Namibia

Wedged between the Kalahari and the South Atlantic, Namibia boasts deserts, seascapes, bushwalking and boundlessness. Blessed with rich natural resources, a solid modern infrastructure, diverse cultures and an annual quota of 300 days of sunshine, it is a beautiful country of vast potential.

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  Little Ongava

  Namibia

  Nambia's largest private reserves

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  Little Ongava

  Namibia

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Although it's predominantly desert, Namibia enjoys regional climatic variations. The whole country sees a minimum of 300 days of sunshine each year, but temperatures and rainfall vary considerably both seasonally and geographically. The most arid climate is found in the centre of the Namib Desert, where summer daytime temperatures climb to over 40°C (105°F) and can fall to below freezing at night. Daytime temperatures in the mountainous and semi-arid Central Plateau (including Windhoek) are generally lower than in the rest of the country. Fog is common on the coast.

December is the hottest month everywhere, bringing average temperatures of 30°C (86°F). There are two rainy seasons: the 'little rains' from October to December, and the main rainy period from January to April. The latter is characterised by brief showers and occasional thunderstorms that clear the air. Low-lying areas in the eastern part of the country are generally much hotter than the Central Plateau and, except for Kavango and Caprivi in the northeast, receive little rain.

Transport

Getting around

Namibia is well served by domestic air routes, although flying is an expensive way to get around. There are regular flights from Eros Airport in Windhoek to Tsumeb, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz, Swakopmund and Oshakati. Charter-flight operators are numerous, although their services are more expensive. These days, the charter airline industry is more regulated, and most tourists travel on charters as part of an all-inclusive safari package.

Bus services are limited to a few luxury coaches that connect Windhoek to Cape Town and Johannesburg, but local minibuses run up and down the B1 from Oshakati to Keetmanshoop.

The Trans-Namib Railway operates a slow service that connects most major towns. The trains, which carry economy and sleeper classes, are reliable; security, however, can be an issue.

The easiest way to get around Namibia is to drive - a system of excellent roads covers the country. Cars, motorbikes and 4WDs are available for hire, but they are very expensive. The cost of fuel can also be substantial when covering such vast distances.

A cheaper alternative is to join an organised camping tour, enabling you to see far-flung places like the Skeleton Coast, Damaraland, the Kaokoveld, Kunene Valley and Bushmanland - without breaking your budget. Typically, these are low-tech camping-and-transport affairs.

There are taxis in Windhoek and a local bus service.

Getting there and away

Major airlines fly from Europe, Australia and the US to Windhoek. However, flights are limited and it's often cheaper to fly into South Africa and go overland or by plane into Namibia from there. Air Namibia has a direct flight from London, and LTU has a direct flight from Frankfurt. South African Airways and Air Namibia operate daily flights between Johannesburg (Jo'burg), Cape Town and Hosea Kutako International Airport, 42km (26mi) east of Windhoek. Air Namibia also flies twice weekly between Windhoek and Victoria Falls, Lusaka, Maun and Gaborone. There are border crossings from Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, and bus companies service these routes. Driving between South Africa and Namibia is quite comfortable on well-made roads, and it's also possible to hitch, although truckies expect to be paid these days (about 1.50 per 100km/60mi).

Health & Legal Requirements

Dangers and annoyances

Namibia is one of the safest countries in Africa. It's also a huge country with a sparse population and even the capital Windhoek smacks more of a provincial town than an urban jungles. However, crime is on the rise in the larger cities, in particular Windhoek, and a little street sense will go a long way.

Visas overview

All visitors require a passport from their home country that is valid for at least six months after their intended departure date from Namibia. You may also be asked for an onward plane, bus or rail ticket, although checks are rarely made. Nationals of the following countries do not need visas to visit Namibia: Angola, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, EU countries, Iceland, Japan, Kenya, Mozambique, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe and most Commonwealth countries. Citizens of most Eastern European countries do require visas. Tourists are granted an initial 90 days, which may be extended at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Windhoek.