Travel Info Namibia
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NamibiaAlthough not as well known as some of its African neighbors, Namibia is a gem for those in search of wildlife and wilderness. It is called the ‘’Land of Contrast’’….Namibia is Africa, with its friendly, natural people, endless thornbush savannah, Mopane bushland, Makalani palms and Baobabs, lions and elephants, zebras and giraffes, an animal world as rich in species as no other on earth. GeographyNamibia is more than triple the size of Great Britain! It borders the Orange River in the south and Kunene, Okavango and Zambezi Rivers in the north. These are the only flowing rivers, the rest are all dry river beds, which are called "Riviere" and only flow periodically during the rainy season, sometimes just for a few days or even hours. The Namibian landscape consists generally of five geographical areas: the Central Plateau, the Namib Desert, the Escarpment, the Bushveld and the Kalahari Desert. Although the climate is generally extremely dry, there are a few exceptions. The cold, north-flowing Benguela current of the Atlantic Ocean accounts for some of the low precipitation. Brief SummaryArea size: 824 000 square km ClimateYou can travel Namibia at any time of the year. The best time of year is from April to June, when the temperatures are around 25 degrees Celsius during the day and the sky is beautiful blue. The nights are cool and ideal for a good night's sleep. The dry winter months (July to September) are also a good time to visit this desert country. The day temperature usually stays above 20 degrees Celsius. But on the Central Plateau and in the Namib Desert the nights can be freezing! Entry Requirements & VisasMost visitors enter Namibia at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek. The formalities of entry are uncomplicated for a stay of up to three months. The visa is issued on entry. Your passport has to be valid for another 6 months. If you enter by car from South Africa, you usually cross the border at Vioolsdrif/Noordoewer at the Orange River. Entry is normally easy. The officials are friendly and professional. However, try and avoid the first day of the South African school holidays! If you pass the border coming from the Kalahari Park at Rietfontein/Aroab. Your car will probably be the only one at the border. The borders to Botswana at Buitepos/Mamuno east of Gobabis and Ngoma Bridge in the Caprivi are not used very often. BanksThe Namibian Dollar is on par with the South African Rand (1:1) The Namibian Banks allows you to exchange currencies and traveler’s cheques into Namibian Dollars. In Namibia you can generally pay with the usual credit cards, but not at petrol stations. At larger banks you will find ATM's, where you can draw money with a credit or Maestro (the former EC) card. The banks are usually open on weekdays from 09h00 to 15h30. Some are closed at midday between 13h00 and 14h00. CrimeUntil Independence was granted in 1990, crime was virtually non existent in Namibia. However, the last decade has seen a great increase in crime, mainly due to the high unemployment rate and the influx of poor people to the urban slum areas. Relative to the other African countries, Namibia is still one of the safest holiday destinations. ElectricityThe voltage in Namibia is 220-230 V, AC (identical to South Africa). Adapters are for sale at most supermarkets. Farmers often generate their own electricity with a diesel generator, which they usually only run during the day. At night it's candlelight or light from a 12 Volt battery. Medical InsuranceAsk your medical aid, whether you are covered when travelling in Namibia. If not, you should take out a travel insurance policy with medical cover. The medical services are generally very good, at least in the larger towns. Private hospitals in Windhoek, Otjiwarongo and Swakopmund have excellent reputations. Although most doctors are General Practitioners, there are also some specialists in the country. At present, only patients who require heart surgery need to go to Cape Town. FlightsA number of airlines service Windhoek; some on a daily basis. Air Namibia has daily flights directly from Frankfurt and Lufthansa flies daily via Johannesburg. Prices vary a lot, depending on the season. The most expensive times are around Christmas and Easter as well as from July to September. Air Namibia also services Keetmanshoop, Katima Mulilo, Oshakati, Walvis Bay, Luederitz and Cape Town. VaccinationsNo vaccinations are required for Namibia. Malaria-prophylactic (like Lariam) is only necessary if you are planning to visit areas north of the Etosha Park or in the Caprivi. If you have been to a malaria area, watch out for symptoms and see a doctor immediately. HuntingThis is revenue for Namibian tourism. The prices are relatively good for Europeans and North Americans. However, the law concerning hunting is very strict. The Namibian farmer will issue the hunting license. GolfGolf is also popular in Namibia. One of the most beautiful courses is the Rossmund Desert Golf Course in Swakopmund. Lüderitz also has a course in the desert. VegetationAbout 70% of Namibia is savannah. In Central Namibia, thornbush-savannah is dominant with extensive grasslands and acacia bush. The horizon is marked sporadically by the occasional camel-thorn tree and other kinds of acacia which often grow near dry riverbeds. Toward the north-east, where there is a higher rainfall, the thornbush savannah slowly turns into mopane savannah and there are a greater number of trees. In the relatively humid Caprivi the dominant vegetation form is the woodland savannah, interspersed with single Baobabs, Wild Figs and Makalani Palms. Not much grass grows in the arid south of Namibia. Trees are also scarce. Succulents - water-storing plants - are the main vegetation of this region. Most impressive is the Kokerboom or Quivertree, endemic to Namibia and Namaqualand. It can reach a height of 9 meters and is frequently found in the area around Keetmanshoop and in the Tiras Mountains. During the short rainy season from December to February, you will see carpets of wildflowers covering the usually plantless deserts of the south. PeopleOne Namibia - one Nation" is the Namibian government's motto since Independence was granted. Today there is a great feeling of solidarity amongst the Namibian people despite the variety of ethnic groups and the fact that Namibia is a multi-cultural nation. Each of the eleven national groups has its own history, language and culture and as a result of the South African Apartheid policy, its own homeland, although that has now been abolished. People, particularly in rural areas, still follow a traditional lifestyle with tribal and family communities. Wild AnimalsNamibia is one of the best game countries in Africa. Early in the 1900’s, people started to take the protection of wildlife seriously and game reserves, like the Etosha National Park, were established. Due to the growing numbers of visitors, many farmers have abandoned cattle and have turned their expansive farms into private game reserves and are focusing on land conservation. The typical African savannah animals like elephant, giraffe, rhino, zebra, wildebeest, numerous antelope species and predators like lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena and wild dog can be found in the central part of Namibia and Etosha Pan. In the more humid north (the Caprivi area) buffalo’s, hippo and crocodiles will be found in the rivers and swamps. In the arid desert and semi-desert areas the variety of game is much smaller. Here the Oryx antelope is dominant and has become perfectly adapted to the climate. Springbok, kudu, ostrich, baboon, mountain zebra and leopard are also found here. In the north-western part of Namibia, Kaokoveld and Damaraland up to the Skeleton Coast, desert elephants and a few lions that have adapted to the harsh desert conditions. This is a great birding destination with 620 bird species having been recorded. AccommodationAccommodation is available within any price range, from backpackers to small bed and breakfast’s, from middle class hotels to luxurious game lodges of the highest standard. The 'rest camps' in the National Parks are still government-run. The quality of the accommodation is acceptable, but is usually sub-standard. They are often fully booked, particularly in the Etosha Park, and one is often forced to make alternative reservations at a private lodge. TipsIt is customary to give a tip of 10% of the bill in restaurants. Porters receive 2 to 5 N$ and a petrol station attendant about 2 N$. Alcohol"Drankwinkel" is where you can purchase alcohol…..wine and beer are available at supermarkets and most National Park food stores. Namibia brews its own beer in Windhoek and Swakopmund which has to comply with German purity standards. Most of the wine is imported from South Africa. Getting AroundThe best way to travel Namibia comfortably is in a rental car. Public transport is practically non-existent. The roads in Namibia are about 5000 km’s of tarred road and almost 40 000 km’s of gravel or sand roads, these are usually well maintained, but every now and then one comes across "corrugated" tracks. The ideal speed is approx 80 km/h. However, the road traction is reduced on gravel roads and one must slow down before curves. Generally, a 4x4 is not required for travelling Namibia although it is nice to have one for comfort. A 4 x 4 is necessary for the Sossusvlei, the Kaudom National Park, for Kaokoland and for drives through dune sand at the beach or in riverbeds. After heavy rainfalls, which can occur between December and March, driving on untarred roads can become extremely difficult. In Namibia you drive on the left side of the road. Otherwise, the traffic rules are the same as those in Europe. TelephonesThe Namibian telephone net is satisfactory. However, many farms still have the old system of farm lines (group lines) where a couple of farms share one line. The mobile cell phone system is up to international standard. You have coverage along all major routes and in the towns. A Namibian SIM card costs N$ 200, including some air time. School HolidaysGovernment schools: late April to late May, late August to early September, early December to middle/end of January. Deutsche Höhere Privatschule (DHPS): late April to late May, late August to mid-September, early December to middle/end January. Public Holidays01 January: New Year Police Emergency NumbersThe police are present in all major towns. The national emergency number is 10111. AddressesHigh Commission for the Republic of Namibia in the UK6 Chandos Street, London W1G 9LU, UK Submit an enquiry so we can assist you in planning your holiday to South Africa. |