TravelComments.com - Backpacker Guide through Southern Africa - Namibia, Windhoek, Swakopmund, Etosha, safaris, overland tours

How to get around in Namibia?

By Car - Getting around Namibia by car is defo the most convenient way of exploring the country. Rental cars (sedan, 4x4 camper etc.) are available at the airport and Windhoek city centre, as well as some other major centres. The roads in Namibia are generally well maintained but away from the main highways surfaces are gravel or dirt, not tarmac. There are roughly 65.000km of road, of which 8.000km are tarred. Although traffic is very light, people and animals sometimes walk in the road; driving after dark can be particularly dangerous. When entering Namibia with a car not registered in Namibia you have to pay so called "Cross Border Charges". The CBC is a compulsory flat fee payable each time a foreign registered vehicle is entering Namibia. Make sure that you are not losing the "proof of payment" as you have to present it if, eg the police, is stopping you.

By Train - TransNamib StarLine is Namibia's passenger service. The passenger trains (most trains run overnight ) are running on the following routes:
Windhoek -Tsumeb - Windhoek (via Otjiwarongo) | Windhoek - Gobabis - Windhoek | Walvis Bay - Tsumeb - Walvis Bay (via Swakopmund, Otjiwarongo) | Windhoek - Walvis Bay - Windhoek (via Swakopmund) | Windhoek - Upingtion (SA) - Windhoek (via Keetmanshoop)
Tickets can be obtained at any open station in Namibia. First- and second-class carriages are available and light refreshments are offered on some services. On overnight voyages, seats in first-class compartments convert to four couchettes and those in second class to six couchettes.

3 Day Etosha Express

Duration: 3 Days
Location: Namibia
Start: Windhoek
End: Windhoek
Visits: Etosha National Park

TOUR DETAILS
Day 1: Windhoek - Etosha Park
Each tour participant will be picked up from their accommodation in Windhoek at 13.00 (or 12.00 during winter). We then travel north and briefly break in Otiwarongo prior to arriving at our lodge outside of the gates of Etosha National Park just before sunset. Participants will stay in shared twin rooms or permanent tents equipped with en-suite bathroom facilities. Dinner is prepared by your guide and we recommend making it an early night.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: A lodge near Etosha
Day 2: Etosha Park
We have an early sunrise departure from our lodge to be the first group at Etosha's gate and game drive until mid morning when we will stop and have a light breakfast. We will drive halfway across the park stopping at numerous waterholes and driving through the plains as we search for the Big 4, arriving at Halali for a respite during the hottest part of the day. At Halali your guide will prepare a tasty lunch while participants can relax by the waterhole or take a swim in the pool. After lunch we will continue on to the impressive Etosha Pan and walk on the pan and realize the vastness of this 4500 sq km saltpan (seasonal). We will then return to Okaukuejo, stopping at some well-known waterholes and depart the park before sunset. Participants will stay in shared twin rooms or permanent tents equipped with en-suite bathroom facilities. Dinner is prepared by your guide and we again recommend making it an early night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: A lodge near Etosha
Day 3: Etosha Park - Windhoek
We will enter Etosha National Park for another early morning game drive (+ 3 hours) and search for predators, plains game and the various species of birds found within the magnificent and distinguished park. Your guide will provide you with a light lunch at the craft markets at Okahandja on the way to Windhoek. We will arrive in the capital in the late afternoon where you can enjoy the city or have the option to join the Sossusvlei Express which departs at midday on the following day. Each participant will be dropped at their accommodation and airport transfers can be arranged, however advanced notice is necessary.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

South West African Highlights - 9 days

Start: Cape Town End: Windhoek
Start your holiday in Cape Town, one of the world's greatest cities. Travel north through the wine growing areas to the drier Karoo. Perhaps try a gentle canoe trip on the Orange River before marveling at the vastness of the Fish River Canyon. Next are the world's oldest sand dunes, use your time to climb Dune 45 for a once in a lifetime sunrise. Continue through the Namib Desert to Swakopmund before finishing your tour in Windhoek, Namibia's modern capital.

more tours & activities in Namibia - Northern Tours, Southern tours, Etosha National Park, Fish River Canyon, Skydiving, Quadbiking, Sandboarding ...

Accommodation in Namibia

Like neighboring Botswana, Namibia is not targeting on the budget traveller. But over the years a couple of backpackers got established in the country, mainly in Windhoek & Swakopmund. Windhoek is offering the traveller a good and wide selection of B&Bs, lodges and campsites throughout the country.

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Namibia at a glance

Weather
The most arid region of Namibia is the Central Namib, where summer daytime temperatures may reach over 40°C and can fall to below freezing during the night. Rainfall is heaviest in the north-east of the country. The northern and interior regions experience two rainy seasons - the "little" rainfalls between October and Novmber and the "heavy" rainfalls from January to April.
Malaria in Namibia:
prophylaxis is recommended for the provinces of Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and the Caprivi Strip. Transmission occurs from November through June. Shop-Apotheke.com
Area: 824,292 km²
Capital: Windhoek
Currency: Namibian Dollar
Languages: English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages 1% (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama)
Population: 2,108,665
Ethnic groups: black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%
note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups include Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m | highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 15.3% (2007 est.)
Electricity: 220V - 50hz
plugs: round pins with ground - click here
Buy your adapter now - USA | UK | Germany
Internet country code: -.na