool box especially while travelling.

Don't carve names or dates into trees or write it on rocks. You should also not splatter rock painting with water in order to get nicer photos. Please also do not touch the rock paintings - it will leave traces on the ancient paintings. It also goes without saying that you should ask people before you take a photo of them.

Camping

Those who want to be closer to nature in Namibia should definitely make use of the campsites. Most of them are well equipped with ablution system and braai places for barbecues. Wild camping is prohibited. Please don't bury your trash but take it back to civilisation to get rid of it in a dust bin. In the wilderness you can dig a hole with a spade: the holes should however not be deeper than 10 cm - this will ensure a natural composting. Used toilet paper should be burned.

Please don't wash clothes or yourself in rivers or springs - the water usually serves as drinking water for the inhabitants nearby. Ask for permission before taking water from a well. The best thing will be to take enough bottled water with.

Can I make fire in the bush for a barbecue?

At rest camps and campsites with barbecue places yes! Remember to get yourself firewood that can be purchased at supermarkets and some petrol stations. Rather do not collect firewood yourself - it is not allowed and there could also be poisonous twigs among it. Make sure to extinguish the fire thoroughly before leaving the camp. Bush fires in a dry landscape are a serious danger for people and animals.

Code of conduct in rural areas

Travellers should ask for permission before entering settlements especially those of the Ovahimba Herero in the North West. The same goes for taking photos. Within a settlement you must not step between the holy fire and the kraal with the cattle. Once you find deserted places leave everything the way it is - the Ovahimba are nomads and they will return to their places after some time.

Eat and drink

You will find many kinds of places to eat in our country suitable for every taste and every pocket from take-aways, cosy coffee shops to steak houses, pizzerias and expensive gourmet restaurants. Beef and lamb meat is guaranteed free of BSE. You can enjoy a variety of game like ostrich, kudu, oryx, springbok, zebra and guinea fowl. At the coast you should not miss seafood like cob, crayfish and oysters. A special way of preparing food is potjiekos , stews with meat or fish prepared outside over an open fire in 3-legged pots.

The German colonial heritage transferred to traditional German cuisine can be found in many local restaurants especially in small coastal town Swakopmund. There are typical German types of bread and cake and sausages. The "Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte" (Black forest cake) at Cafe Kaiserkrone in Windhoek has the real taste even for Germans....
For breakfast you will usually get ham and eggs in most cases and also "Brötchen" (small breads) with cheese, eggs, meat or salad. Also try biltong (dried and spicy meat) and droewors (dried sausages) for a snack in between.

Food on the way: Remember to always take some fruits, cookies or sandwiches for the drives and take in enough water- at least 3 litres per person. The gravel roads are dusty, it is hot in summer especially if your car is not air conditioned.

Whine and beer

You can compliment your meal with Namibian beer brewed according to German law of purity of beer ("Reinheitsgebot"1516). Namibia has four brands of beer: Windhoek Lager, Export, Special and Light. Apart from that, the German "Holsten"-Beer is produced in Namibia. There is also a choice of tasty South African wines available in every restaurant. If you see a "Y" in front of a restaurant you will know immediately what to expect: Y - Beer only together with food, YY - wine and beer are sold, YYY - full alcohol licence.

Map of Namibia with further information about economy, geography, religion and languages spoken in Namibia.