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Namibia Travel Tips
Visas
All travelers to Namibia are required to have passport which
is valid for six months after their intended departure from
Namibia. The following nationalities do not require a visa
for a stay of less than three months: South Africa, Angola,
Austria, Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Cuba, Canada,
France, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Japan,
Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Russia, Spain,
Switzerland, UK, USA, Mozambique, Macau, Malawi, Swaziland,
New Zealand, Portugal, Iceland, the Netherlands, Malaysia,
Singapore, Tanzania, the Scandinavian countries, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.
Electricity
The voltage in Namibia is 220-230 V, AC. Adapters are for
sale at most supermarkets.
Communication
Telephone:
International dialing code: +264
Public Phones, Cellular telephone services (European standard),
Internet, telex, facsimile and international data line facilities
are widely available throughout Namibia.
Local Time
Summertime is GMT + 2 from the first Sunday in September to
the first Sunday in April. Wintertime is GMT + 1, from the
first Sunday in April to the first Sunday in September.
Language
While the official language is English, most of the white
population in Namibia speaks Afrikaans or German, both official
languages until independence. Now languages include Herero,
Ovambo, Damara and Nama. People commonly speak two or three
languages and more than 50% of the population speaks Oshiwambo,
a language spoken by the largest indigenous grouping of people.
Currency
The Namibian Dollar is the local currency. 1 Namibian Dollar
(N$) = 100 cents. The Dollar is fixed to and equals the South
African Rand (ZAR) which is legal tender and is also accepted
throughout the country for payment Travelers' cheques and
credit cards are accepted at most hotels, rest camps and businesses.
Banking Hours
Banking hours are from Monday to Friday 09h00 to 15h30 and
Saturdays from 09h00 to 11h00.
Shopping hours
Shopping hours are from Monday to Friday 08h00 to 17h30 and
Saturdays from 08h00 to 13h00.
Transport
By Air
Visitors to Namibia can access the country via its main airport,
the Hosea Kutako International Airport which is situated 48
km east of the capital city of Windhoek. Eros Airport is situated
within the municipal boundaries of Windhoek and handles domestic
and regional flights and accommodates smaller aircraft. Regional
flights are also undertaken from Walvis Bay International
Airport.
By Road
Namibia's road network is well signposted and links the country
to Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Driving
is on the left hand side of the road. Visitors are required
to obtain an international driver's license prior to arriving
in Namibia. Petrol stations are located approximately 250
km apart in Namibia. Please note that petrol is only paid
with cash (N$/SAR) or a petrol card. Driving Safety: The majority
of roads in Namibia are gravel. Even though the roads are
generally well maintained, additional care needs to be taken
as traveling time is a lot longer than predicted. "Corrugated"
tracks, caused by speedy inexperienced driving. Every year
Namibian car rental companies report numerous accidents, most
of them roll-overs. Rescue and medical services are infrequent
and some roads only have a few vehicles travelling each day.
It is therefore essential that safe driving is adhered to.
Loose stones and or sand damage to the vehicle will be visible.
Certain remote areas of Namibia require a 4x4 vehicle, due
to the deep sand or extremely rocky and steep terrain.
By Rail
There is a reasonable rail network connecting most of the
major towns. However, trains are very slow. Trains from Windhoek
run to Keetmanshoop, Ariamsvlei, Tsumeb, Swakopmund and Walvis
Bay. By Bus - Luxury bus services connect Windhoek, Walvis
Bay, Swakopmund, Lüderitz and other major towns. Minibuses
operate along the B1 from Oshakati and Keetmanshoop, but will
only depart when full.
Food
Namibian cuisine is known for its use of game such as venison.
Seafood is available from the country's coastal region. Traditional
food includes porridge and soup made from cornmeal, millet
or cassava, supplemented by fish or meat stew, vegetables
and milk products. Wine is produced locally and beer made
from marula fruit and is a favourite during the marula harvest.
Water
Throughout Namibia tap water is purified and safe to drink,
except for isolated rural areas, where filtered or bottled
mineral water is recommended. When traveling by road ensure
you have adequate drinking water.
Safety
Namibia is a peaceful country and it is safe to travel throughout
the country. Just as a precaution it is recommended that visitors
adhere to basic safety tips: When traveling by road keep your
vehicle locked at all times. Visible articles in the car should
be placed out of sight. Lock valuables in a safe place. Be
aware of handbag snatchers or pick pockets.
Health
Adequate medical travel insurance is recommended, although
Namibia is a country which does not pose too many health risks.
Private health care standards in Namibia are high. Windhoek
has the best hospital in the country and all main towns have
well stocked pharmacies. However, some tourist regions are
in remote areas and it is therefore recommended that visitors
bring along any medication that is required during their stay.
Northern Namibia is a widespread Malaria area and travelers
should have all the necessary medical precautions. In addition,
visitors are advised to take pre-arrival precautions against
hepatitis A, polio and typhoid.
Vaccinations
Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers
over 1 year of age that have come from infected areas.
For more detail on these Namibia travel tips, or to find out about our tours of Namibia, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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