Namibia. Useful information for travellers.
3 months road
trip in Southern Africa,
Namibia, Botswana,
South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.
October - December 2014
Average exchange rate: 1 € = 13,75 N$
Travelling
in Namibia
is easy. The tourist infrastructure is good, many different options.
Empty
country, safe, wild life and infinite landscape. Wonderful, we loved it! Great for a roadtrip!
To go around it´s much easier if you have a car, not many people around the country so not too much public transport. Only the main towns are connected by public transport (and there are not many). Otherwise, you can try to hitch-hike (even if some roads are really empty of traffic, you never know...) or join a tour (just ask at the backpackers in the main towns, Windhoek and Swakpmund being the best places).
Read the special chapter about "rental car" in our Namibia Blog.
Warning:
Namibia is a dry country, but there´s a short rainy season with heavy rains, specially in january and february.
Keep this
in mind as many roads are gravel ones, and they get bad with the heavy rains, specially sad if you travel with a normal car.
MONEY IN NAMIBIA
The currency is the Namibian Dollar.
The exchange rate in October 2014, was 1 € (euro) = 13.75 N$ (Namibian Dollar).
In the main towns, there are banks with ATMs (ususally close to the supermarkets).
No extra
charge for foreign cards. Good exchange rate, no extra commissions, good
withdraw limit.
Supermarkets,
hotels, activities, etc., can usually be paid directly by card. But only a few
gas stations admit cards (but there are usually ATM inside or near the gas station).
Carry some
cash too, specially when going to remote places.
The rainy season is from november til april, with more rain in january and february.
Keep in
mind that driving in Namibia
can be a complete different experience in the rainy season when the gravel
roads can get muddy and even with a 4x4 it can be tough. So if travelling with a sedan car, it´s better avoiding
these months.
In winter (june to august), it can be very cold in the desert at night.
In winter (june to august), it can be very cold in the desert at night.
NATIONAL PARKS IN NAMIBIA
National Parks in Namibia are quite cheap, compared with other African countries.
For prices, there are 2 parks categories:
- Etosha, Fish River, Sesriem, Skeleton, Waterberg
- The other parks (most of them in the Caprivi, northeast) are half price.
Plus, 10 N$/car.
You can
visit the parks on your own, self-drive and a normal sedan car is usually fine.
We did Etosha, Sesriem, Fish River national parks with a Ford Fiesta, no problems.
We did Etosha, Sesriem, Fish River national parks with a Ford Fiesta, no problems.
Waterberg
can only be visited with an organised tour.
Most of the
Caprivi parks (northeast) need a 4x4, except Buffalo
section (close to Botswana
border, Divundu).
If you don´t have a private car, in the national park camps they organise jeep-safari drives (around 25 US$ for 3 hours).
For
accommodation in the parks, the private managment, NWR (Namibia Wildlife
Resorts) has good camps. Usually quite cheap if camping (except Etosha), rooms
are more expensive.
Complete
information at: www.nwr.com.na
Outside holidays, and if camping, you don´t need to book. Harder to get a room in places like Etosha all year round without booking.
TOURIST INFORMATION IN NAMIBIA
In the tourist areas and towns of Namibia you will find goverment tourist information offices, with free maps, booklets, advertisements, etc. Similar to the ones in Europe, Australia, USA, etc.
Really useful.
Also inside the national parks, the information centers offer good advice and some free maps (not always free!)..
TOURIST INFORMATION IN NAMIBIA
In the tourist areas and towns of Namibia you will find goverment tourist information offices, with free maps, booklets, advertisements, etc. Similar to the ones in Europe, Australia, USA, etc.
Really useful.
Also inside the national parks, the information centers offer good advice and some free maps (not always free!)..
TELECOMS
AND SIM CARD IN NAMIBIA
Good mobil coverage. MTN and Vodacom are the main companies. Easy to buy a sim, no register needed.
Buying a sim card costs only 10 N$ (less than 1 €).
3 G network not avalaible, at least outside the capital and big towns. Coverage was fine, even in remote areas.
Some of the
accommodation in towns has free wifi.
HEALTH
Most of Namibia is malaria free zone. Just some places north of the country, bordering Angola and Botswana can be risky, more in rainy season.
Lots of
repellent at the supermarkets, like “Sleep Well” or “Tabard” (South Africa brands), quite cheap
(around 30 to 50 N$).
Water is
usually safe to drink. Ask first.
Supermarkets
are modern and clean.
Big AIDS
rate.
We saw many small health centers but Namibia is big and empty so better to have an insurance in case.
Hygiene is
good, specially at the supermarkets and camps. Like in Europe
or better!
Many big
pharmacies in the main towns, close to the supermarkets.
LANGUAGES - COMMUNICATION
IN NAMIBIA
But for
some people, it´s a second language as many have as mother tongue afrikaan,
german or Oshiwambo. People commonly speak two or three languages.
ELECTRIC
PLUGS
Special type of plug, like in South Africa, with 3 big round holes. You need an adapter if coming from Europe, US or UK.
SAFETY IN NAMIBIA
We never felt unsafe travelling around Namibia.
The country looks safe, it´s very empty and calm, also we didn´t go to the capital city Windhoek (just take more precautions there, like in all the big cities).
Shops close quite early and the town´s center gets empty with the sunset,
so better avoid just in case going out when dark.
Most of the camps have private security and access control.
Many wild animals and cattle in the northern part, so better don´t drive
at night.
Everything´s easy for the traveller.
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