ACCOMMODATION
Outside of the major centres, it is strongly recommended that you reserve your
accommodation as far in advance as possible, since most of the lodges in the outlying and
remote areas of Namibia are small and availability is at a premium.
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BANKS
Windhoek
Main branches : Mon - Fri 09h00 - 15h30
Sat 08h30 - 11h00
Swakopmund
Main branches : Mon - Fri 09h00 - 15h30
Sat 09h00 - 11h00
Keetmanshoop
Main branches : Mon - Fri 09h30 - 12h30;
14h00 - 15h30
Sat 08h30 - 10h30
Tsumeb
Main branches : Mon - Fri 09h00 - 12h45;
14h00 - 15h30
Sat 08h30 - 11h30
Rundu
Main branches : Mon - Fri 09h00 - 15h30
Sat 08h30 - 11h00
Katima Mulilo
Main branches : Mon - Fri 09h00 - 12h45;
14h00 - 14h30
Bureau de Change at
Windhoek International Airport.
Major hotels also have foreign exchange facilities and will accept travellers cheques.
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BORDER
POSTS
All border posts open daily.
Buitepos (Maun /
Windhoek) 08h00 - 16h00
Mohembo (Maun / Caprivi) 06h00 - 18h00
Ngoma (Chobe / Caprivi) 06h00 - 18h00
South Africa /
Namibia
Noordoewer (ex Cape Town) 24 hours
Narochas/Nakop (ex Johannesburg) 24 hours
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BEST
TIME TO GO
Namibia is an all year round ecological and wildlife destination. However there are
certain seasons for special interest groups to take note of :
Best birding safaris
are during the summer months because of the greater variety of species to be found.
Best botanical months
are Dec - May when the vegetation turns green, and also when most plants are in flower.
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CLIMATE
Summer : November - April, days are generally hot and sunny. Daytime temperatures can rise
to 35º C and night temperatures drop to around 14º C - 18º C. The coastal region is
cool and dry throughout the year. The rainy season runs from February to March and average
rainfall varies from less than 50mm along the coast to 350mm in the central and 700mm in
the far north-eastern regions.
Winter : May - October, days are dry, sunny and mild to warm while evening temperatures
drop sharply. Daytime temperatures generally reach 23º C and can drop to as low as 0º C
- 10º C at night. It can be quite cold and windy at the coast, for which warm clothing
and a windbreaker are necessary.
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CLOTHING
Generally, casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year. The most practical
items to pack for safari are :
- blouses with long sleeves (even in summer,
they will protect you from the sun and from mosquitos)
- T-shirts
- shorts or a light skirt
- jeans or safari trousers for evenings and
cooler days
- fleece or sweater and a warm jacket for
gamedrives (necessary, even in summer & for coastal regions)
- comfortable walking shoes
- sunblock, sunglasses, hat, insect
repellent, moisturiser, lip-salve - essentials!
- binoculars and a camera are a must
- track suit good for sleeping in during
winter months
- light, compact raincoat for summer - just
in case!
- swimsuit, as most hotels have swimming
pools
- towel, torch and sleeping bag for camping
safaris (sleeping bags can be hired from most safari operators)
- bring an elegantly casual outfit for
dinner at the smarter hotels
Layers are most practical
for the fluctuating day/night temperatures of Namibia. Dull and/or neutral colours are
more suitable for safari, white is not practical. Cotton clothing recommended for summer.
VERY IMPORTANT :
packing space is limited on all modes of safari transport so you will need to restrict
your luggage to 12-15kg (preferably packed in a soft bag) plus a reasonable amount of
camera equipment.
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COMMUNICATION
A direct international dialing service is available from the major hotels and lodges in
Namibia. Both local and long distance calls are metered on a time basis and every second
counts in terms of cost. Major hotels and businesses have a fax service. Remember that
hotels levy a substantial surcharge on all calls.
Lodges in the more remote
areas of Namibia do not have telephonic communication facilities. These lodges are
generally able to communicate with the outside world via radio telephone.
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CREDIT
CARDS
International Visa and Mastercard credit cards are generally accepted throughout Namibia.
Holders of other credit cards are advised to clarify with a commercial bank whether their
card is acceptable in Namibia.
No credit cards are
accepted at petrol filling stations.
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CURRENCY
The currency in Namibia is the Namibia Dollar which is fixed to and equals the South
African Rand. Notes are issued in denominations of N$200, N$100, N$50 and N$10. Coins are
issued as N$5, N$1, 50 cents, 10 cents and 5 cents. The Namibia Dollar and the South
African Rand are the only legal tender in Namibia and both can be used freely to purchase
goods and services.
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ELECTRICITY
250 Volts AC.
Lodges in the more remote
areas of Namibia do not have electricity. These lodges generally utilise generator power
by day for lighting and refrigeration, although only at critical times of the day. Please
be aware that you will not find plug sockets in your room/tent at these lodges.
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ENTRY
REQUIREMENTS
Passports: Required by all. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended
length of stay and please ensure that there are sufficient blank pages for any visas as
well as for entry stamps upon arrival.
Visas : Updated in January 1997.
This is a guide only - please check with your nearest Namibian Consulate for up to date
information. It is the responsibility of all visitors to Namibia to obtain all necessary
visas in advance.
Visas are required by all
nationals of foreign countries excluding the following :
- Germany, Switzerland, Lichtenstein,
Ireland, UK, Austria, Italy, France, USA, Canada, Japan, Commonwealth of Ind. States,
Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Botswana, Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand,
Mozambique, the Scandinavian countries, Iceland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg,
Singapore, Kenya, Brazil, Cuba, Malaysia and South Africa.
- Citizens from the above countries will
only be admitted if they are entering Namibia as bona fide tourists.
Entry into Namibia will
be permitted for a maximum period of 90 days. Extension possible on application to
Immigration Authorities during stay in Namibia.
No visitor is permitted
to work or seek employment.
General :
Visitors should have sufficient funds to support themselves for a reasonable period after
arrival and should be in possession of a valid return/onward air ticket or proof of other
means of transport enabling him/her to leave Namibia.
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ETHNIC
GROUPS
The Namibian nation has a chequered ancestry which can be traced back to many corners of
Africa and Europe. Among the rich and diverse ethnic groups are the Herero women in
distinctive Victorian style dresses; the Nama/Damara who speak with interesting click
sounds; Himba women with their statuesque beauty enhanced by intricate hairstyles and
ornamental copper necklaces and anklets; the Bushman or San, the last representatives of
the hunter-gatherer tradition; and the German Colonials.
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EXCHANGE
RATE
The Namibia Dollar is fixed to and equals the South African Rand. Generally, you will find
that fine cuisine, wine, and entertainment cost a fraction of the tariff charged by
equivalent establishments elsewhere in the world.
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HEALTH
REQUIREMENTS
If you are visiting the area north of Windhoek, you must obtain Malaria Prophylactics
before entering Namibia. The Ministry of Health and Social Services recommends the
prophylactics Chloroquin, Palubrime and Paludrine. Start your course at least 24 hours
before entering Namibia and continue taking the pills for 6 weeks after leaving the
country. If you suffer from side-effects, try taking your malaria prophylactics at night,
after dinner as this usually minimises the effect of the symptoms.
Precautionary measures
that you can take to prevent contact with mosquitos are : sleeping under a bed-net or in a
room/tent with mosquito proofing (remember to keep the flaps zipped at all times);
spraying your accommodation with insecticide; making use of a mosquito-repelling lotion or
stick; and wearing long-sleeve clothing, long trousers and socks when outside at night.
There is Polio in the
south but not north of Windhoek.
See also Center for Disease Control
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INSURANCE
We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance which includes curtailment and
cancellation cover, upon confirming your booking.
If you are coming on
safari with Afro Ventures, you will automatically be covered by their Emergency Evacuation
Insurance, underwritten by Europ Assistance. This guarantees all reasonable, practical
assistance in obtaining primary and/or emergency medical services for an insured person
who suffers illness or injury. Please note that this is an evacuation insurance only and
does not replace the normal travel insurance which you must purchase.
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LANGUAGES
Languages spoken include Ovambo, Damara, Kavango, Herero, although the official language
is English with German and Afrikaans being widely spoken. Your safari will be conducted in
English.
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MALARIA
See HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
MEDICAL
SERVICES
Namibia does not have a national health welfare scheme. It is therefore advisable to
obtain medical insurance prior to arrival. It is also wise to bring with you, any
medicines which you may require since you will not have access to pharmacies in some of
the areas which you will be visiting.
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NATIONAL PARKS & WILDERNESS AREAS
Namibia was the first country in the world to include the protection of the environment in
its constitution and today approximately 15% of Namibia is protected land.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Film is available at most game lodges, but stocks are usually small and of the common
sizes only. For game and bird photography a telephoto lens of between 200 and 300mm is
strongly recommended. Larger lenses which require a tripod are generally impractical for
game photography from vehicles, as are double lens reflex cameras. A lens hood and ultra
violet filter are advisable and a dust cover (plastic bag) is essential. Remember to bring
spare batteries for your camera as these are seldom available on safari. Binoculars are
invaluable for bird and game viewing.
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ROAD
CONDITIONS
Namibia has an extremely good infrastructure of roads and a two-wheel drive vehicle is
adequate for a self-drive holiday. Foreign drivers require an international driver’s
license. Driving is on the left hand side of the road and speed limits are : 60km/h in
towns; 120 km/h on open tarred roads; and 100km/h on gravel roads. Note that excessive
speed is the main cause of accidents on gravel roads so please keep to the prescribed
speed limit and observe road signs conscientiously. In dusty conditions, switch on your
headlights so as to be more easily observed. Four-wheel drive vehicles are essential to
explore Damaraland and Bushmanland.
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TOURISM
SEASONS
Namibia’s popularity as a destination is gaining in leaps and bounds to the extent
that seasonal differences are not as marked as in previous years. Traditionally, however,
peak season is from July - October and middle season is from May - June. Note that
availability is at a premium during these seasons so you will need to book in advance.
Christmas and New Year is peak season for local holidaymakers. Also see BEST TIME TO GO.
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VISAS
See ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
WATER
Throughout Namibia at hotels, inns, lodges and other public places, tap water is purified
and safe to drink. Kindly remember that water is as precious as diamonds in this
drought-stricken land so please be respectful and make every effort to help us conserve
Namibia’s water.
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