NAMIBIA is a vast land of intriguing contrasts, populated by a dramatic diversity of people; it is home to the arresting and private Himba tribe as well as a large population of German-speaking nationals. The environment is no less remarkable; the fire-coloured sand dunes of Namibia support an intriguing diversity of desert-adapted plants and animals especially in the Etosha National Park. Diamond-rich Nambia is also home to the largest number of cheetah of any African country.

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The People
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 Ovambo tribe, which make up 50% of the population. The Kavangos tribe make up 9%. The Herero, who women dress in distinctive Victorian style, make up about 7%. The Himba, who are easily identified by their statuesque beauty, intricate hairstyles and ornamental copper necklaces and anklets, are a subgroup of the Herero. The Damara (or Nama) make up 5% of the population. They speak with interesting click sounds. The San (Bushmen) make up about 2% of the population and are the last representatives of the hunter-gatherer tradition. There are also remaining German colonials. Languages spoken include Ovambo, Damara, Kavango and Herero, although the official language is English, with German and Afrikaans being widely spoken.

The Climate

• In Summer (November to April) the days are generally hot and sunny. Daytime temperatures can rise to 35’C (95’F) and night temperatures drop to around 14’C (58’F) to 18’C (65’F). 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 region and 700mm in the far north-eastern region.
• In Winter (May to October) the days are dry, sunny and mild to warm while evening temperatures drop sharply. Daytime temperatures generally reach 23’C (73’F) and can drop to as low as 0’C (32’F) to 10’C (50’F) at night.
• It can be quite cold and windy at the coast, for which warm clothing and a windbreaker are necessary.

Entry Formalities

• All visitors are required to carry a passport that is valid 6 months beyond the intended length of stay. Where a visa is not required, a visa application form and proof of sufficient funds and onward travel/return ticket should also be carried. There should be sufficient blank pages in your passport for entry stamps upon arrival.
• Nationals of the following countries currently do not require a visa for a stay of less than three months:
  South Africa, Angola, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Cuba, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, UK, USA, Moçambique, New Zealand, Portugal, Iceland, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Singapore, the Scandanavian countries, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• Where applicable, visas should be obtained from your nearest Namibian consulate. The cost is around US$ 25.
• Current requirements for obtaining a visa are:
  • one application form
  • proof of sufficient funds and onward travel/return ticket. ]
• Please check with your nearest Namibian consulate for up-to-date information.

Customs Concession
The following may be imported into Namibia by persons over 16 years of age without incurring customs duty: 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 2 litres of wine and 1 litre of spirits; 50 ml of perfume and 250 ml of eau de toilette; gifts to the value of NA$ 50 000 (including value of imported duty-free items).

Currency
The unit of currency is the Namibian dollar (N$), which is divided into 100 cents. This is fixed to the South African rand. Notes are issued in denominations of N$ 200-00, N$ 100-00, N$ 50-00, N$ 20-00 and N$ 10-00. Coins are issued as N$ 5-00, N$ 1-00, 50 cents, 10 cents and 5 cents. The Namibian dollar and the South African rand are the only legal tender in Nambia and both can be used freely to purchase goods and services.

Health Requirements

• If you are visiting the area north of Windhoek (Etosha, Ovambu and Caprivi), remember to get malaria prophylactics before entering Namibia.
• The Ministry of Health and Social Services recommends that you take a combination of prophylactics, both chloroquin and non-chloroquin containing. Start your course at least 24 hours before entering Namibia and continue taking the pills for six weeks after leaving the country. If you suffer from side effects, try taking your pills at night after dinner. Take precautionary measures to prevent contact with mosquitos, like: sleep under a bed net or in a room/tent with mosquito proofing (remember to keep the flaps zipped at all times); spray your accommodation with insecticide; make use of a mosquito-repelling lotion or stick; and wear long-sleeved clothing, trousers and socks when outside at night.
• Travellers should be aware that there is polio present in areas south of Windhoek. A tetanus immunisation is recommended. Bilharzia is present in the Kunene, Okavango and Kwando Rivers.
• We advise that you obtain medical insurance prior to arrival. Private health care standards in Namibia are high, with the best hospital being in Windhoek. All main towns have well-stocked pharmacies, but bring any medicines you may require with you.

Bank Hours
Banks in Nambia are generally open for business during the following hours but times may vary from area to area:
Mondays to Fridays – 09h00 to 15h30
Saturdays - 09h00 to 11h00

Fire-Arms
Hunting rifles need a permit, issued by customs when entering the country. Handguns are not allowed.

Public Transport
Rail and Bus
There is a reasonable rail network connecting most of the major towns, but trains are very slow.

Airports
Domestic air services operate between the major airports:
Eros Airport, Windhoek (ERS)
Rooikop Airport, Walvis Bay (WVB)
Swakopmund Airport (SWP)
Luderitz Airport (LUD)
Mpacha Airport (MPA)
There are a total of 135 runways in Nambia, of which only 22 are paved. Charter services can be arranged to reach remote areas, though this may be expensive.

Roads
There are 64799 km of highways in Namibia, of which 7841 km are paved (about 12%). 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 driving license. Driving is on the left hand side of the road.

The Weather
Namibia is an all year round ecological and wildlife destination. However, certain seasons are best for special interest groups:

• Best birding safaris are during the summer months because of the greater variety of species to be found.
• Best botanical months are December to May when the vegetation turns green, and also when most plants are in flower.

Namibia is becoming very popular as an all year round destination. Traditionally, peak season is from July to October and middle season is from May to June. Book well in advance during these times. Christmas and New Year is peak season for local holidaymakers.

What to Pack
Generally, casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year. 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 is recommended for summer. It is best to pack hardy, durable clothing.

Electrical Appliances
Electricity is generally supplied at 250 volts AC.

Shopping in Nambia

• An ekipa is a traditional medallion that is worn by the women of the Ovamban tribe as a status symbol. It is made of indigenous materials, including vegetable ivory and the fruit of the makalani palm and makes for a unique souvenir.
• One can purchase locally produced items at the roadside at very reasonable prices. There seems to be a large amount of mass-produced African curios, but one can find excellent woven mats and baskets, as well as the wooden airplanes and helicopters made in Kavanga.
• Gemstones and wool and leather products are of high quality and can often be made to order.
• In the north-east, San (Bushman) art can be purchased, including bows and arrows, leather pouches and jewellery made from ostrich egg beads, seeds and nuts.

DESERT EXPRESS TRAIN JOURNEY

• The Desert Express was built in Namibia, using the most modern technologies. Its uniquely shaped large windows include the traveller in the sense of freedom the country has come to epitomise. Desert Express sheer luxury is evident from the first step on board the train, offering an unforgettable experience through the world’s oldest desert. Each compartment has individually controlled air conditioning and heating as well as en suite facilities. Passengers have access to an elegant lounge, unique bistro bar and spacious restaurant that serves the best in Namibian cuisine. This journey en route to Windhoek has been carefully planned to take best advantage of Namibia’s dramatic sunsets and the lonely break of dawn across her endless landscapes.
• Please refer to the RAIL – DESERT EXPRESS section of this Website for detailed information.

WINDHOEK
Windhoek is the attractive capital of the country and is surrounded by mountains. Like other towns in Namibia, it has several examples of German colonial architecture, including the Christuskirche, the Alte Feste and the Tintenpalast (Ink Palace), the former colonial building.

SWAKOPMUND
The delightful little seaside resort of Swakopmund is situated in the middle of Namibia’s coastline, surrounded by desert and sea.

ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
The Etosha National Park is one of the most famous game sanctuaries in the world and remains largely free of human influence. Its 22270 sq km (8599 sq miles) are located in the north around the Etosha Pan. This depression is 1065m (3494ft) above sea level, forming a huge, salty hollow which is only occasionally filled with water and surrounded by grasslands and bush. There are vast stocks of wildlife, particularly elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, springboks, kudus, gemsboks or oryxes, hyenas, jackals, leopards and cheetahs. It is open throughout the year. There are well-equipped camps with comfortable rondavel accommodation and camping facilities.

E&OE

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