Namibia Travel Guide | Planning For Your Namibian Adventure

Why travel to Namibia?

Two words come to mind when I think about Namibia: WILD and ADVENTURE.
In Namibia, you will experience the true WILD. The country is a largely untamed landscape where hours can pass driving, on a dirt road, without seeing another soul, or any signs of civilization at all for that matter. Most of the time, it’s just you on a desolate road surrounded by breathtaking scenery, endless horizons, and an oryx or two. It is a transportive kind of place where your imagination will run away on you.

Traveling around Namibia feels much like one of those choose your ADVENTURE storybooks. There are seemingly endless sights to see and, for the most part, you are free to see and do it on your terms. You choose where you want to go, the route you’ll take there, what you want to see, and then… you decide what’s next. Namibia is a place that you actually EXPLORE and a trip where the journey is more rewarding than the destination.

What to see in Namibia

Wildlife

Namibia is a WILD country and in turn, provides numerous opportunities to experience the diverse wildlife of Africa.

• Etosha National Park – Namibia’s premier safari destination
• Khaudum National Park
• Okonjima – Home of The Africat Foundation
• Cheetah Eco Lodge – Operated by The Cheetah Conservation Fund
• Cape Cross Seal Reserve

In addition to the parks and preserves, driving cross-country will give you many opportunities to so see some of Africas most stunning animals in the wild. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a desert elephant!

Awesome Geology

Traveling through Namibia provides an opportunity to see the history of this rock we call Earth visually. The varied landscapes of mountains, dunes, planes, and canyons will have you questioning how they formed and inevitably lead you to learn something new about geology. Namibia makes amateur geologists of us all!

• The Hoba Meteorite – The largest known iron meteorite specimen on Earth
• The Petrified Forest 
• Brandberg – Namibia’s tallest mountain
• Brukkaros Mountain –  An extinct volcano
• Roter Kamm – 1.5-mile diameter meteorite crater
• Red Organ Pipes

History and Culture

Beyond the lure of the wild, Namibia also has several destinations of historical and cultural importance that will enhance your visit and provide a greater understanding of the countries history. 

• The prehistoric rock carvings of Twyfelfontein – Namibia’s first UNESCO site 
• Indigenous Himba tribes in Kaokoland
• Kolmanskop – Diamond mining ghost town swallowed by sand (Read More HERE)
• Swakopmund – Namibia’s little German town 
• Skeleton Coast National Park – Home to the remains of various shipwrecks just offshore

Star Gazing

Namibia’s low population density, very low air pollution and virtually non-existent light pollution are factors that combine to create the ideal place to view the night sky of the southern hemisphere. If you are a stargazer and are looking for the absolute best spot in Namibia to see the night sky, the Gamsberg is the place to go.

The Gamsberg is a high flat top mountain in central Namibia. Its summit is the third highest in the country and provides unobstructed evening horizons, ideal for stargazing.

When to visit Namiba?

Namibia’s peak travel season begins in May and goes through October. 

These months comprise Namibia’s dry season and coincide with winter in the southern hemisphere. During this time, there is a limited chance of rain, and unless you venture to the foggy coast, you can expect almost uninterrupted sunshine. Temperatures are moderate in the daytime, but the evenings and early mornings do get very cold.

This season is prime time for viewing the wildlife. In the dry season, grasses and vegetation be receding (drying out), making it much easier to spot animals in the open. Additionally, many of the open water sources will be drying up as well, giving the wildlife no other option but to congregate together at the more permanent waterholes.

Travel in Namibia

The best way to explore Namibia is behind the wheel of your own vehicle. Rent one and drive yourself! Namibia is a road trip kind of place where the best way to access the prime destinations is with your own set of wheels. Should you choose to visit, your experience will be a contender for the title of the greatest road trip ever. (I promise!)

But what about group tours? Sure there are group overland tours available to see the country, but that experience is incomparable with doing it yourself. One of the consistent complaints about group tours is: you aren’t in control of your own time. Organized tours operate on a predefined schedule. Their objective is to deliver on all the destinations they promised to their clients. Often, there are places where you might want to stay a little longer or make an unplanned stop to examine an intriguing roadside feature or even choose to take a detour at the suggestion of a local; to visit something off the road less traveled. We found Namibia to be full of situations like these and more, which would’ve made a group tour frustrating and far less satisfying.

The idea of an overseas road trip may seem daunting and full of untold challenges. And it is! This kind of journey is not easy. There are days we wondered what we were thinking. That’s the beauty behind doing it, though, and in the end, you’ll be wishing it wouldn’t end.

What to expect on the road trip?

Namibia is a vast and sprawling country with scant densely populated areas and much wilderness. The distances from place to place are considerable and will take hours of drive time. Portions of a day’s drive can pass without seeing a single another vehicle.

There are a few instances where you’ll find yourself on paved roads, but for the most part, you’ll be on dirt/gravel roads in very remote areas. In Namibia, it’s estimated less than 15% of all roads are paved. Entire cross country routes are dirt roads. Welcome to wild Namibia!

Mornings usually start early with the sunrise. After seeing one, you’ll probably want to view them all. After sunrise, it’s on to packing up your room and/or campsite and get some breakfast. Some campgrounds have small restaurants to get breakfast, and you count on all the luxury lodges to provide breakfast with your stay. Breakfast is a perfect time to revisit your travel plan for the day, review your route, and identify the rest stops along the way. Choose your path wisely and make sure that to cross through at least one area that has a petrol station. It’s also a good idea to give your next planned destination a call to ensure they’ll space available for you to stay.

Now its time to hit the road! Most of your day is spent bouncing and rumbling around in your vehicle as you roll cross-country through Namibia’s rugged and barren terrain. You’ll almost certainly make a few stops to take in the surreal landscapes or to appreciate the passing wildlife. Every day the drive provides something new and extraordinary to see.

As mentioned earlier, there are very few rest stops you’ll come across. The general rule of thumb is to never pass one without topping off your gas tank. Even if it is only a quarter tank of fuel – do it!

These stops are also an excellent time to load up on snacks for the drive. There are practically no fast-food restaurants in Namibia. Finding something quick to eat on the road will be nearly impossible. During our road trip, lunches mostly consisted of cheese, crackers, and biltong [link]. It is also a good idea to have something to keep food and drinks cold, such as an insulated bag or cooler.

As sundown approaches, it’s essential to be close to or at your destination for the day. It is best to do all your driving while the sun is up. Arriving at your destination before sunset also guarantees you’ll be able to enjoy a refreshing sundowner as you unwind from a long day on the road.

What to drive?

Ideally, a 4×4 vehicle is best, and to get back to some locations, it is necessary. Having a four-wheel drive provides the peace of mind that you’ll be able to get yourself out of a hairy situation if needed. 

With that said, you do not need a 4×4. We covered a lot of kilometers in a Ford Fiesta, basically a small compact car. The drive was slow going, though. The whole time, I was dodging rocks in the road and taking it easy over the badly wash boarded segments. 

When we got out to the Namid desert areas, though, we did upgrade our vehicle to a 4×4. Without it, we would have never made it through the dunes in certain areas of Sossusvlei. This is true for the coastal areas as well. I strongly urge against entering the dunes without a four-wheel drive.

Lodging and Accommodation

In the more populated cities such as Windhoek and Swakopmund, there is a range of hotels, BnBs, and hostels.

Resorts and luxury lodges are found scattered about some remote areas of the country that combine the quality of high luxury comforts in a remote and wild setting. If you want a romantic retreat, your partner, I would suggest staying at one of these for a few nights.

Aside from the conventional lodging options, campgrounds are everywhere and a popular choice for cross country travelers. All the major park areas and popular destinations will have camping options nearby. Every campground we encountered was of excellent quality and provided more amenities than campgrounds in the United States. Campsites will kempt sectioned off areas that usually include a picnic table, fire ring, grilling rack, electricity, freshwater spigot, and ablutions (essentially shower/restroom facilities and a place to prepare food). Some campgrounds will have small restaurants for their guests. However, not all do. In every case, we encountered, If there were no restaurant at the campground, then, at the very least, there was a mini-mart either on site or nearby where we could buy food.

From our experience, the best and easiest way to camp through Namibia is to rent a 4×4 vehicle with a tent mounted on top. Setup and teardown of the tents are straightforward, and it is much more pleasant to sleep up off the ground. You can rent a vehicle fully equipped with all you’ll need in Windhoek; HERE is one rental company whose vehicles we saw quite often.

By no means do you have to do this, though. On our trip, we slept on the ground in a small backpacker tent. We were envious though of all the people we saw sleeping up off the ground. At the very minimum, you’ll need a tent, ground pad, and sleeping bag.

General Namibia Travel Info

The Climate and Weather

Namibia has a desert climate. You can expect hot and dry days. In the mid-day, the direct sunlight and heat is oppressive – make sure you prepare for it!

Similar to other desert climates, the evenings tend to be much colder than the days. Generally, temperatures can fluctuate by as much as twenty degrees Fahrenheit.

Since Namibia is south of the equator, their summer months are November through April. The summer season is also the rainy season, but rainfall is sparse and erratic. By no means is it is like a rainy season in Thailand.

The Tropic of Capricorn passes right through Namibia, meaning the country does not experience significant seasonal temperature changes. The ‘winter’ months from May through October are not cold but rather ‘not so hot.’ The evenings during this time, however, do get cold, with temperatures falling in the 40’s (Fahrenheit).  

Population and Density

As of 2019, Namibia’s population is estimated to be 2.5 million people. 

One of the features that make Namibia such a unique place is there exceptionally low population density. Namibia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world! The country ranks 226th worldwide for population density; this works out to around just eight people per square mile.  

The only sovereign country that is less densely populated… Mongolia, having five people per square mile.

Talking to the Locals

Namibia has thirteen recognized national languages. Ten of these are indigenous African languages, and three are Indo-European languages: Afrikaans, German, and English.

You’ll find English is spoken universally, making it very easy to get around.

On a side note, all the locals we met in Namibia were friendly and kind people. They were more than eager to help if needed, offer suggestions when possible, and provide directions when asked.

Currency & Money 

Merchants will accept Namibian Dollars and South African Rand throughout the country. The value of the Namibian Dollar is directly tied to the Rand, making it a straight one to one conversion. It’s common to receive a combination of Rand and Namibian Dollars as change. 

Note – South Africa ONLY accepts Rand! So, if you’re driving between the two countries, make sure you spend all your Namibian Dollars before crossing into South Africa. If not, you’ll be stuck with them.

You can check the current conversion rate for U.S. dollars to Namibian dollars HERE.

Credit, Debit (ATM), and Cash

In the more populated areas of the country, we found most places will accept credit cards for payment; this includes petrol (gas) stations.

ATM’s are relatively easy to find in town but become scarce when traveling from one place to another. Petrol stations will usually have an ATM, but there’s no guarantee it will have cash. It’s essential always to make sure you have enough cash on hand before leaving the more populated cities. 

As with any country we’ve visited in Africa, cash is still king. When you get out in the more remote areas of the country, it’s more common to come across places either that do not accept credit cards or are not able to; because of poor internet connection.

Our recommendation: be prepared with enough cash to fill your fuel tank plus a little extra for the unknown.

Cellular Service and Sim Cards

Purchasing cellular data and phone service in Namibia is quite easy. There two leading cellular service providers to be aware of; MTC and T.N. Mobile. MTC is the preferred choice between the two because they provide the broadest area of coverage.

Sim cards are available through kiosks located in the airport, supermarkets and even some petrol stations have them. After getting a sim card, the same kiosk is used to purchase service voice and data service. These kiosks can be a little confusing the first time using them. If you get stuck, ask for help. There is usually someone around that can walk you through it.

As far as coverage and quality of service goes, I found a couple of sites that raved about the speed and coverage they had while traveling around Namibia; we did not have that same experience. We encountered several instances where we had limited to no signal, and when we did, 3G was as good as it got. For this reason, we always made sure to download any maps we were using navigation before getting too far out in the boonies.

Power Plugs

Namibia’s electrical plugs output 220 V at 50 Hz. They plug types you want to have a converter for are Type D and Type M.

Do you need an International Driving Permit for Namibia?

You do not NEED an International permit to drive in Namibia; however it is suggested. International driving permits are easy to get and makes you look like a far more prepared and conscious traveler if you were to be pulled over.

Visas

U.S. passport holders have visa exemption status for Namibia. Therefore U.S. passport holders are not required to apply for a visa before arrival and are granted a 90-Day tourist visa and at no charge on arrival. Travelers should ensure their passport is valid for at least six months after entering the country. Also, there should be at least six blank visa pages for entry and exit stamps.

Have a look HERE for additional visa information.

Safety in Namibia

Is Namibia safe? This question is always one that everyone has when it comes to travel in Africa. Yes, Namibia is safe for travelers and is considered one of the safest countries in Africa. 

However, this does not mean that travelers should throw all caution to the wind.

The most common crime in Namibia is theft. Leaving all your belongings in an unlocked car for anyone walking by to see is not a good idea and will make you a target. To help prevent this type of theft, in nearly all parking areas, you’ll find an enterprising young individual who will offer to watch your car for you in exchange for a small tip. Don’t worry, this I.S. normal, and these guys really will watch out for your stuff. At first, we didn’t quite get the system, but after we did, we always sought out parking lots with someone present, typically wearing an orange vest, to watch the vehicles.

Going out and walking after dark, in cities such as Windhoek, is also something that should you should avoid. Calling a cab is easy and cheap. There is no sense putting yourself at risk of being robbed walking back to your hotel or hostel in the dark. A bit of common sense goes a long way!

The only real safety concern that we found was on the road. People in Namibia drive fast. When you combine high rates of speed, rolling dirt roads, and sun glare accidents can and do happen. Due to the high rates of speed and remote areas in Namibia, these accidents are often fatal. Drivers must be aware of their surroundings 100% of the time and be sure to stay on their side of the road. 

Besides accidents involving other vehicles, drivers must also be conscious of the road they are driving on. A sharp rock at high speed or a deep pothole in the road can cause a flat tire in an instant. If you aren’t paying attention in that instant, it’s possible to lose control of the vehicle. 

The final safety concern to discuss has to do with stranded people and hitchhikers. All the locals we met strongly advised against picking up any hitchhikers. They also urged against stopping to help someone who looked suspiciously stranded on the side of the road. It can and will be hard to pass someone by who looks desperate for help on the side of the road many miles from civilization, all I can say is exercise extreme caution in these situations and factor in all that you have to lose if you were to walk into a trap. 

Don’t be a victim! Practice good situational awareness, and you will be safe.

Have a WILD Journey!

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