Namibia, Angola & Zimbabwe Adventure

Located in southwestern Africa, Namibia boasts a well-developed infrastructure, some of the best tourist facilities in Africa, and an impressive list of breathtaking natural wonders. Visitors can explore the capital of Windhoek and discover the lovely coastal town of Swakopmund boasting remnants of the country’s German influence, reflected in the architecture, culture, cuisine and the annual Oktoberfest celebrations. To properly appreciate this extraordinary country, you will have to venture out of the cities to explore the remarkable natural landscapes Namibia has to offer. These include: the impressive Fish River Canyon; the vast Etosha National Park teeming with abundant wildlife, such as lions, desert-adapted elephants and the Hartmann's Mountain Zebra; the hauntingly beautiful Kalahari Desert; and of course the Namib Desert stretching for over 2000 km along the magnificent Atlantic Coast. Namibia is an ideal destination for travellers seeking an unforgettable African experience in a uniquely beautiful untamed wilderness.

Currency 
Local currency: Namibian Dollar 
Symbol: N$ 
ISO code: NAD 
Subunit: Cent (1/100 of a Dollar) 
Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 NAD 
Coins: 5, 10, 50 cents, 1, 5, 10 NAD 

Banking 
Card Transactions: Widely accepted 
ATMs: Yes 
Mastercard: Yes 
Visa: Yes 
American Express: Yes 
Diner’s Club: Yes 

Banking Hours:
Weekdays: 08:30 – 15:30, Saturdays: 08:30 – 11:00
Public Holidays: No
Foreign exchange services: Yes

Air: 
Main airlines: Airlink, Fly Namibia
International Airports: Hosea Kutako International Airport 
Domestic Airports: Eros Airport 

Road: 
Driving on the: Left 
Tar roads: Yes 
Gravel roads: Yes 
Valid International Driver's License needed: Yes 
Car hire available: Yes 
Taxis: Yes 
E-hailing services: Yes 

Bus: 
Inter-city bus services: Yes 
Local city bus networks: Yes 

Rail: 
Railway system: Yes 
Subway System: No 

Water: 
Ferries: No 
Water taxis: No 
Leisure cruises: Yes

Food and water safety: 
Can you drink the tap water: Yes 
Fresh fruit and veg: Yes 
Ice: Yes 
Meat: Yes 
Street food: Yes 

Local cuisine: 
Namibian cuisine features a rich blend of German and South African influences, with a focus on grilled meats and fish. Dishes like Biltong (dried, spiced meat), Kapana (grilled meat from street vendors), and Potjiekos (slow-cooked meat and vegetable stew) are popular. Seafood is also abundant along the coast. 

Drinks: 
Popular local drinks include Windhoek Lager and Tafel Lager, locally brewed beers. 

Tipping: customary, usually around 10-15% in restaurants. 

Annual rainfall: Varies from under 50 mm in the desert to over 700 mm in the Caprivi Strip 
Average temperature: 20°C 

Summer: 
Average highs: 30°C 
Average lows: 15°C 

Winter: 
Average highs: 20°C 
Average lows: 5°C 

Best time to visit: 
The best time to visit Namibia is during the cooler dry months from May to October when wildlife viewing is at its best in parks like Etosha National Park. The weather is pleasant for exploring the desert landscapes and other outdoor activities. 

Spring and Summer 
Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes 
Lightweight warm clothes: No 

Winter and Autumn 
Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Recommended 
Heavyweight clothing and boots: Yes 

General 
Umbrella and raincoat: Yes 
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: No 
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes 
Hat, sunglasses, and sunblock: Yes 
Walking shoes: Yes 
Casual: Yes 
Smart-casual attire: Yes 

Plug Type: Type D, M, and G 
Voltage (V): 220 V 
Frequency (Hz): 50 Hz 

*Travel plug adapter and voltage converter might be necessary depending on your appliances. 

Lying along the west coast of southern Africa, Angola is known for its abundant natural resources, colonial architecture and winding serpentine mountain pass on the Serra da Leba. Angola’s post-civil war tourism potential is slowly emerging, and visitors who have the opportunity to explore this spectacular country will be rewarded with unspoilt landscapes and magnificent natural features such as the Kalandula waterfalls, the bizarre rock formations at Pungo Andongo and the glorious orange sands of the northern Namib Desert. The prosperous oil-rich capital of Luanda boasts modern skyscrapers, a palm-lined promenade and stately government buildings. Visitors can enjoy a ride on the Benguela Railway, which winds through the scenic countryside, visit Mussulo Island, a peninsula renowned for its beauty and explore the scattered remnants of Portuguese colonial history.

Currency 
 
Currency: Kwanza.  
Local currency: Kwanza. 
Symbol: AOA. 
ISO code: AOA. 
Central bank: National Bank of Angola. 
Subunit: Centimos. 
Banknotes: 2000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5. 
Coins: 5, 2, 1. 

Banking 

Card Transactions: 

ATMs: Yes

Mastercard: Generally, no

Visa: In some places

American Express: In some places

Diner’s club: In some places

 
Banking Hours:  
Weekdays: 08h45 - 16h00 
Weekends: no 
Public Holidays: Generally, no 
Foreign exchange services: Yes, at official bureau du change only 
Traveller’s cheques accepted: Yes 

Air:  
Main airlines: TAAG Angola Airlines  
International Airports: Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport   
 
Road:  
Tar roads: Yes 
Gravel roads: Yes 
Valid International Driver's License needed: No (national licence valid for 30 days), however, international licence recommended 
Car hire available: Yes 
Taxis: Yes 
Uber available: No. Kubinga is a service that uses the same model. 
 
Bus:  
Inter-city bus services: Yes 
Local city bus networks: In Luanda  
 
Rail:  
Railway system: Yes, but unreliable 
Subway System: No 
 
Water:  
Ferries: No 
Water taxis: No 
Leisure cruises: No

Food and water safety:  
Can you drink the tap water: No 
Fresh fruit and veg: No 
Ice: No 
Meat: Yes, well cooked 
Street food: No 
 
Local cuisine:  

Much of the cuisine has a Portuguese influence, most notably in the country’s spicy seafood. Muamba de Galinha is Angola's national dish, and one of its most popular. This chicken stew is made with butternut squash, palm oil, tomatoes and okra. Other highlights include Catatos (an insect dish), Cocadaamarela (pudding), Cabidela (a meat dish) and Piri Piri sauce.  

Tipping: % 10%  
 

Annual rainfall: 84.06 mm 
Average temperature: 27°C 
 
Summer: 
Average in highs: 30°C 
Average in lows: 26°C 
 
Winter: 
Average in highs: 26°C 
Average in lows: 20°C 
 
Best time to visit: You’ll find a cooler, drier climate between June and September. The best time to visit Angola is from June to October. These months mark the dry season, offering warm, dry days ideal for wildlife viewing and exploring the country's diverse landscapes. 

Spring and Summer 
Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes 
Lightweight warm clothes: Yes 
 
Winter and Autumn 
Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Yes 
Heavyweight clothing and boots: No 
 
General 
Umbrella and raincoat: Yes 
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: Yes 
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes 
Hat, sunglasses and sunblock: Yes 
Walking shoes: Yes 
Casual: Yes 
Smart-casual attire: Yes 

Wifi available at:  
Internet cafes: Yes, in Luanda 
Accommodation options: May be difficult to find  
Restaurants:  May be difficult to find  
Cafes:  May be difficult to find  
Shopping malls:  May be difficult to find  
Public parks: No 
Libraries:  May be difficult to find  

Plug Type: Type C: also known as the standard "Euro" plug. This socket also works with plug E and plug F. 
Voltage (V): 220 V. 
Frequency Hertz (Hz): 50 Hz. 
 
*If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. 
 
*If your appliance isn’t compatible with the voltage, a voltage converter will be needed

Situated in the southern reaches of Africa, Botswana is renowned for its pristine wilderness areas characterised by deep lagoons, wetlands, lush palms, rugged hills and desert plains. The country’s primary tourist drawcard is undoubtedly the vast red expanse of the Kalahari Desert and its remarkably beautiful Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world. These natural wonders provide a tranquil haven for an abundance of African wildlife to thrive. Other highlights include the impressive Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, where visitors are privy to massive zebra migrations during the flood season; the Savuti plains, which host a significant pride of lions; and the Tsodilo Hills, where 4500 rock paintings form a unique record of human settlement over many millennia.

Currency: 
Local currency: Pula (BWP) 
Symbol: P 
ISO code: BWP 
Central bank: Bank of Botswana 
Subunit: Thebe 
Banknotes: P100, P50, P20, P10 
Coins: P5, P2, P1; T50, T25, T10, T5 

Banking: 
Card Transactions: Yes 
ATMs: Yes 
Mastercard: Generally, no 
Visa: Yes 
American Express: Generally, no  
Diner’s club: Generally, no 
 
Banking Hours: 
Weekdays: 08h00 or 09h00 – 16h15 or 17h15 

Weekends: 08h00 or 09h00 – 10h45 or 12h00  

Public Holidays: No 

Foreign exchange services: Yes 

Air:
Airports in major cities  
Main airlines: Mack Air and Kalahari Air  
International Airports: In major cities

Road:
Tar roads: Yes
Gravel roads: Yes
Valid International Drivers License needed: Yes, if your national licence is not in English. If your national licence is in English, you may use it for up to 6 months.  
Car hire available: Yes
Taxis: Yes
Uber available: No, but similar services

Bus: 
Inter-city bus services: No 
Local city bus networks: No 
 
Rail: 
Railway system: Yes, overnight train from Francistown to Gaborone to Lobatse. 
Subway System: No 
 
Water: 
Ferries: No 
Water taxis: No 
Leisure cruises: No 

Food and water safety:  
Can you drink the tap water: Yes within major cities 
Fresh fruit and veg: Yes within major cities 
Ice: Yes within major cities 
Meat: Yes within major cities 
Street food: Yes within major cities 
 
Local cuisine: Food centres around meat such as goat, beef, chicken and fresh water fish, and a maize meal known locally as “pap”.  Adventurous culinary enthusiasts may want to try the traditional speciality of Mopane Worms, while those with a sweet tooth should make sure to sample the local Kalahari Truffles (made as a dessert) and unusual fruit called Marula. It is believed that watermelon originated here.  

Drinks:  Bojalwaja Setswana (the beer of Botswana) - created using fermented sorghum seeds.  

Tipping: 10%, usually added to the bill at restaurants. It is also customary to tip game drivers and guides.

Annual rainfall: 475 mm  
Average temperature: 27°C 
 
Summer: 
Average in highs: 31°C 
Average in lows: 20°C 
 
Winter: 
Average in highs: 23°C 
Average in lows: 22°C 
 
Best time to visit: It’s best to visit Botswana between April and September – the dry winter months. At this time, animals usually stay close to their water sources, increasing your chances of seeing them.  

Spring and Summer 
Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes 
Lightweight warm clothes: Yes 
 
Winter and Autumn 
Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Yes 
Heavyweight clothing and boots: Yes 
 
General 
Umbrella and raincoat: Yes 
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: Yes 
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes 
Hat, sunglasses and sunblock: Yes 
Walking shoes: Yes 
Casual: Yes 
Smart-casual attire: Yes 

Internet cafes: Yes in cities 
Accommodation options: Yes 
Restaurants: Yes in cities 
Cafes: Yes in cities 
Shopping malls: Yes 
Public parks: No 
Libraries: Yes in cities