General Information on Namibia

Namibia is a vast country dominated by the Namib Desert, an extensive inland plateau and geologically stunning mountain ranges. From the lush, northern Caprivi Strip and the wildlife of Etosha National Park to the vast and unforgettable Namib Desert and the desolate Skeleton Coast, Namibia has something for everyone. Travel here is safe and relatively uncomplicated, the infrastructure is excellent with well-maintained roads, frequently situated fuel stations and a wide variety of shops.

In the Namib, litter may last longer than a human’s lifespan. Vehicle tracks leave ugly scars on the landscape. In some areas, these tracks may take a hundred years to disappear.  Namibia tends to leave its mark on people.  Unfortunately, some people tend to leave their mark on the Namibian landscape as well.  Every year, irresponsible off-road driving defaces our heritage, causing damage that takes decades to heal.  Which means a day’s worth of joy-riding for you can translate into a century’s worth of damage for the rest of us. Protect the Namibian heritage.

Climate

Rainfall occurs exclusively in the summer months, between November and February, when heavy thunderstorms can be expected. Summer is very hot and the Namib Desert should be avoided at this time as temperatures are often above 104ºF (40ºC). The coast is cooler and often foggy. The best time to visit is during the winter months from March to October (April and June are preferable) as days are warm and dry, and wildlife easier to spot as they tend to congregate at waterholes. Nights can be very cold with frost.  Windhoek has a semi-desert climate, with very hot summers and mild winters. Temperatures tend to drop at night. Average temperatures in winter (June to August) range from 43°F (6°C) to 70°F (21°C). Nights are cold but temperatures rarely dip below 32°F (0°C). The most popular time to travel to Windhoek is between March and October, in particular April to June, when rainfall is lowest and temperatures are mild. On average, Namibia receives about 300 days sunshine a year, and drought occurs roughly every ten years or so.

Currency and Credit Cards

The currency inNamibiais the Namibia Dollar, which is fixed to and equals the South African Rand. The Namibian Dollar and South African Rand are the only legal tender inNamibiaand can be used freely to purchase goods and services. The Namibia Dollar however is not legal tender inSouth Africa.

Traveller’s cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged during normal banking hours (MON-FRI 09:00-15:30 & SAT 09:00-11:00) at any of the commercial banks, which are well represented throughout the country.

International Visa and MasterCard credit cards are generally accepted.

Note: No credit cards are accepted at the petrol service stations.

Time

Summer:     From the first Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April. GMT + 2

Winter:         From the first Sunday in April to the first Sunday in September GMT + 1

Tax and customs

Foreign visitors toNamibiacan claim the value-added Tax (VAT) on holiday purchases exceeding N$ 250-00 when they leaveNamibiaviaHoseaKutakoInternationalAirportand at the boarder posts at Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer. The refund will be in form of a cheque made out in SA rand. To make sure that goods leave the country they will have to be shown to the customs official before being checked in as luggage.

VAT on services rendered or goods consumed cannot be refunded!

Firearms must be declared on arrival. Formalities concerning trophies are handled by the professional hunter concerned, who contacts a forwarding agent to make arrangements for the trophy to be sent to the hunters destination.

Malaria precautions

While malaria is found mainly in the north of the country, it has also been reported in the central region and occasionally in the south. Malaria can be a serious and fatal disease when not treated properly. It is transmitted to people by the bite of a mosquito. Help reduce the risk of malaria by using personal protection measures and prophylactics.

The following measures are effective to reduce the risk of mosquito bits:

• Sleep under a mosquito net. Nets treated with insecticides that are harmless to humans will further increase protection.
• Wear long sleeved shirts and long trousers. Avoid wearing dark colours, which is said to attract mosquitoes.
• Burn coils and pellets containing the insect repellent pyrethrum.
• Apply mosquito repellents to exposed skin and clothing. Repellents containing diethyl toluamide (deet) or dimethyl phathalate are the best.
• Using insecticide sprays is effective if entry of mosquitoes into the room is prevented.
• Sleep in rooms of which the windows and doors are screened with mosquito netting. If not, keep windows and doors closed.

Should any of the symptoms of malaria, such as fever, rigours (shaking), headaches, backache, diarrhoea an / or vomiting and malaise be experienced, it is extremely important to report to the nearest health facility for proper diagnosis (blood test) and prompt treatment.

Driving in Namibia

For most visitors toNamibiathe easiest and most practical way of seeing the country is to hire a car.  Whilst generally speaking most of the roads inNamibiaare well-maintained the numbers of accidents that occur on Namibian roads, is involving both residents and visitors, is alarmingly high.  The majority of accidents involving visitors toNamibiaare unnecessary and are caused by speeding, fatigue and over- confidence in unfamiliar conditions. Visitors are therefore strongly recommended to exercise caution when driving inNamibiaand to follow these tips and guidelines.

Local conditions

Roads in Namibiatend to be long and straight and the temptations is to put one’s foot down.  However, for most of the year the weather is very hot and the combination of the heat and the glare from the sun make driving tiring for those not accustomed to the heat.  Drink lots of water, stop or change drivers regularly and try to avoid driving during the hottest part of the day whenever possible.

Animals

All over Namibia, but particularly in the North, wild animals and cattle are liable to wander across the road at any time, and many accidents are the result of collisions between cars and animals. You are strongly advised never to drive at night when the risk of hitting animals is greatest.

Other vehicles

It is unfortunately the case that a proportion of the vehicles onNamibiaroads are overloaded and/or poorly maintained.  On weekends the main routes around the country can be very busy, as people return to their villages, go to the farm or visit friends. Drinking and driving is not uncommon at these times, and caution should always be exercised when passing other vehicles.

Fuel and water

Although there is an extensive network of modern, efficient service stations around the country, in some of the more remote area, such as Damaraland, the Kaokoland, the Caprivi and parts of the South, garages can be far apart.  Keep a spare canister with a minimum of 20 liters of fuel in the boot at all times.  Likewise, once you are off the main roads you are unlikely to see many other vehicles, so make sure you have plenty of water with you in the event that you break down.

Driving on gravel roads

Even if you intend only to visit the main attractions inNamibiasuch as theFishRiverCanyonand Sossusvlei, you will end up driving on gravel roads.  These vary in quality between very good and very poor.  However, appearances can be deceptive and even a flat, well maintained gravel surface needs to be approached with caution. A very high number of accidents inNamibiainvolve drivers overturning their vehicles on the gravel, many of who end up dead.  The following guidelines should be observed:

• Keep your speed down to 60 km per hour
• Observe all road signs
• Follow the tracks other cars have left
• Slow down before curves by easing your foot off the accelerator
• Avoid sudden braking as this will cause the vehicle to career across the road
• When overtaking other vehicles put on your headlights so that on-coming vehicles can more easily see you.
• On corrugated surfaces accelerate gently until you find the right speed so that you hardly feel the corrugations
• Tire pressures should be slightly lower on gravel, check regularly
• Ensure that you wrap up cameras, walkman etc when driving on gravel, as within a few minutes everything will be covered in dust, if you intend to do a lot of driving on gravel, you may wish to hire a car with a/c thereby allowing you to keep the windows closed.

Driving on sand

If you intend to visit Bushmanland or the Kaokoland you may well end up driving on sand.  The following points are worth remembering:

• Ensure you have suitable tires on your vehicle and that the tire pressure is correct

(lower than normal )

• Remember that sand is firmest when cool, i.e. early morning and late afternoon
• Keep the vehicle moving at all times and stick to low gears
• Carry a spade and a tow rope

If stuck

• Do not over-rev the engine
• Deflate the tires by pressing on the valve and counting to 10 in the first instance and repeat if necessary
• Rock the vehicle backwards and forwards to free the wheels from sand

Water

The water is safe to drink throughout the majority ofNamibia. When visiting the remote areas purification tablets should be used, or bottled mineral water bought en-route. Plenty of water must be drunk to prevent dehydration. We recommend 2-3 litres minimum, excluding beverages such as tea, coffee, juice and alcohol. Dehydration is responsible for many emergency evacuations and can cause very serious problems, it is totally avoidable, so don’t let this spoil your holiday!

Voltage 

220/240 volts AC. 3-Pin Plugs are used

Passport & VISA Requirements

All visitors are required to carry a passport that is valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. Nationals of certain countries do not require visas. It is advisable to check for the latest visa and entry requirements.

Safety

Namibiais a peaceful, democratic country and is relatively crime free. However, as in any other place in the world there are undesirable elements.

By following basic advice it is possible to avoid most potential problems. It is advised that you carry a record of the numbers of your passport, airline tickets and travellers cheque’s. These should be kept in a safe place. Please note expensive jewellery should not be taken on safari.

Do not flash lots of money, an expensive camera or jewellery. Take note of onlookers and keep your possessions in sight at all times to avoid opportunistic theft. Make use of your hotel safety deposit box for expensive items. Never leave baggage or personal items unattended, especially at airports. It is best not to wander around the streets after dark.

If you are travelling in a car, do not leave your purse or bag lying on the passenger seat in clear view – rather keep them in the car boot. Do not consider picking up hitchhikers.

Tips & Gratuities

Some restaurants do include service charges; otherwise 10 per cent of the billed amount is adequate. The same applies to hotel service personnel.

What to Pack

Cotton rather than synthetic clothing is recommended for Namibian summers. This can be bought at shops inWindhoekthat specialise in lightweight safari wear. Winters are usually mild to warm, which calls for light clothing in  the  middle  of  the day, and a sweater or jacket for evenings and early mornings when it can become quite cold. It is often cold and windy at the coast, for which warm clothing, including a windbreaker, is necessary. An important item is comfortable walking shoes. Swimsuits are required for public beaches or swimming pools. When packing, remember to include binoculars, a sun-hat, sunglasses, sun block, bathing towel, moisturiser, lip-ice and mosquito repellent. Points for electric shavers (electric current 250VAC) are available at major hotels and most state-owned rest camps and resorts. It is advisable to bring battery-operated or conventional razors when visiting remote areas. Camping equipment can be hired inWindhoek.

Gobabis is the largest town east of Windhoek.  This area is well known for its cattle farms and it is also the gateway to the TransKalahari Highway, linking Namibia to Botswana and South Africa. The completion of this highway resulted in the development of several new tourist lodges in the surrounding areas.

General information and & tips on the area:

• Either a one or two night stay depending on your interests in the area.
• A variety of lodges in the area who offer activities such as:  nature walks, nature drives, and visiting the Bushman community.
• A visit to the Gobabis Museum situated on the outskirts of town
• A visit to the Harnas Wildlife Foundation

Home to the Bushman or San People. The earliest known inhabitants of Namibia are the San (Bushmen).  They are hunter gatherers who have roamed the vast plains of Southern Africa for thousands of years before migrants drove them further and further east into the Kalahari Desert.  The wealth of rock paintings and engravings found in mountains and hills through the country bear witness to their former habitation.  Renowned storytellers they express themselves eloquently in prose, music, mimicry and dance.

General information and & tips on the area:

• A minimum two or three night stay is recommended.
• One lodge in Tsumkwe and four tented camps situated in the surrounding area.
• Visit a people whose way of life is vanishing.
• Tours in the area demonstrate skills such as tracking and food gathering, sharing their knowledge of local customs and beliefs.  Learn about their culture through demonstrations of what it takes to survive in the wild armed with a bow and arrow, a digging stick and an intimate knowledge of the environment passed down for generations.
• If traveling through Khaudum Game Park a minimum of two 4 wheel drive vehicles is required, allow for two nights in the park, only campsites available
• A distinctive tree found in the area is the baobab.

A complex network of rivers, a fertile wilderness area of riverine forests, flood plains, deltas and open woodlands.’

An undiscovered area of Namibia and a contrast to the rest of the country.    The largest town Katima Mulilo beats with the pulse ofAfrica  where traditional villages border the town and open markets resonate with more modern conveniences.

General information and & tips on the area:

• Either a two or three night stay depending on the area.
• Through this area lodges are found around and in Mudumu National Park, on the banks of the Kwando River and at the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers.  Activities offered may include:  fishing, nature drive by boat,  sunset river cruises on pontoons, game drives, nature walks and a visit to a village where traditional music and dance gives and insight into Caprivian culture.
• Onward access to Zambia (Livingstone), Botswana (Chobe) or Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls)
• AirNamibiaflies to Katima Mulilo, from here transfers can be arranged to the Lodges in the area.
• Well over 400 bird species occur in this area.
• An area of growing interest to scientists studying the wetlands system and its flora and fauna.
• Caprivi pots and baskets are known for their distinctive beauty and symmetry.

Forming the border between Namibia and Angola for more than 400km is the Okavango River, lifeline of the Kavango people, who make a living from fishing, cattle farming and cultivating sorghum, millet and maize on the wide fertile plains on either side. Closely related to the Owambo, the Kavango also originate from the large lakes ofEast Africa.  They first settled near theKwandoRiverinAngola, moving south of theOkavangoRiverbetween 1750 and 1800.Today the Kavango consist of five individual tribes.  Each tribe is ruled by a traditional chief or chieftainess, assisted by headmen.  The chief has the overall ruling power over his tribe and custodial power over the land that falls within the jurisdiction of that tribe. The traditional economy in Kavango is based on a combination of horticulture and animal husbandry.  An important local industry is woodcarving.  Much of the population growth in the Kavango has been due to immigration from Angola.

Rundu

The main town in the Kavango Region is Rundu, situated on the banks of the Okavango River.  This is the home of Namibia’s well-known Kavango woodcarvers.  Their ancient craft, handed down over generations, is a flourishing industry today.  Wooden carvings are made ad offered for sale at the Mbungura Woodcraft Cooperative, which has its main workshop and office in the town. Rundu is much more than a refueling stop. Situated in the north-eastern corner of Namibia this rapidly growing town is the main administrative center of the Kavango region.   As frontier town, Rundu is set to become the hub of trade and development in the north, especially with rebuilding efforts in Angola and the Trans-caprivi highway that links the country and its main port in Walvis Bay to the rest of Africa. With its diverse cultures and people, comes the skills and talents to develop Rundu into a dynamic commercial centre.

The Waterberg Plateau with its brick-red sandstone formations and lush vegetation presents an island of vibrant colour.

The National Park was originally created as a sanctuary for rare and endangered species found in the Kavango and Caprivi Regions and today is home to some 25 game and over 200 bird species.

General information and tips on the area:

• Either a one or two night stay depending on your interests.
• One establishment inside the Park, all others outside the Park, activities offered:  walks, hikes and nature drives to the top of the plateau.
• Specials in the area include the Cheetah Conservation Fund and the AfriCat Foundation whose mission is the conservation ofNamibia’s free-roaming cats.
• REST – the Rare and Endangered Species Trust takes care of vultures, specifically the Cape Griffon Vulture which is threatened by extinction inNamibia.
• Dinosaur footprints, tracks of a two-legged, three toed dinosaur can be viewed near the town of Kalkveld.
• Visit the Okakarara area for a cultural experience.
• Visit the Lake Otjikoto near Tsumeb.
• Visit the Hoba Meteorite near Grootfontein.

One of the largest parks in Africa which offers a spectacular game viewing experience.  The park is characterised by the Etosha pan a vast shallow depression – great white place of dry water.

One of the largest game reserves in Africa the park is home to 114 mammal species several are rare and endangered such as black rhino, cheetah and black faced impala.  The population of rhino numbering more than 700 represents one of the few growing populations of black rhino in the world.  About 340 bird species occur with about one third being migratory. Around the southern area of the Etosha Pan are a series of waterholes which offer rewarding game viewing.

Conservation in Namibia reached a milestone with the celebration of the 100^th anniversary or the Park in 2007.

General information and & tips on the area:

• Either a two or three night stay is recommended.
• Three Resorts inside the park, a wide variety situated outside the entrance gates of Von Lindequist (Namutoni) & Andersson (Okaukuejo) all of which offer activities such as:  game drives, nature walks and some of which have floodlit waterholes.
• The park can be entered from the Owambo regions by the King Nehale Gate.
• Entrance gates to the park open at sunrise and close at sunset.
• During the rainy season it is a good option for viewing Fischer’s Pan, a birders delight.
• Best time for game viewing is during winter months when animals tend to congregate around the  waterholes.
• Private Reserves border the park east of  Namutoni and south-west of Okaukuejo both of which  have a variety of accommodation types.

A vast flat landscape, typified by oshanas (flat shallow depressions) characterised by huge spreading trees and stands of makalani palm and herds of cattle.

The major portion consists of communal farming land where the majority of the inhabitants live from subsistence farming, mainly agriculture. Life depends on the seasonal floods that feed the rivers and oshanas many of which light up with white lilies soon after they have filled with water.

 General information and & tips on the area:

• A one or two night stay depending on your interests in the area.
• The only hotels are found in the two main towns of Ondangwa & Oshakati.
• It is best to visit after the rain season, due to the nature of the terrain areas get flooded.
• Tourism is virtually non-existent although the area is rich in cultural and historical tradition.
• This region can be experienced when driving north of Etosha on route to Opuwo or vise versa.
• The Nakambale Museum or a guided excursion to sites of interest such as Oponono Lake, Omandongo Mission Station and the Ombagu grass plains.  Visitors are treated to traditional Owambo food, music and dancing.  A good area to learn about the culture first hand is to visit the Uukwaluudhi Traditional Homestead at Tsandi – one of the few traditional kingdoms that still exist.

This area which also falls within the Kunene region, is an area of desert, rugged mountain ranges, ephemeral rivers, the perennial Kunene River, Epupa Falls and home to the Himba people’.

It is a world of incredible mountain scenery, a refuge for the rare desert dwelling elephant, black rhino and giraffe and the home of the Himba people. The Himba are a slender and statuesque people. The women especially are noted for their unusual sculptural beauty, enhanced by intricate hairstyles and traditional adornments.

General information and & tips on the area:

• A two night stay at least.
• A variety of lodges in the area who offer activities such as:  nature walks, nature dives, kayaking and visits to the local community.
• The Himba people, nomads of Herero origin who still dress according to ancient customs and traditions.
• The Kunene River forms the border between north-western Namibia and Angola.
• Four-wheel drive vehicles are needed for exploring the remote north-western part, areas such as Marienfluss and Hartmann Valleys.
• Visitors are asked to show consideration towards the inhabitants and wildlife in these areas.

One of the most environmentally diverse and rewarding landscapes in Namibia.

In the heart of Namibia lies a special wilderness area, encircled by the Erongo Mountains, where the desert, mountain, and bushveld ecosystems combine.  In terms of endemic species the Erongo environment is one of Namibia’s hotspots as it host a vast array of endemic or near-endemic plant, reptile, mammal and bird species.

General information and tips on the area:

• A two night stay.
• A variety of lodges and guest farms in the area who offer activities:  nature drives & walks, visits to bushman paintings and rock engravings.
• Omaruru  produces hand made chocolates, brandy, wines and Schanpps.
• The Brandberg is famous for the rock painting known as the White Lady.
• Endemic species include the Angolan dwarf python, White-tailed Shrike, Hartlaub’s Francolin, Ruppell’s Parrot, Damara Rockrunner and Hartmann’s zebra.