Namibia - Basic Travel Information
By Andrew Muigai
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Accommodation
There are several hotels, lodges and camps in Namibia.
There are good quality hotels in Windhoek and Swakompund. Lodges
and camps are mainly found in Etosha National Park and other reserves.
Advanced booking is advised due to limited availability.
International Travel
Entry into Namibia can be gained through the main
airport, Hosea Kutako International Airport, located 38km east of
Windhoek. Eros Airport, a medium sized airport in Windhoek and Walvis
Bay International airport accommodate smaller aircraft and take
regional flights. Air Namibia - the national airline - provides
domestic, regional and international flights. South Africa Airways,
British Airways, LTU International Airways and Lufthansa Airways
also provide regional and international flights.
It is often cheaper to fly to South Africa and then
go to Namibia overland or by air. South Africa Airways and Air Namibia
operate daily flights between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Windhoek.
Air Namibia also provides flights between Windhoek and Harare, Victoria
Falls, Lusaka, Maun and Gaborone.
There are roads linking Namibia to South Africa,
Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola and bus services operate on these
routes. Car hire firms are also available in Windhoek and other
major towns. Un-tarred roads such the one linking Botswana to Namibia
are being upgraded. The railway network links most towns in Namibia
to Windhoek, which then connects to Cape Town and Johannesburg in
South Africa.
Local Travel
The national airline and charter flight operators
provide domestic flights. This is a quick way of getting between
major towns. But it is also an expensive way to travel. Thrifty
travelers use road or rail. Bus services between Windhoek and other
major towns are available. The Trans-Namib railway operates a good
service that connects most major towns. Luxury trains are available
for tourists and offer first and second-class options.
Car hire companies are available in major towns
for those who wish to drive themselves. Traffic drives on the left
and a majority of roads are tarred and thus self-drive is a comfortable
experience. An international driving permit is required of foreigners.
Make sure to observe speed limits, wear seat belts and adhere to
road signs, which are internationally recognized. Taxi and public
bus services are available in Windhoek.
Visas
A passport valid for a minimum of 6 months is required.
All, except nationals of Angola, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Canada,
Germany, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Liechtenstein,
Mozambique, the Netherlands, the Nordic Countries, Russia, Singapore,
Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, South Africa,
the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Zambia and Zimbabwe
require a visa. The visas are valid for stays of up to 3 months.
An extension can be obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs in
Windhoek. Visa requirements however, vary from time to time and
you are advised to check on the prevailing status well ahead of
travel.
Health
Several private hospitals and clinics in Windhoek
and other large towns provide reasonably quality services. However,
visitors should take simple precautions to avoid the need to visit
these facilities. A day spent in hospital doesn't do much for your
holiday! A yellow fever vaccine certificate is required from travelers
coming from yellow fever endemic zones, which are mostly in Africa
and South America.
Malaria is prevalent in the northern regions and
especially along Kavango and Kunene rivers, provinces of Kunene,
Caprivi, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusate, Oshana, Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa.
The recommended prophylaxis is chloroquine plus proguanil to be
taken two weeks prior to your visit. Other preventive measures include;
sleeping under a mosquito net, wearing long sleeved tops and trousers,
applying mosquito repellants on exposed skin and using insecticide
sprays.
Typhoid fever is common throughout the country and
especially outside the cities. Vaccination before travel is advisable
and care should be exercised in handling food and drink. Tap water
in the capital city and other major towns is treated and safe to
drink. However one cannot be too careful; bottled water, which is
widely available, is safer. Sterilization of water is necessary
outside the major towns. Milk is pasteurized and dairy products
are safe. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are
also safe for consumption.
Other vaccinations are recommended to counter; Hepatitis
A, Hepatitis B for travelers who may have intimate contact with
local residents, especially if visiting for more than six months
and rabies, for travelers who may have direct contact with animals.
Generally, visitors should also be up to date on tetanus, diptheria,
measles and varicella immunizations. Travelers' diarrhea can occur,
thus visitors are advised to carry anti-diarrheal drugs and take
proper precautions with food and drink.
Bilharzia is endemic especially in the east of the
country. Visitors should avoid swimming or paddling in fresh water;
well-chlorinated swimming pools are safer. Appropriate measures
should be taken against contracting HIV/AIDS and other STD's. Those
going for safaris are advised to carry anti-bite serums for snakes
and scorpions. If you have a significant allergy or chronic medical
problem, you should wear a medical alert bracelet. A first aid kit
is considered a good investment as an emergency may occur when you
are far from any town.
Communications
Telephone, mobile, fax, Internet and postal facilities
are widely available in the country. The country code is 264.Mobile
phones are based on GSM 900 network and the main network is MTC.
There are two main ISP's- IML and NCS and several Internet cafes
are spread out in Walvis Bay and Windhoek. Postal services are quite
good with airmail to European countries taking approximately four
days to two weeks. The country has five regular major newspapers,
four of which are in English; The Namibian and The Windhoek Advertiser
which are the daily newspapers, Windhoek Observer which is weekly,
The Era printed twice weekly and a daily German newspaper.
Radio stations broadcast on AM 2 and FM 39. The
Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has nine radio stations
and one television station. There are also six privately owned radio
stations and one privately owned television station operating from
Windhoek. BBC and VOA can be received and their frequencies are
available online.
Money
The Namibian Dollar (N$) is the unit of currency.
The South African Rand is also acceptable and exchanges at one for
one with the Namibian Dollar. There are five commercial banks and
several bureaus that can exchange foreign currencies. Travelers'
cheques and major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American
Express and Diners Club are widely accepted in hotels and lodges.
Visitors are advised to carry travelers' cheques in US dollars or
SA Rand rather than foreign currencies, as the conversion rates
for travelers cheques are better.
There is a limit on the import and export of local
currency set at fifty thousand Namibian dollars. Foreign currencies
are not limited but must declared on arrival. Tipping is only expected
in high-class restaurants and hotels but it is not mandatory. It
is discouraged in National Parks and reserves.
Peoples & Culture
There are 11 major ethnic groups in Namibia, the
largest being the Ovambo who mainly inhabit the north. Other groups
include, the Kavango, Herero, Himba, Damara, Nama, Basters, Caprivians
among others. The oldest inhabitants of Namibia are the San. Otherwise
known as Bushmen, the San people are known for their great story
telling, love for music, mimicry and dance.
Each ethnic group has its way of life. The Herero
women wear Victorian-style dresses adapted from the wives of Rhenish
missionaries. Himba women rub their bodies with a mixture of red
ochre and fat. They also wear traditional body ornaments and garments
and have hairstyles reflecting their age, sex and social status.
The Nama are known for their natural talent in music, poetry and
writing style. Their women are highly skilled in sewing. Traditional
arts and crafts such as woodcarving, basketry, beadwork, leatherwork
and pottery are common practices of the peoples of Namibia. The
country also boasts some of the world's oldest rock paintings and
engravings, courtesy of the ancestors of Bushmen.
Restaurants and cafes offer a reasonable choice
of local and continental cuisine. Each ethnic group has its own
staple food. The Ovambo people enjoy mielie pap, a cornmeal porridge
and mahango (millet), which they eat with fish, goat, lamb or beef
stew. The Nama prefer the spiky inara melon and Herero mainly eat
milk products like curds and butters. Pumpkins, peppers and onions
are also widely consumed. Game such as biltong (air-dried meat)
and rauchfleisch (smoked meat) are also a specialty.
The official language is English but knowledge of
Afrikaans and any other local language will prove useful.
Climate
The climate in Namibia varies from arid and semi-arid
to subtropical. The central region is the most arid area. Here,
temperatures can rise to 40 degrees centigrade during the day and
drop to below freezing at night. There are two rainy seasons; the
short rains which fall between October and December and the long
rains falling between January and April. The long rains occur during
summer. Temperatures are high during the day and cool at night.
Winter occurs from May to September. During this
period, large areas are covered with frost. The nights are then
cold and the days warm. The Benguela cold current keeps the coast
of the Namib Desert cool and free from rain for most of the year.
It also leads to the presence of thick fog.
Travel Insurance
Health insurance is essential. Ensure your cover
extends to medical expenses abroad including possible evacuation
to your country. Carry all your relevant insurance documents and
keep them safe. Before travel, clarify whether your insurance plan
will pay directly for your health expenses or will reimburse you
later. Personal effects and luggage should also be insured as well
as cancellation and curtailment insurance taken out.
What to Wear
Light summer clothes are adequate during the day
as temperatures can soar especially during summer. Warm clothes
should also be carried - the nights get quite chilly even during
summer and also for the cold winter mornings. Sunglasses, sunscreen
and sun hats will prevent you getting sunburned. If you forget them,
don't panic, they can be bought in all the major towns.
On safari in Namibia, a good pair of light but closed
shoes is necessary, as the ground gets quite hot during the day.
A lightweight raincoat is useful especially if you travel during
the rainy season, that is, January to April. Namibia has been described
as a photographers' paradise, thus a camera and lots of film is
necessary packing. Also, a good pair of binoculars is a good investment.
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Copyright
© Africa Point
Author
Andrew Muigai is editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter.
You can view more info on Namibia tours at the website.
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Africa Travel has done its utmost to ensure that the information
on this web site is as accurate and current as possible. The information
is provided 'as is' and Africa Travel will not accept responsibility
for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting
from the information on this website. Please verify crucial information
like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation with the
relevant authorities before you travel.
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