Travelling

flag Namibia Namibia: Travelling

In this page: Entry Requirements | Organising Your Trip | Visiting | Living Conditions | Eating | Paying | Speaking | Useful Resources

 

Entry Requirements

Passport and Visa Service
The Embassy of Namibia in the US - Visa Information
For Further Information
Diplomatic Missions of Namibia
 
Check IATA Travel Website for visa requirements and health advices.
 

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Organising Your Trip


Transportation From Airport to City Centre:


Airport

Distance

Taxi

Bus

Train

Car Rental
Hosea Kutako International Airport 40-45 km NAD 300-350 NAD 100-150 - -
Eros Airport 5 km NAD 100 NAD 50 - -

Major airlines

Name Type Domestic Flights International Flights
Air Namibia National Yes Yes
Scenic Air Charter Yes No

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

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Visiting

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical
  • Twyfelfontein
  • Kolmanskop Ghost Town
  • Katutura Township
  • The Goerke House
  • Woermannhaus
  • Hohenzollernhaus
  • Karakul Statue
  • Hendrik Tseib Statue
  • Kaiserliches Postamt
Cultural
  • Ngoma Crafts Centre
  • Sheshe Crafts Centre
  • Swakopmund Museum
  • Twyfelfontein
  • Reiterdenkmal (The Equestrian Monument) (Windhoek)
  • Owela Museum
  • National Art Gallery of Namibia
  • Heroes' Acre (Windhoek)
Nature
  • The Namib Desert and Namib Sand Sea
  • The Fish River Canyon
  • The Petrified Forest
  • The Quiver Tree Forest
  • Sossusvlei (Hidden Vlei)
  • Mesosaurus Fossil Site
  • Brukkaros Volcano
  • Namib-Naukluft National Park
  • Erindi Game Reserve
  • Okonijima Nature Reserve
  • Etosha National Park
  • Mahango Game Reserve (Caprivi)
  • Caprivi Game Park
Religious
  • Christ Church (or Christuskirche) (Windhoek)
  • St. Mary's Cathedral (Windhoek)
  • Felsenkirsche (Luderitz)
  • German Evangelical Lutheran Church (Swakopmund)
Thermal
  • Ai-Ais Hot Springs (Karas Region, southern Namibia)
  • Grootfontein (Otjozondjupa Region, central Namibia)
  • Gross Barmen (Otjozondjupa Region)
  • Warmbad (Karas Region, southern Namibia)
Beach
Namibia has a long coastline; however, the water is usually too cold to swim, due to the Benguela Current, a cold ocean current flowing north from Antarctica in the Atlantic beside Namibia. The chilled, moist air from the ocean and the warm, dry air from the land often causes fog to form along the coast. The Skeleton Coast is filled with more than a thousand shipwrecks of vessels that lost their way in the thick fog and were destroyed in the heavy surf. It is also a popular place among anglers.
Outdoor Activities
Safari is the most popular outdoor activity in Namibia. Desert exploration (quad bike, ATV, 4WD, etc.) and kayaking (among dolphins and seals in Walvis Bay) are other popular outdoor activities.
Shopping
Namibia can be a good place to buy crystal and gems as the country is home to many diamond mines. Gypsum desert rose and tiger's eye are among attractive souvenir items. Woodcarvings are common in the regions of Kavango and Caprivi. Bushmen crafts, in the Kalahari region, are among the most original available on the continent.
Tourism Organisations
Namibia Tourism Board

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Living Conditions

Health and Safety

Health Precautions
There are no specific vaccination requirements to enter Namibia (except for the yellow fever vaccine fo those coming from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission). Nevertheless, WHO and Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the following vaccines before entering Namibia: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Hepatitis B and Rabies. Cholera cases have also been recorded in Namibia, especially in the northwestern region of Kunene.
For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions
Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Namibia Travel Information
UK Foreign Travel Advice - Namibia
For Further Information on Safety Conditions
U.S. Department of State - Namibia Travel Information
Foreign and Commonwealth Office - Namibia Travel Advice
Government of Canada - Namibia Travel Advice
 

Emergency Numbers

Police 10111
Windhoek City Police +264 (61) 290 2239 / 290 2018
Windhoek Fire Brigade +264 (61) 211 111
MedRescue 081924
 

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Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference
It is %T:%M %A In Windhoek (GMT+1 in winter and GMT+2 in summer)
Summer Time Period
Daylight saving time between 1st Sunday of September to 1st Sunday of April. 
 

Map of the Time Zone

Time zone

Type of Climate
The climate in Namibia is generally arid, with hot and dry weather for much of the year. With an average of 300 days of sunshine, Namibia is one of the sunniest countries in the world. Temperatures tend to vary considerably due to elevation or distance from sea. It is generally hot throughout the country from December to March, with the rainy season starting in January (especially in the northeast of the country). Rainfall might still occur between April and May; however, temperatures start to drop. The winter is between June and September. The country receives almost no precipitation during this season and temperatures are moderate to warm. Nights tend to be cold (especially in the inland and the desert). Temperatures rise again between October and November with little rainfall. Namib and Kalahari Desert are the hottest parts of the country, with temperatures rising above 40°C in summer. The Caprivi Strip in the northeast has the highest rainfall and is the greenest part of the country. Fogs are very common along the Atlantic coast and temperatures are moderate both in winter and summer.
Hotel reservation websites
Info Namibia - Climate
 

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

Climate

 

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Eating

Food Specialties
The Namibian cuisine shares some of the characteristics of the Southern African cuisine and is heavily influenced by the German cuisine (and Afrikaner to some extent) owing to the country's colonial past. Nambia's ethnic groups have their own specialties. Game, oryx and antelope meat are among the most widely available dishes. Air-dried (biltong) smoked (rauchfleisch) meat are among the local specialties. Seafood is also popular, especially along the Atlantic coast (kingklip, kabeljou and several types of shellfish). Vegetable-based dishes and fruits are not common due to Namibia's arid climate (most vegetable and fruits are imported from South Africa). German influence is reflected particularly in desserts as some of the most common specialties include Apfelstrudel (apple strudel), Sachertorte (a chocolate cake layered with apricot jam) and Schwartzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest cake). Afrikaner sweets, such as koeksesters (small doughnuts dripping with honey) and melktart (milk tart), are also common.
Drinks
Beer is by far the most popular drink in Namibia and there are several varieties throughout the country. Windhoek lager is the most common type of beer and some local specialties include Oshikundu, a millet-based beer and Epwaka, a mahangu (type of cereal)-based beer. Vigo is a popular Namibian soft drink and comes in three local flavours: Marula (a type of fruit), Wild Orange and Kiwano (type of melon). Neuras red wine, which comes from Naankuse Vineyard, the driest vineyard in the world, is another local specialty.
Dietary Restrictions
None

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Paying

Domestic Currency
Namibian Dollar
ISO Code
NAD
To Obtain Domestic Currency
Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change, and authorised hotels; however, rates tend to be unfavourable. It is possible to withdraw Namibian dollar from ATMs using foreign cards (especially in big cities). South African Rand can be used freely throughout Namibia (rand is a legal tender in Namibia and pegged to Namibian dollar).
Possible Means of Payment
ATMs accept most foreign cards; however, they may be hard to come by outside of large cities. Petrol stations and certain tourism facilities tend to be cash only.

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Speaking

Official Language
English
Other Languages Spoken
Oshiwambo, Nama, Afrikaans, German. (Afrikaans and German are recognised as minority languages).
Business Language
English

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Useful Resources

To Find a Job
Careers24 - Namibia Job Port
My Namibia - Job Vacancies
PinUp Jobs - Namibia

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Latest Update: May 2024