Namibia Tourist Guide

Fast Facts about Namibia

• Capital: Windhoek
• Government: Republic
• Currency: Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)
• Area total: 825,418 sq km
• Population: 2,030,692 (July 2006 est.)
• Language:  English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
• Religion:  Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
• Electricity: 220-240V/50HZ
• Calling Code :+264
• Time Zone:  UTC +1

General Information about Namibia

Although not as well known as some of its African neighbours, Namibia is a gem for those in search of wildlife and wilderness; see oryx, elephants and rhino roam the country’s numerous reserves, and explore this open landscape of undulating dunes.

Desert, savannah and mountains
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.

Safari scenery
In the north, 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.

Peaceful republic
Independent since 1990, Namibia was once governed by Germany and South Africa. Germanic influences can be seen in its colonial architecture, and in its roads and rest camps, most of which are well-maintained. 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.

Windhoek

Waterberg

Etosha National Park

Namutoni

Halali

Okaukuejo

Damaraland

Twyfelfontein

Cape Cross

Seal Colony

Swakopmund

Welwitschia Mirabillis

Namib Desert

Sossusvlei

Sesriem Canyon

Naukluft

Fish River Canyon

Skeleton Coast

Visas

Tourists may enter Namibia for up to 3 months.

Citizens from the following countries do not require a visa to visit Namibia: Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Cuba, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Singapore, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Visitors not from the above countries need to apply for a visa from the Namibian consulate in their country of origin or the Ministry of Home Affairs

All visitors require a passport valid for at least 6 months after date of entry into Namibia.

Getting to Namibia By plane

Hosea Kutako International Airport, located 45 minutes east of Windhoek, is the main entry point for air traffic. Air Namibia operates flights from Frankfurt, London, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Victoria Falls and Maun to the international airport. Flights between the smaller Eros Airport and Cape Town are also available. South African Airways and no-frills Kulula.com operate flights from South Africa, too.

Getting around Namibia

Despite the vast distances in Namibia, most people get around by land, and not air.

Namibia’s roads are very good, with primary routes paved, and secondary routes of well-graded gravel. An all-wheel drive vehicle is not necessary except on tertiary roads and the Skeleton Coast. Driving at night is very dangerous because there is a lot of wildlife on the roads. Traffic drives on the left.

Food and Drinks

Namibians are not particularly adventurous when it comes to their food; meat is pretty much the standard. This often comes served with a porridge like mixture called mahango or pap (or something else depending on where you are). In restaurants steak and chips is nearly always the Namibian choice.

Vegetables are not popular amongst the majority of Namibians, and are viewed as the poison of the cultural imperialists.

Things are changing and many restaurants in Namibia offer a wider range of foodstuffs and some even cater for vegetarians. Vegetarians should be prepared for a lot of questioning about their particular eating disorder and can also expect little pieces of bacon or ham in their salad, but remember this is only your chef trying to be kind.

The favourite way of preparing meat in Namibia is the braai (barbecue) and this ritual is obeyed in the majority of households on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the braai is a social occasion and only two things are guaranteed firstly eating will take place much later than anticipated and secondly there will be beer!!!

Fruits and Vegetables. you will find in Namibia avocados, bananas, mandarin oranges, oranges, pineapples, kiwi, peanuts, beans, rice, couscous, millet, tomatoes, corn, bread, onions, pasta, potatoes, and celery. Many of these foods are imported and may be expensive and limited to seasonal availability

If visiting Windhoek. you will find local and international cuisine in the many diverse restaurants and cafes. Pretty much anything you want, you will find here

Namibia’s nightclubs are always happening and always open late (pretty much until the last person leaves). They are mostly located in bigger cities: Windhoek, Swakopmund and Oshakati. There are not many bars, though there is very good beer, and there are a lot of shebeens. The flagship beer of Namibia is Windhoek Lager. an easy-drinking filtered beer, not dissimilar to many  German brews.

Climate

Typical semi-desert – hot days and cool nights. Midsummer temperatures can rise to over 40°C. Winter days are warm but dawn temperatures may drop to freezing.

Along the coast it is cool with low rainfall and fog prevails from late afternoon until mid-morning.

The rainy season lasts from October to April. The rest of the year is dry and cloudless. Namibia averages 300 days of sunshine a year.

What to pack

As temperatures can be very high during the summer months, clothing made from cotton is preferable. During winter, light clothing, combined with a sweater and/or jacket is recommended, as it becomes cold in the evenings and early mornings.

Important items to pack: comfortable walking shoes, swimsuits, binoculars, sun hats and sunglasses, sun block, mosquito repellent and battery-operated or conventional razors for visiting remote areas.

Credit Cards

International cards are widely accepted throughout the country, including most Government rest camps, hotels, shops and restaurants.

Currency

Namibian Dollar (N$), divided into 100 cents. Notes of N$10, N$20, N$50 and N$100 are in circulation. South African notes and coins are also legal tender.

Drinking Water

All water from taps is purified and visitors need have no hesitation in drinking it.

Health

The dry climate of Namibia is extremely healthy and most tropical diseases are unknown. Vaccinations are only required if the visitors should take precautions when traveling in Etosha, Ovambo and Caprivi.

Language

The official language is English and all documents, notices and directional signs are in this language. German and Afrikaans are also used throughout the country and there are numerous African languages and dialects which fall into two main groups: Bantu and Khoisan.

Medical

By virtue of Namibia’s vast size and the remoteness of many venues, high costs are involved when illness or accidents occur. Travel insurance covering baggage and valuables plus accident should be considered before departure.

Crime

Theft is not a major problem in Namibia, but in a country with very high unemployment rates and a great deal of financial inequality, tourists often make good targets. However by following some simple precautions and being aware of your surroundings you should easily be able to minimise your chances of being a victim.

Be careful in major centres and never leave anything in an unattended vehicle in any city or town. Pick pocketing occurs in the towns and cities but if you exercise some caution and do not carry huge day packs or camera bags around with you the risk is minimised.

Muggings, although becoming more common, almost never include violence, do not resist if anyone points a knife at you (unless you have that black belt in karate). If you’re mugged at gun point consider yourself special as this is almost unheard of.

Windhoek now has two police forces the municipally funded City Police & the state operated police force. If you are in need of assistance it is generally best to contact the city police as their response times are excellent and they are generally extremely helpful.

In national parks such as Etosha or Sossusvlei crime is rare, it is generally safe to leave your luggage in your car, accommodation establishment or even tent.

Trust local advice, and don’t be afraid to ask people at your accommodation establishment, but it is worth remembering that many southern Africans are rather paranoid when it comes to crime and love to regale visitors with horror stories.