Namibia Travel Guide

• Namibia has long been one of the safest and most stable African nations
• With excellent weather and even more excellent wildlife, you will get to experience the ‘real’ Africa in lush surroundings with lots of Namibian hospitality to boot!
• It is easily combinable with other projects in Africa.

Windhoek is the capital and largest city in Namibia.

• See Kolmanskop ghost town
• See the stars in the Kualala Desert
• Safari in the Etosha National Park
• Visit Spitzkoppe Tocks
• Explore Fish River Canyon
• See petroglyphs of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein
• See the sunset in Sossusvlei
• Discover the delights of Swakopmund and Pelican Point
• Ride along the Skeleton Coast

Namibia's traditional staple is millet. Two common varieties as a basic porridge called pap and a paste called Oshifima. Often they are served with stewed vegetables or meat. However, most restaurants do not focus on traditional food and instead focus on European cuisine, seafood and fast food.

There is generally a heavy focus on meat due to the country's landscape and most fruit and vegetables are imported from South Africa.

Namibia is one of the sunniest countries in the world with an average of over 300 days of sunshine per year.

December to March is generally hot. Between April to May temperatures start to drop and from June to September is Namibian winter, although there is no rainfall during these months and temperatures during the day are moderate. From October to November temperatures rise again and some rainfall is seen.

There are vast differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures and at night temperates plummet rapidly.

Visa

Visas may be required in order to enter or transit through certain countries depending on your passport nationality, your reason for travel and how long you intend to stay.

Visa, passport and entry rules are subject to change and you should check the most up to date information from the relevant embassy or visa specialist.

To make things easier we have teamed up with The Travel Visa Company who are one of the UK’s leading travel visa specialists. You can use their website, alongside embassy websites,  to find out the specific entry requirements for the countries you intend to travel to.

For a fee, their dedicated team of experts can also apply for visas on your behalf, taking away the hassle and streamlining the process for you if you wish. For more details on the services they provide please click here – The Travel Visa Company

Some countries will require proof of certain vaccines, such as yellow fever or covid, in order to gain entry. Please check with the relevant embassy of visa specialist before travel.

Passport

Passports must be kept in good condition. Travellers with damaged passports may be refused entry at immigration. It is the responsibility of the traveller to ensure that all travel documents are in good condition before they travel. Most countries will also require at least 6 months of validity on your passport from the time you finish your trip.

The official national language of Namibia is English, however, only 7% of the country speaks it. The most common dialect is Afrikaans with over 60% of the population and 32% speaking German, whilst further indigenous languages make up the remaining percentages.

Namibia uses 220V single-phase voltage and a frequency of 50Hz.

The plugs in Namibia are three large round pins in a triangular pattern, which are rated at five amps.

Religion:

The local population is predominantly Christian, around 80%-90%. Two Lutheran Churches cover over half of the total population, with the Roman Catholics covering one-fifth of the populace. Additional denominations e.g. Dutch Reformed, make up the final percentages.

Smoking & Alcohol:

The lager in Namibia is excellent due its German heritage. The German beer Becks has been brewed in Namibia since 2000. Unfortunately, alcohol abuse and drink driving is a major problem in Namibia.

Drugs

It is absolutely forbidden to bring drugs into Namibia. Always keep an eye on your luggage while travelling. Never bring anyone else’s luggage through customs. If you get caught there is little chance that you will walk away without punishment. As in most countries, Namibia has very strict rules when it comes to the possession of drugs. All drugs, including ‘soft’ drugs like marijuana, are illegal. Please do NOT use any illegal substances whilst travelling – it is not worth the risk and is not acceptable at the project. 

LGBT Travel

Homosexuality is not illegal in Namibia. However, please be aware there are taboos surrounding homosexual relationships and public displays of affection.

Vaccinations & Health

Travel health can often be something people forget about before going away, but a little preparation and knowledge can go a long way to help you stay fit and healthy while abroad. The risks to your health whilst travelling will vary depending on your general health and the type of activities you are going to be partaking in and the length of your stay.

Since we are not medically qualified, it is recommended that you consult with your General Practitioner or a recognised Travel Medical Advisory Service who will assess your particular health risks before recommending vaccines and/or anti-malarial tablets and advising you on what precautions you should take.

A useful website to visit in the first instance is https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

Safety

As in most countries there are people who try to take advantage of tourists. The following advice is intended to help you keep safe:

• Always keep your personal items such as passport, money and camera with you and in a safe place. You can buy mini padlocks to prevent people from going into your day sack without your permission.
• Always walk around in groups
• Never go out alone after dark
• Don’t hail taxis on the street. Instead, book through reputable hotels or ask the local team to help you.
• If you pay by card, keep it in sight at all times to avoid ‘credit card skimming’.
• Stick with the escorted trips. If you do go out in the evening unescorted, you do so at your own risk. Please tell the co-ordinators where you are going and what time you will be back.

This information is not intended to scare you. Unfortunately, bad things can happen, as they can do in any country and we want you to be prepared. We want you to stay safe and have a good time. Namibians are generally very friendly, warm and hospitable people. Please be friendly, respectful and stay aware and you will have a great time.

We do not recommend hiring motorbikes, scooters, ATV vehicles, quad bikes or other types of motorised vehicles whilst abroad. Safety and quality of vehicles vary considerably and the traffic conditions can be much more dangerous than what UK travellers are used to. Should you wish to go against this advice, you should ensure you are hiring from a reputable company and that your travel insurance covers you for such activities.

ATM Theft

It is very likely that you will need to withdraw cash at some point during your travels. Please be cautious when withdrawing money from an ATM and ensure that you are vigilant of other people near the ATM, especially those that offer unsolicited assistance if your card is detained. It has been recognised that individuals are operating unlawful withdrawals by placing ‘traps’ in ATMs whereby personal bank cards are being detained, causing the victim to believe their card transaction has not been completed, and leaving their bank card in the ATM which is then later retrieved by the thief.

If your card is confiscated or you are concerned that your card has been tampered with, please report immediately to the bank or cancel your card.