TravelComments.com country guide Namibia
tours» | flights» | rental cars» | accommodation» | travel insurance

quicklinks: Tours in Namibia | Etosha National Park | Swakopmund | Swakopmund Tours | Fish River Canyon | route suggestions | shop | travel itinerary planning | Overland Trips | Travel Highlights

Namibia gained its final independence in 1990 after a long struggle for freedom, which started already in the German colonial era between 1884 and 1915. The South African Union occupied so-called German South West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. From 1966 on the SWAPO (South West African People's Organisation) fought against the South African regime untill in 1988 the South Africans agreed to the UN Peace Plan.

some more tours can be found here!

Namibia is currently one of the fastest growing tourist market of Southern Africa. South Africa's neighbor is a selfdrive holiday paradise - vast landscapes, mountains, the desert (the Namib is acutally the second oldest desert in the world), the desert meeting the Atlantic Ocean, Etosha National Park and so much more!

Namibia - Order FREE Travel Brochure!  

© Sebastian Hermanns - All Rights Reserved - last modified 2010-02-10 1:43 PM

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 Bus - Intercape.co.za, one of South Africa's main transportation companies, is connecting the following stops in Namibia (from South to North):
Karasburg (from Springbok, SA) | Grünau (from Upington, SA) | Mariental | Rehoboth | Windhoek | Okahandja | Karibib | Usakos | Swakopmund | Otjiwarongo | Otavi | Tsumeb | Grootfontein | Rundu | Bangani | Kongola | Katima Mulio | Victoria Falls (Zim) | Livingstone (Zam)
Tickets can be obtained on Intercape.co.za or at their office in Windhoek (the only office in Namibia)

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 Lodge, outside Etosha National Park
We depart from Chameleon Backpackers Lodge, Windhoek 12h00 in winter (13h00 in summer). We stop briefly at Otjiwarongo then arrive at our lodge just before sunset outside the gates of Etosha National Park. Twin share rooms or permanent tents with en-suite bathroom facilities. Dinner is prepared by your guide and an early night is recommended. (D)
Day 2 Lodge, outside Etosha National Park
We depart from our lodge at sunrise to be the first at the gate to the park and game drive 'til mid morning when we will stop for a light breakfast. We visit many waterholes and drive half way across the park in our quest to find the big 4 as well as all the plains game arriving at Halali for a rest during the hottest part of the day. Here your guide will prepare you a delicious lunch whilst you have a dip in the pool or relax by the camp waterhole. Continuing after lunch you will visit the mighty Etosha Pan and have the experience of walking on the pan to feel the immenseness of this 4500 sq km saltpan (seasonal). We will then continue back to Okaukuejo calling into some well-known waterholes and leave the park prior to sunset. Twin share rooms or permanent tents with en-suite bathroom facilities. Dinner is prepared by your guide and another early night is recommended. (BLD)
Day 3 Windhoek
Early morning game drive (+ 3 hours) inside the park looking for predators as well as plains game and the many bird species found inside this incredible world-renowned park. Your guide will give you a light lunch en-route to Windhoek via the craft markets at Okahandja. Arrive in Windhoek late afternoon for your onward travel arrangements or to join the Sossusvlei Express, which departs at midday tomorrow. You will be dropped at your accommodation or airport transfers can be arranged by the office with advance notice. (BL)
Accommodation Provided:
- tented camp

 

South West African Highlights - 8 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.

Kumuka Worldwide African Adventures

Travel Links

Tourism in Namibia - official website | online News | Namibian newspaper - The Namibian | ATM/Branch Locator - FNB -Bank of Windhoek - Standard Bank | Namibian Airports | Cell Phone Coverage Maps - MTC - CellOne | Namibian Phone Directory | Namibian Yellow Pages I - Yellow Pages II | Nammusic - the Namibian music scene | Namibian Events Calendar I - Events Calendar II | Namibian Health matters | Info about Malaria & Immunsation | Malaria Map of Namibia | Namibian tidal, solar and lunar data | Webcams in Windhoek | Namibia Tourist maps | Namibian Map / Route Planner| Namibia Road Condition Report | Getting around in Namibia | Namibia Taxi Services | Namibian Camp Sites - Camp/Caravan Sites | sleepinginairports.com - Windhoek | Travel Advices - UK - USA - The Netherlands - France - Australia - Germany | Embassies in Namibia - UK - USA - France - Germany

 
Area
825.418 sq km
Capital
Windhoek
Currency
Namibian Dollar

Language
English (official), Afrikaans (Dictionary), German, Oshivambo,
Herero, Nama
Population
2,108,665 (July 2009 est.)
Ethnic Groups
Black 87.5%
White 6.0%
Mixed 6.5%
(about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: 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
Namibia at a glance

» Car Rental
» South Africa's Top 10 Attractions
» South Africa Specials
» Kruger National Park
» Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park &
surrounds

» Etosha National Park, Namibia
» South Africa
» Namibia
» Swaziland
» Botswana
» Mozambique
» Zimbabwe
» Lesotho

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps

World Heritage Sites in
Southern Africa

Southern Africa has currently 14 official UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique. Read more »»

Airport Shuttle
Hosea-Kutako International Airport <> Windhoek

+ Windhoek Airport Transfer & Tours - link
+ Elena Travel Services & Car Hire CC - link
+ Townhoppers - link
+ Dial-A-Driver - link

also see tra:guide flights

 

Additional 5% OFF coupon

 

medpex Versandapotheke
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

Quick links:

Bookmark and Share
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.
Namibia Map Gobabis Windhoek Botswana Map Solitaire Walvis Bay Keetmanshoop Swakopmund Karibib South Africa Map Sossusvlei Omaruru Namibia Map Otjiwarongo Khorixas Oshakati Rundu Otavi Zimbabwe Map Zambia Map Namib Rand Nature Reserve Gochas Namib Naukluft Park Mahango Game Reserve Caprivi Game Park Mudumu National Park