Namibia Travel Tips & Useful Info

You should seek medical advice from your local health practitioner before travelling to Namibia and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide Polio, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A & B and Tetanus is strongly recommended. Rabies is also recommended. A valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is also required if travelling into Namibia and from an infected country.

Do I need anti-malaria tablets for Namibia?

The tap water in Namibia is generally considered safe to drink, but as a precaution against stomach upsets you may want to drink bottled mineral water, which is readily available from shops, hotels and restaurants.

Thanks to the wide range of different cultures and ethnic groups in Namibia, the country’s cuisine is incredibly diverse and enjoys the many different influences with which it has been infused over the years. In general, the cuisine is very meat-centric, though there are vegetarian options, and involves a lot of maize-based accompaniments, such as mealie pap, a doughy maize paste.

Potjiekos are commonly found throughout Namibia and are made by throwing meat, vegetables and some seasoning into a huge pot and then leaving it to cook for a few hours. Braaivleis (barbecued meat) is also popular and is served with mealie pap, salad and veggie dishes. Having braai is quite a social event and allows people from the neighbourhood to congregate with plenty of good food and beer. While beef and chicken are commonly found on the barbecue, sausages and game such as antelope, oryx, kudu and even giraffe are all part of the Namibian diet as well.

If you’re looking for something a bit different in Namibia’s culinary scene, mopane worm are a delicacy and a great source of protein. Biltong, which is the dried meat of a springbok, gemsbok or kudu, is a favourite snack food and is usually washed down with a local brew such as Windhoek.

Safe eating while travelling in Namibia

Most people travelling to Namibia will do so in order to take part in a safari tour, on which tips for your ranger, tracker/driver and camp staff are generally expected. We recommend leaving USD $15 per day for the ranger and USD $10 for the tracker or driver. A few dollars per day should be allocated for the back of house staff, which includes housekeeping and kitchen staff. When in the cities, adding 10% to restaurant bills and rounding up taxi fares are nice gestures and will contribute significantly to the workers’ earnings.

A unique and lightweight souvenir to bring back from Namibia is a carved makelele nut. These usually have patterns engraved into them and can be customised with names and words if requested. They are inexpensive and easy to transport, making them excellent gifts. Another item worth buying is a Himba PVC bracelet, which often sports Africa patterns and is an authentic way to remember the country.

Driving along, travellers are bound to see local craftsmen selling wooden masks and sculptures at reasonably cheap prices. You might also find jewellery made from ostrich eggshells and other interesting trinkets. If you plan on purchasing diamonds or other gems, make sure you buy from a registered and legitimate seller and be sure to get a permit (if necessary) or you might have trouble bringing them home.

Is bargaining acceptable in Namibia?

If you are travelling on a safari tour, you are unlikely to encounter any problems other than those caused by wild animals but your ranger will make sure you are safe from these. If you are travelling independently, especially in the big cities, be sure to have your wits about you and avoid travelling alone at night as much as possible. The worst most women are likely to encounter is petty theft, which can be avoided by leaving your valuables in the hotel or concealing them on your person.

Travellers are permitted to bring the following into Namibia:

• 200 cigarettes and 20 cigars and 250g of tobacco
• 2L of wine and 1L of spirits
• 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette
• Gifts to the value of N$3,000

The following are banned from being imported into the country: narcotics, automatic weapons, military weapons, unnumbered weapons, toxic and poisonous substances.

Hunting rifles need a permit issued by customs when entering the country. Special authorisation is required for the import of endangered species. Plants or plant materials require a permit obtained in advance.

The official currency in Namibia is the Namibian Dollar, however, the South African Rand can also be used at an identical rate to the Namibian Dollar. Check OANDA for the latest exchange rates.

Euro, British Pounds, US Dollars and other major currencies can be exchanged locally or in advance of departure. Additionally, exchange facilities are available at various bureau de changes and banks in major towns have ATMs. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities.

Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees.

Please note that although South African Rand is used in Namibia, Namibian Dollars are NOT legal tender in South Africa so make sure you have used them or exchanged them before you leave Namibia.

Those travelling on safari tours will usually have all of their expenses covered in the package, however, those travelling through the cities will need to bear the following costs in mind. Accommodation is one of the more expensive factors to consider when visiting Namibia as mid-range hotels can cost anything from USD $50-100 per night. A decent meal in a restaurant will usually come to about USD $10 whereas street food will be significantly cheaper. Public transport is hard to come by in Namibia and most people opt to rent a car, which can be done for around USD $40-150 per day depending on whether or not you want a 4x4 (recommended).

Standard voltage is 220 - 230 volts., 50 Hz. Primary sockets generally require the three-round pin plugs that you get in South Africa. These can be quite tricky to locate in advance and Universal Travel Adaptors don't cater to this type of plug so be prepared to purchase one on arrival in South Africa or Namibia. You will need a voltage converter and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances.

Many of the lodges in Namibia will have a WiFi connection as will restaurants, cafes and hotels in the cities. Be aware that this connection might be much slower and less secure than what you are used to back home.

Namibia is 2 hours ahead of GMT. From the first Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April, Namibia observes daylight saving and is 1 hour ahead of GMT .