Travel Wild - Best of Namibia, HS Rack Rate

Namibia is a vast country in the South-Western part of Southern Africa. It is dominated by the desolate Atlantic coastline, the ancient Namib Desert, an extensive inland plateau, and stunning inland mountain ranges.

By its very definition, Namibian safaris are off the beaten track. With a surface area that is four times the size of the UK and just over two and a half million people, Namibia has the second lowest population density on Earth after Mongolia.

The Namibian landscape varies from vast expanses of desert and sand dunes to rock formations in the south, contrasting starkly to the savanna and woodlands of the central regions, and the lushly forested scenery of the northeast. This massive variety means a real treat for nature enthusiasts. The Brandberg Mountain in the southern Kunene Region is 2,579 metres tall and is Namibia’s highest mountain, while the Fish River Canyon in the far south is the second largest canyon on earth.

Namibia is also home to the 8th largest protected area in the world, and the largest underground lake in the world, as well as two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Vitally importantly, Namibia was the first country on Earth to enshrine nature conservation in its constitution.

Namibia is a melting pot of cultures and peoples, with 28 languages spoken, English being the national language. Namibia is a safe destination with a wide network of roads which are well maintained and demarcated – with a wide variety of lodges to suit every pocket. Hence, a holiday in Namibia is a fantastic opportunity for self-drive, but is also a destination catering to every taste.

Namibia is bordered by South Africa in the south, Angola and Zambia in the north, and Botswana and Zimbabwe in the east. The western border of Namibia comprises 1,300km of seemingly desolate coastline, from the Orange River in the south to the Kunene River in the north. The Namib Desert, meaning “vast place” in the local Nama language, is where the country takes its name and is the oldest desert in the world, with some of the highest sand dunes. For some this is the main highlight of their Namibian tour.

The Namibian currency is linked 1:1 with the South African Rand. Each dollar is divided into 100 cents. The South Africa Rand is interchangeable with the Namibia dollar in Namibia and all Rand notes and coins are accepted. However, the Namibia dollar is not accepted in South Africa! Namibian dollars are difficult to get hold of outside the country and it is easier to purchase cash in South African Rand before travelling. US$ can be easily exchanged in Windhoek and Swakopmund, as can Euro and Pounds. Most accommodation establishments accept credit cards, mainly Visa or Mastercard. Fuel can also be purchased with credit cards at most stations. In the more remote areas, credit card payment systems may struggle to connect to the internet so you should have some cash handy just in case.

We recommend a 4x4 for travelling around Namibia, unless you are only sticking to tar roads (for instance between Windhoek and Swakopmund). A sedan car can be driven on the gravel roads, but we really don't recommend that due to the low ground clearance and narrow tyre profile. 

Namibia is left-hand drive and all the signposts are in English. Seat belts must be worn at all times. The national speed limit is 120km/hr on tarred roads outside of towns and 100km/hr on gravel roads, although we recommend driving no more than 80km/hr on gravel. In urban areas the speed limit is 60km/hr. Speeding fines are large and all hire vehicles have a tracker in them, so please make sure you stick to the limits!

Namibia has excellent pharmacies in all towns, and the lodges also stock First Aid boxes to deal with the most common ailments. It's always a good idea to pack your own small First Aid kit with plasters, rehydrate sachets, basic pain killers, and antiseptic cream, as well as any personal medication. 

In case of emergency, Namibia’s major private hospitals are of a good standard with clean and safe facilities. However, some serious medical cases will be evacuated by air to South Africa where further facilities are available. You must make sure that comprehensive travel insurance is taken out before you travel, this insurance should cover any medical expenses, air evacuation and repatriation if necessary. It must also cover delay, curtailment, or cancellation of your holiday or any associated flights. 

The north of Namibia (Etosha National Park and the Zambezi Region) is classed as a medium risk malaria area. The remainder of the country poses practically no risk. Your doctor can advise you on the best type of prophylaxis for the area of travel and your personal requirements. However, taking prophylaxis will not guarantee that you will not contract malaria! The best way to avoid malaria is to avoid being bitten by the mosquitoes that carry the parasite. Only the females of one species of mosquito (Anopheles) carry the tiny parasite, and the greatest incidence of malaria is in areas of high population where there are many people for the mosquito to bite and pass the parasite between.

Mosquitoes usually bite between sunset and sunrise, so make sure that you are covered up during this time! Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and trousers, use a good insect repellent and sleep underneath a mosquito net or in a tent/ room sealed with netting. If you do develop flu-like symptoms, or feel at all unwell, during your holiday or after your return home, you must make sure that your doctor knows that you have recently travelled in a malaria area. Malaria is not a serious problem provided people take adequate precautions and seek advice and treatment immediately if they feel unwell.

This region is very safe for travellers and the people are generally very friendly and welcoming as they rely heavily on tourism for foreign revenue.  However, all countries in the world have a degree of crime and it is always better to be cautious. 

Avoid walking around towns and cities after dark, and even during the day make sure that you do not display your camera, money belt and day-bag obviously.  Preferably don’t walk alone in quieter ‘off the beaten track’ areas.  Do not leave valuables in your vehicle unless one of your party stays with the car, and keep luggage as hidden as possible.  Always listen to local advice in this regard.  If the room you are staying in has a safe, use it!  If not then take all valuables with you when you leave your room.  Always keep your credit cards in sight when making payments.  Don’t be distracted by someone trying to sell curios at one side of the car, another person may be trying to open the car from the other side to steal belongings.

It is worth remembering that you will be carrying clothes, camera equipment and luggage that would cost most people in Southern Africa several year’s wages to purchase.  Hence, it is best not to tempt people who may not have very much. 

Namibian food is very meat-oriented, but thankfully the lodges also cater very well for vegetarians, vegans, and travellers with other specific dietary requirements. Some fresh fruit and vegetables are grown here, with the rest mainly being imported from South Africa. Game meat is of very good quality and is a much more sustainable choice than beef. Swakopmund restaurants serve excellent fish and seafood with fresh Kabeljou or Kingklip being popular choices. Namibia's oysters are world-renowned and grow quickly due to the nutrient-rich Benguela Current. 

The water is safe to drink throughout the majority of Namibia. When visiting the remote areas purification tablets should be used, or bottled mineral water bought en route. Plenty of water must be drunk to prevent dehydration. We recommend 2-3 litres minimum, excluding beverages such as tea, coffee, juice, and alcohol. Dehydration is responsible for many emergency evacuations and can cause very serious problems, it is totally avoidable, so don’t let this spoil your holiday!

• Rainy season: Late October to late March. Rainfall does not usually occur every day, and generally takes place in the afternoon with mornings being fairly clear.
• Summer: November to March with a usual high of 40° C and a low of 17° C.
• Winter: June to September with a usual high of 18° C and a low of 5° C.

Season Summer rainy season (November to March)

Pros: Quieter tourism period, lush green landscape, fantastic migrating birds, beautiful sunsets, and stunning views of electrical storms.
Cons: Wildlife is more spread out, very warm temperatures, activities or transport may sometimes be interrupted by rain.

Season Winter dry season (June to September)

Pros: Higher chances of excellent game viewing, cooler, few mosquitoes in the north.
Cons: Busiest tourism period, cold mornings and evenings, drier environment.

Our personal preference would be for either March-May or early November as these times are neither too hot nor too cool, and the accommodation establishments are generally quieter. At both times of year the wildlife is usually very exciting and the heat is not extreme. The coastal weather is unpredictable, and this area is blanketed with fog for up to 9 months of the year! However, during summer this can provide a welcome respite from the desert heat.

Neutral, muted colours such as khaki, dark green, or beige ensure as little disturbance to wildlife as possible whilst on game drives or walks. White or bright colours are not advised, and army camouflage uniforms or army hats are not recommended.

Neutral coloured casual clothing (shorts/shirts) for everyday wear, stout shoes (with soles thick enough to protect against thorns when walking), a light waterproof jacket for summer, warm jumper/ fleece for winter, warm long trousers for winter, two sets of good casual clothes for evening dining where appropriate (nothing too smart), towel for campers, broad brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, plenty of memory cards & spare battery, binoculars, reliable torch, sleeping bag if camping. It is also worth noting that if you are travelling by light aircraft or as part of a guided safari, you should carry no more than 15kg of luggage in a soft bag for ease of packing.

In Namibia the majority of power plugs and sockets are of type M (3 round pins). The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. You should bring a travel adaptor as not all lodges will provide them.

The long, narrow Namib desert, from which the country derives its’ name, stretches 2,000km from the Oliphants River in South Africa to San Nicolau in Angola. Hence, the entire coastal strip of Namibia falls within the realms of the Namib Desert.

The climate is arid with a usually brief rainy season between October and March. The desert days are extremely hot with summer temperatures reaching into the 40’s centigrade and sometimes higher. Nights are, conversely, very cold, and warm clothes are needed in the early morning during your Namibian holidays. A major factor in the shaping of Namibia’s environment, flora and fauna has been the cold Benguela current which flows south to north off the coast, up from the Antarctic.

The cold waters reach the coastline and meet warm, offshore winds to create a fog belt which condenses on land. This moisture sustains many varied and fascinating species of plant and animal, including the toktokkie beetle which has an interesting method of gathering the water from the condensing fog. The beetle stands with its’ behind raised in the air and waits for the fog droplets to condense on its carapace and flow into its mouth! Such unusual forms of plant and insect life form the basis of a surprisingly rich and varied desert food chain.

The mountainous red dunes of the coastal desert give way to gravel plains as the altitude rises inland. The width of the coastal plain varies; in Luderitz it is almost 300km wide whereas it is almost none-existent in the northern Kaokoveld area where the mountains reach almost to the sea. The Namib itself is criss-crossed by many dry riverbeds leading the way from the mountainous highlands to the coast, most of these rarely carry water, although some will flood briefly in years of high rainfall.