Namibia is a rustic of maximum pure magnificence. From the towering crimson sand dunes of Sossusvlei to the desolate, arid plains of the Namib Desert to the deep valley of Fish River Canyon and floodplains of the Caprivi Strip, the range and dramatic nature of the panorama is astounding.
Nonetheless, Namibia isn’t a classically common African vacation spot and it someway nonetheless sees far fewer guests than its neighbour, South Africa. Nonetheless, touring to Namibia is extremely rewarding with awe-inspiring landscapes, plentiful wildlife, pleasant individuals and a comparatively secure popularity.
If plan touring to Namibia, listed below are our prime Namibia journey ideas you must know earlier than leaving in your journey.
Issues to Know Earlier than Touring to Namibia
Namibia is in Southern Africa
For many individuals, Namibia lives throughout the shadow by its neighbor, South Africa. It may be simple for some individuals to lump Namibia and South Africa into the identical basket. However, Namibia is definitely fairly completely different and distinctive.
Namibia is on the South Western Coast of the African continent and is bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Angola and Zambia.
Namibia forex is Namibian Greenback
The forex in Namibia is Namibian Greenback. Nonetheless, South African Rand is interchangeable and extensively accepted. Some ATMs even dispense South African Rand as an alternative of Namibian {Dollars}, so don’t be alarmed if that occurs to you. Namibia is a part of the Widespread Financial Space with South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, making it comparatively simple when it comes to forex change to journey throughout these international locations.
US {Dollars} are additionally accepted every now and then, though native forex is finest. Bank card services are extensively out there and you must be capable of pay most issues along with your bank cards, though it’s useful to maintain some money on you always.
English is extensively spoken
Namibians are impressively multilingual. English is a quite common language in Namibia and also you’ll discover that most individuals converse it fluently. Surprisingly, German can be extensively spoken. German colonists claimed Namibia as South West Africa within the Eighties and there may be nonetheless a powerful German affect within the structure and language.
Folks additionally converse a local tongue, in addition to even Afrikaans which is derived from colonial Dutch and extensively spoken in South Africa.
Many nationalities don’t want a visa to enter Namibia
International nationalities from Australia, New Zealand, UK, US, Canada, Japan and lots of European international locations don’t want a visa for a keep of as much as 90 days in Namibia. You possibly can test on-line whether or not your nationality requires a visa or not. This makes it particularly simple for crossing overland, if you happen to’re exploring extra of Southern Africa.
In case you’re crossing from South Africa in a automobile, you’ll have to have a sound passport for the driving force, automobile registration copies, a letter of authority from the rental firm and a journey insurance coverage certificates (which you may get on the border itself). In any other case, it’s fairly widespread for vacationers to be crossing in rental vehicles and isn’t often a troublesome course of.
Faucet water is secure to drink
You could be shocked to find that faucet water is definitely secure to drink in Namibia. This implies you must convey a reusable water bottle so that you simply don’t must buy any single-use plastic bottles within the nation. You’ll be capable of replenish at your lodging, together with even tenting grounds which often have drinkable faucet water out there.
In case you’re nonetheless involved concerning the security of the water, we advocate that you simply convey alongside a air purifier like Steripen.
However, water shortage is a severe concern
Water shortage is a urgent drawback in Namibia. The nation sees recurrent droughts and rainfall can cut back dramatically by as much as 50% between completely different years. Lots of the massive city areas like Windhoek are ceaselessly put beneath strict water restrictions to avoid wasting the water reserves the nation does have.
As guests to Namibia, you possibly can assist by being aware of the water restrictions that residents abide, equivalent to shorter showers and never washing automobiles except essential. The tourism trade locations additional strain on assets and it’s vital that you choose eco-friendly lodging choices and locations which have water conservation insurance policies, equivalent to water recycling.
Namibia is fairly secure
“Is Namibia secure?” is among the hottest questions for touring to Namibia. It’s truly one of many most secure international locations in Africa to go to as a vacationer. Namibians are pleasant individuals and the extent of corruption and crime in Namibia is decrease than in a lot of its neighbouring international locations. In saying that, petty theft and muggings do occur often. Often, that is at night time and within the metropolis areas, notably Windhoek.
It is best to take regular precautions as you may when touring to some other nation, preserve your valuables secure and be cautious of getting across the metropolis at night time. Taxis are typically secure and are finest to take after 9pm in Windhoek.
It’s one of many least populated international locations on the earth
Namibia has the second-lowest inhabitants density on the earth, after Mongolia, and with simply 2.5 million inhabitants, the huge nation can really feel fairly empty. Touring to Namibia might be fairly isolating for that reason and also you may even go a complete day of driving by the desert with out seeing one other soul.
A lot of the inhabitants lives within the central and in the direction of the north of the nation, with only a few majorly populated areas. In a big distinction with many different international locations, Namibia’s shoreline is much more sparsely populated.
The desolate and threatening coast of Namibia which is dominated by the Skeleton Coast Park and Namib-Naukluft Nationwide Park, are characterised by lifeless shipwrecks and vegetation, towering sand dunes and inhospitable terrain. The one main city on the west coast is Swakopmund. Different main cities and concrete areas run up the centre of the nation alongside the primary street community.
It’s not all the time scorching in Namibia
The local weather in Namibia is kind of completely different from what most individuals count on. Though huge swathes of the nation are desert, that doesn’t imply that it’s all the time scorching. The nights can get fairly chilly, particularly within the winter and drier months from Might till October.
Within the hotter, summer time months from November till April, the temperatures might be scorching, particularly within the desert. This time additionally brings the summer time rains which turns a lot of the nation barely extra inexperienced and luxurious and even brings flooding to some northern components. That is additionally when malaria dangers are increased, particularly across the north of Namibia and into the Caprivi Strip.
Nonetheless, the weather in Namibia might be powerful at any time of the yr. The dramatic modifications in temperature and the prevalent sand and mud, makes it notably powerful in your electronics like your digital camera and laptop computer. So it’s finest to attempt to preserve them protected as a lot as attainable to scale back any construct up of mud and grain – this was a little bit of a battle for us and is a standard problem for eager photographers in Namibia.
The perfect time to go to Namibia is within the dry season
The perfect time to go to Namibia is within the dry winter months from June till August, though the climate is nice from Might to October. Nonetheless, this additionally implies that there are much more guests and crowds presently, particularly in Nationwide Parks. With the upper demand, first rate lodging can be troublesome to search out.
Nonetheless, that is undoubtedly the most effective time to journey to Namibia for wildlife recognizing and sport drives. Animals in Namibia are likely to congregate round water holes and it may be a lot simpler to ensure to identify them in these drier months.
Namibia is huge and requires a while to discover
Namibia may not look like a big nation, however it’s huge and distances are lengthy. At first look, you may think about {that a} week is lengthy sufficient to cowl the primary Namibia vacationer locations. Nonetheless, with only a week, you’ll spend a lot of your time on the street or having to fly from level to level. You really want at the very least two weeks to see the most effective of Namibia however it’s even higher to have as much as a month.
There are only a few home flights in comparison with different international locations, with such a small inhabitants the demand for inner journey is low. Lots of the finest locations to go to in Namibia are additionally fairly distant and sights are far aside, making for lengthy days of driving. When planning your Namibia street journey, make sure you think about the driving time slightly than the gap on a map, as the agricultural gravel roads can take for much longer than deliberate.
Hiring a automotive is the easiest way to get round
One of the best ways to get round Namibia’s lengthy distances and distant roads is by self-driving. Hiring a automotive is definitely the most suitable choice if in case you have the time and need to get to as many locations as attainable.
Namibia is among the finest locations for a street journey. The roads are typically quiet and open with little visitors in a lot of the nation. Nonetheless, you need to bear in mind that there are a lot of gravel roads and gentle sand. This will pose challenges if in case you have by no means pushed in such situations earlier than. Nonetheless, Namibia self-drive excursions are quite common and lots of vacationers choose to hire a automotive.
Automobile rental isn’t that low-cost in Namibia. The common value for a 4×4 in Namibia is round $100 per day. It can save you lots by renting a 2WD, and much more in case you are in search of an everyday compact automotive vs one with a better clearance.
If renting a automotive appears slightly nerve-racking in your Namibia trip then you possibly can all the time go for a gaggle tour with an organization like G Adventures. This manner all of the logistics and transport might be taken care of. You might be assured that you simply’re in good arms with an moral and professional tour operator like G Adventures. Throughout our time in Namibia, we ceaselessly crossed paths with G Adventures automobiles, stopping on the identical websites and visiting the identical sights. Their itineraries are nicely designed.
Be ready and self-sufficient
The lengthy stretches of street throughout huge landscapes with out a lot of a gasoline station in sight means you actually must be nicely ready for any state of affairs. We don’t imply to sound alarmist. Nonetheless, it’s a good suggestion to make sure you all the time have loads of consuming water. Additionally, some meals and snacks and at the very least half a tank of gasoline always. We stored a gallon of consuming water and snacks in our automotive always. It offers us that peace of thoughts once we have been touring off the crushed path.
In case you’re self-driving in Namibia, it’s price planning your days forward. That is to make sure you know the place gasoline stations are situated and the distances you’ll be driving between stops. Have an offline map downloaded or outdated paper map, along with your route and stops labored out.
It additionally pays to hold a spare tyre or two and know the right way to change one! One of the crucial widespread points self driving in Namibia are tyre punctures. Particularly in a number of the extra distant and tough Namibia street networks. The very last thing you need is to be caught on the facet of the street in the course of nowhere.
We have been fortunate and by no means bumped into any hassle on our Namibia self-drive. However, we stopped to assist out a number of different fellow vacationers with tyre modifications alongside the way in which. It does occur extra ceaselessly than you may count on!
Our 4×4 Toyota Hilux from Namibia 4×4 Leases
Staying related is troublesome
Sim playing cards can be found for foreigners and it’s not a troublesome course of to get one. There are two community suppliers: MTC and TN Cellular. Though, MTC appears to have higher protection. You should buy a SIM card from both of those suppliers on the airport. Or, at their shops in any city.
MTC has packages that they name Aweh Gig, which for 35 Namibian {Dollars} offers you 100 minutes of native calls, 700 SMS and 1GB of information for 7 days. You possibly can all the time add extra knowledge if you happen to want it.
Nonetheless, protection is severely restricted and also you received’t get a lot sign previous main highways and cities. Wi-Fi and the web in lodges and lodges are additionally typically fairly weak.
Touring to Namibia actually is ideal for digital detox!
Seeing Namibia on a finances is hard
Namibia isn’t the most affordable nation for touring in Southern Africa. In case you’re backpacking in Namibia on a finances, it is going to be powerful to maintain your total prices low.
When it comes to lodging, particularly exterior of Windhoek, you principally have the choices of tenting or lux lodges. It’s not a lot in between. Even tenting and self-catering might be fairly costly. As a result of, this requires automotive rental which might be as much as $100/day alone. Additionally, the prices of gasoline which might be round $200 for a 7-day street journey. Nonetheless, self-catering will mean you can lower your expenses on different issues like meals. Meals is kind of reasonably priced if you happen to store at native markets.
When touring to Namibia, the tour packages are additionally typically costly. Exercise prices are excessive with sport drives and Namibia desert excursions particularly expensive. These touring on a finances are finest off hiring a fundamental 2WD automotive. Don’t neglect some tenting tools and planning to remain at finances campsites alongside the way in which.
Grootberg Lodge, Palmwag
Namibia has numerous wildlife
After studying a lot about Namibia’s huge desolate landscapes, you could be shocked to study that there are literally an abundance of wildlife there too.
Etosha Nationwide Park is the large wildlife drawcard in Namibia and it’s the most effective safari locations in Africa. The 22 750 sq. kilometre park is residence to 4 out of the large 5, elephants, lions, leopards and rhinos. It’s notably identified to be the most effective locations to see the uncommon black rhino, black-faced impala and Damara dik-dik. The park is among the prime locations to go in Namibia for many vacationers.
With the extra harsh local weather within the nation, you can too see desert animals like oryx, meerkat and bat-eared foxes. It makes Namibia safari tour fairly distinctive.
The far north-eastern a part of Namibia, often called the Caprivi Strip, provides a special expertise all collectively. It has heavy rainfall over the summer time. Making it a way more moist space and residential to a big inhabitants of hippos and crocodiles. You possibly can even spot buffalo there, rounding out the large 5 sport animals of Namibia.
Alongside Namibia’s treacherous shoreline, you’ll find distinctive marine wildlife. The Skeleton Coast Park is residence to 100,000 Cape Fur Seals, one of many largest breeding colonies of this seal on the earth. In November and December, it’s even attainable to see their tiny pups ashore.
Additional south round Walvis Bay you possibly can hit the water on a ship in the hunt for whales and dolphins. Humpback whales in addition to southern proper whales and Benguela dolphins might be discovered off the coast in Walvis Bay within the winter months from June to November.
Even additional south within the Namib Desert, you’ll find quite a few sport animals, much like Etosha Nationwide Park. You may as well spot as much as 150 wild horses that roam freely within the desert and are thought of the world’s solely desert-dwelling wild horses.
However, it’s not the most effective safari vacation spot
Nonetheless, Namibia isn’t the most effective safari vacation spot in Africa. When in comparison with locations just like the Maasai Mara and Serengeti in East Africa and even within the Higher Kruger Nationwide Park in neighbouring South Africa, Namibia doesn’t fairly have the density of wildlife that makes for simple animal viewing. The perfect probability of recognizing wildlife is substantial to the dry season in winter when animals congregate at water holes.
Namibia’s harsh setting and panorama additionally imply getting off-road is troublesome. One of many important joys of safari excursions is getting nearer to the motion by navigating the scrubland. Nonetheless, that is fairly uncommon in Namibia.
Nonetheless, touring to Namibia can nonetheless provide a terrific alternative to catch a glimpse of a few of Africa’s finest wildlife. Safari remains to be the most effective actions in Namibia. It’s additionally attainable to do a Namibia self-drive safari for little value, with decrease park charges than in South Africa which is nice for finances vacationers.
Namibia is residence to many tribes – even right now
Namibia is residence to many alternative tribes that signify the distinctive tradition in Namibia. Essentially the most well-known of those tribes is the San and Himba. The San or the “bushmen” are one of many oldest inhabitants of southern Africa. They’ve historically lived within the Kalahari Desert and in japanese Namibia.
The Himba are characterised by their ochre painted faces and lengthy braided hair. They’re descendants of the older Herero tribe. In the present day, they reside principally within the northern a part of Namibia within the Kunene area, which additionally goes throughout into Angola. We got here throughout a number of Himba individuals close to Etosha, but it surely’s not sometimes the place this tribe is understood to reside.
When touring to Namibia, it’s widespread for individuals to need to go to these tribes to attempt to perceive the semi-nomadic life-style and distinctive tradition of those historic civilizations. Nonetheless, the mixing of the tourism trade into the lives of those distant tribes has prompted some points with so-called human safaris. It was for that reason that we didn’t search out a tribe go to throughout our journey. We’re unable to advocate one to others.
Namibia tour operators are likely to take vacationers to villages and deal with the individuals and their life-style as a form of vacationer attraction that types part of a bundle safari. If visiting the Himba or San individuals or some other tribe in Namibia is your curiosity, it’s vital to respect their tradition.
Don’t take pictures of them with out asking first. Quite, interact in some kind of dialog with them. It’s additionally finest to search out an moral tour operator who additionally helps the group ultimately.
Touring to Namibia is unquestionably price it
Namibia is a really stunning nation with dramatic and excessive landscapes. It provides a rugged and thrilling journey with a desolate shoreline and the world’s oldest desert. Additionally, Namibia have deep canyons, plentiful wildlife and a wealthy colonial and indigenous historical past. It’s undoubtedly price visiting!
Exploring Sossusvlei, Namibia
Namibia is among the finest international locations for a primary timer’s go to to Africa. Additionally, it’s one of many most secure with first rate vacationer infrastructure and loads of actions and nationwide parks to discover. It may not stand out in Africa as the most effective for safaris, however its selection throughout many alternative features makes it all-round vacation vacation spot.