LOSS OF ARTICLES

Please note that we cannot accept any responsibility for the misplacement of any articles whilst on your travels.  Naturally, we will endeavour to reunite you with your misplaced items. However, logistics may not be favourable for the returning of articles unless you are prepared to pay for the cost to get your goods back to you.  Any costs incurred in this process will be for your own account.

This issue is possibly the single biggest form of stress for guests who have left their goods behind somewhere enroute and who are not prepared to pay for the costs to be reunited with their possessions. So please make sure that you keep all your goods with you.

INSURANCE

Namibia Tracks & Trails, or its agents and associates cannot be held responsible or liable for loss, damage, or theft of personal luggage and belongings, nor can they be held liable for personal injury, accident, or illness. Please ensure that you have yourself and your belongings adequately insured before your departure.

Insurance is compulsory for all our trips. Please contact your broker or your travel agent or us for details. We cannot be held liable for any losses or damages incurred.

Health Insurance

Before you travel anywhere it is advisable to have fully comprehensive medical and accident insurance, which covers you while you are away for everything, including emergency evacuation and repatriation.

Cancellation Insurance

You might have to cancel your safari due to unforeseen circumstances.  If you cancel a trip close to the departure date for any reason, you will lose all that the safari was going to cost you. Dependent on the reason, cancellation insurance should cover you for this eventuality.

Baggage Insurance

Airline liabilities with respect to your baggage is limited.  It is advisable to take out insurance if you are carrying expensive and valuable camera equipment.  You should always carry such equipment as ‘carry-on’ luggage. Do not put anything of value in your checked baggage!

  Claims

If you anticipate an insurance claim upon your return, be sure to document as accurately as possible any accident, injury, or loss. Doctors’ notes and police reports will aid any claim.

  PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

The dates of certain public holidays change from year to year – refer below.  If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, then the Monday is also declared a public holiday. During this time, most shops are closed or only some grocery shops are open for limited hours.  We recommend you avoid staying in the cities over long weekends or public holidays.

01 January             New Year’s Day

21 March               Independence Day

Varies                     Good Friday

Varies                     Easter Monday

01 May                   Worker’s Day

04 May                   Cassinga Day

Varies                     Ascension Day

25 May                   Africa Day

26 August              Heroes’ Day

10 December        International Human Rights Day

25 December        Christmas Day

26 December        Boxing Day

SHOPPING

In the major centres, such as Windhoek and Swakopmund, many shops specialize in attractive local products such as diamonds, semi-precious stones, curios of all types including dolls dressed in the traditional Herero style (made by the local Herero woman), hand-carved wooden objects, beautifully fashioned jewellery, leather shoes, karosses rugs and popular woven Swakara garments.   Shops are closed on Saturday- and Sunday afternoons, as well as all public holidays, with only a select few open on a Sunday morning.

TAX

All goods and services in Namibia are priced to include value added tax (VAT) of 15%.

Visitors to Namibia may reclaim VAT on their purchases at the Hosea Kutako International Airport, Eros Airport and Walvis Bay Airport. Further enquiries can be made through the Ministry of Finance - Telephone: +264 61 209 2405, Fax: +264 61 209 2001

A 30% luxury items tax is subtracted from the cost of such luxury items as jewellery or Swakara garments when tourists present their passport and air ticket at the time of purchase.

DUTY FREE

Please note that there is no duty-free shopping available at Johannesburg International Airport on flights to Namibia.   Please make sure any duty-free purchases of film, alcohol, etc. are made before arriving in southern Africa.

CHECK-IN/OUT TIMES

Hotels in the Namibia towns and cities generally have a check in time of 14h00 and a check out time of 10h00, though many lodges and hotels will try to be accommodating and flexible if they are not too fully booked the preceding night.  Otherwise, we recommend you book a day room in advance to secure a longer stay in your room.

LOST LUGGAGE

Luggage that goes missing on scheduled flights is beyond the control of Namibia Tracks & Trails, and/or the airline concerned.   The airport controls what happens to passengers’ luggage from when it is checked in/out until it is put on/taken off the aircraft.

We suggest that you take the following precautionary action: pack a small bag with your essentials including any life sustaining medication, which can be carried with you as hand luggage. If your luggage goes missing, you will still have your essential items on hand to see you through the first couple of days while we try and recover your lost baggage.

LANGUAGE

The official language is English. German and Afrikaans are also widely used and there are numerous African languages and dialects which fall into two main groups, namely Bantu and Khoisan.   German is spoken widely in Swakopmund.

PACKING SUGGESTIONS

We hereby provide a list of suggested items which should be used as a guideline whilst planning your trip. Please bear in mind the luggage restrictions of 12kg (in a soft bag) on some light aircraft transfers and 20kg on scheduled airline flights - please refer to the luggage restriction notes in the pre tour information sheets for more specifics.

    Equipment/Other: