Namibia is in southern Africa, to the north west of South-Africa. It shares borders with Botswana to the east and Angola to the north. The country also borders Zambia and Zimbabwe along parts of the narrow Caprivi Strip in the far north-east of the country.
It’s about 825 000 km2 in area and has a 1572 km Atlantic Ocean coastline. This means it’s larger than any European country, excluding Russia, and nearly the size of Germany and Spain combined.
Namibia is in southern Africa, to the north west of South-Africa. It shares borders with Botswana to the east and Angola to the north. The country also borders Zambia and Zimbabwe along parts of the narrow Caprivi Strip in the far north-east of the country.
Average summer temperatures: 15°C to 40°C
Average winter temperatures: 0°C to 23°C
Rainy season: October/November to April
Namibia’s national currency, pegged to the South African Rand, is the Namibian Dollar but travellers who have combined South Africa with Namibia can use either currency in shops, lodges, markets and restaurants throughout the country. Note however that the Namibian Dollar is not accepted in South Africa. Visa and Mastercard credit cards are generally accepted throughout Namibia though holders of other credit cards are advised to check whether their card is acceptable.
Tipping for good service is only expected in upmarket tourist establishments, but is officially prohibited in national parks and reserves. A service charge is included in some restaurant bills – if not, and the service was satisfactory, a tip of 10% is standard. For in-depth tipping guidelines, enquire with one of our Africa Safari Experts – they’d be happy to share their knowledge with you.
Temperatures in Namibia vary depending on the region and season, but in general days are hot and nights can be unexpectedly chilly, so layering clothing is your best bet on a Namibia safari. Opt for cool, cotton fabrics in neutral colours for the daytime and a fleece or jacket for morning and evening game drives. Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots are a must.
Hosea Kutako International Airport: Windhoek’s major airport is the international gateway, but to get to the country’s far-flung destinations by air, you’ll be transferring to the capital’s second airport – Eros – for charter flights on light aircraft.
Walvis Bay Airport: located 15km east of Walvis Bay, Namibia’s second largest airport is well located for easy access to Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast.
Transfers and game drives in Namibia are usually conducted in open-sided 4X4 vehicles. The country’s good infrastructure means that many visitors to Namibia hire a car for a self-drive holiday, which makes for independent, flexible travel within the ambit of a pre-planned itinerary. Self-drivers staying at private reserves join the other guests for guided game drives in 4X4s.
The main routes (B-roads and most C-roads) are tar roads, which are good quality and rarely busy. Secondary roads are all gravel roads of varying quality.
Every visitor to Namibia must be in possession of a passport that is valid until six months after the initial date of travel. As of 1 April 2025, the new Visa on Arrival system was implemented at all Namibian border posts.
Countries that will be required to apply for a visa on arrival in Namibia:
African Countries:
Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia, Western Sahara Republic, Uganda.
Other Countries:
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cambodia, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America.
For visitors from any other countries, please check with your nearest Namibian Consulate about obtaining a visa.
Where to apply:
All minors travelling through Namibia will be required to produce certified copies of unabridged birth certificates in addition to their valid passports. In the event that one parent is not travelling with the child, the other parent’s affidavit consenting to such travel should be availed
Namibia is the youngest, most peaceful country in Africa.
It has a democracy where all heads of state are freely elected.
Namibia has an 85% literacy rate.
Namibia is known for its strong commitment to tourism and reputation for hospitality
Namibia is a modern and technologically advanced country with a solid infrastructure.
Namibia has fairly good medical facilities in every town and city. The only problem in Namibia is that you may often find yourself a long way from towns. Bring the basics in case of minor illnesses e.g. for cold, flu, headache, stomach upsets, small grazes.
If you need to buy over the counter medicines, there are pharmacies in most of the larger towns. There are also private doctors and dentists, with whom you can usually make an appointment, just speak to the lodge receptionist or manager.
