Here is an indication of the different times of the year and what to expect:
May to October (Winter)
Rains have ceased and therefore scenery is lovely and green. During the day temperatures are moderate (24 - 28ºC / 75-82ºF). Evenings and nights are not that cold yet and are at most times pleasant but cool.
Falling just before the winter months, it starts getting colder in the evenings and at night, where temperature can start dropping to 10ºC / 50ºF. In the southern desert areas, it can get very cold. During the day temperatures are still pleasant between 20 - 24ºC / 68 - 75ºF.
Usually the coldest of the winter months. Average temperatures during the day are around 21 - 25ºC / 70 - 77ºF. At night it drops to around 7ºC / 45ºF and can fall below freezing in the southern desert areas and more northern regions of the country.
From September, daytime temperatures warm up slightly, but it still isn’t too hot. The morning and evening chill factor is less, and skies are clear as it is still dry. During October it gets even drier throughout the country, due to the longer period without rain, and it slowly starts to get warmer during the days and evenings. Daytime temperatures can during this time get quite hot.
November to April (Summer)
It starts to really warm up as we head towards our peak summer months. It can get very hot throughout Namibia during November, but humidity is still low. Daytime temperatures can rise to 30ºC / 86ºF but can be a lot higher in the southern desert areas and far north of Namibia. Clouds can often be seen in the afternoons, but it is not common for rain to fall yet.
A hot month overall with the first rains starting to fall throughout the country. When it rains it cools off a bit making for pleasant temperatures. Rains are usually in short bursts and don’t last too long.
The hottest of the summer months. It can get extremely hot and humid with temperatures averaging around 30 - 35ºC / 86 - 95ºF but often reaching peaks of 40ºC / 104ºF in the southern and more northern areas of the country. Downpours are common in the afternoons but also not falling every day.
Rainfall is less throughout March and has usually stopped completely by the end of April. Daytime temperatures are cooler than in the peak of summer and the nights start to get colder. Most days will see temperatures of around 25 - 30ºC / 77 - 86ºF.
Namibia is in effect, an all-year-round destination. Yes, we do have a rainy season but being mostly desert, rain is sporadic with heavy rainfall only really experienced in the north and north-east of the country (usually from December through April). The dry season (May-November) is better for viewing wildlife as animals congregate at waterholes and the bush is less dense. The rest of the year is great for scenery, bird watching and general photography as well as wildlife sightings.
It’s hot in the summer (December to February) and cooler the rest of the year.
While a safari holiday can be had at any time of year, it is worth noting that seasonality will impact the type of experience you’re likely to have as well as the cost of your safari.
During the dry season, the wildlife tends to congregate around the few remaining watering holes. Vegetation at this time is sparse making the animals easier to spot. The wet season is abundant both in vegetation and wildlife, as this is the birthing season – which means predators come out in force to prey on vulnerable newborns.
The general speed limits in Namibia are as follows:
60 km per hour on a public road within an urban area
100 km per hour on gravel roads (non-tarred roads) – although on most gravel roads we recommend not exceeding 80 km per hour for your own safety due to road conditions.
120 km per hour on tarred roads/ freeways
Namibia is a vast country, with much to see and do along the way between destinations. It is less about the destination itself and more about the journey to get there.
- On tarred roads we calculate the distances (to include stops en-route) by taking the distance and dividing it by 80 km per hour.
- On gravel roads we calculate the distances (to include stops en-route and take road conditions into account) by taking the distance and dividing it by 60 km per hour.
The above will give you the most accurate approximate travelling times.
When travelling in Namibia, you will not have to pump your own fuel. All fuel stations will have attendants who will do this for you. They will also assist with checking your oil, inflating your tires and checking your tire pressure and washing your windscreen. It is good practice to give a small tip for these services.
Almost all towns in Namibia have fuel stations and most also have a small convenience store with basic supplies. Those in major towns will accept credit cards, but some in the smaller towns do not have credit card facilities, so we always recommend having cash on hand to pay for fuel along the way.
Refuel as often as possible, as it can happen that some fuel stations will not have fuel and therefore best to keep topping up along the route. Most maps of Namibia also show all fuel stops throughout the country.
Fuel costs fluctuate but as an indication, you can budget on the fuel prices (petrol and diesel) costing between ZAR 12 and ZAR 15 per litre.
On average you can work on about 8kms per litre. This should give you an approximate indication of the expected fuel consumption and for you to be able to work out your fuel budget based on the route you will be travelling.
In Namibia we drive on the left-hand side of the road.
NB: Vehicles in Namibia are manual transmission or automatic.
NB: Make sure that you know which type of vehicle is booked for you and specify if you request an automatic vehicle as both vehicle types are available.
In Namibia we always recommend a 4x4 vehicle. Many areas require a vehicle with high clearance and these vehicles handle the gravel roads, found throughout the country, better and with more stability making travel safer and easier.
NB: At all times when driving a motor vehicle during the day on a trunk road, main road and district road, you need to switch on your head lamps on dipped beam or daytime running lights. This is according to Namibian Law.
Desert Tracks does not arrange VISAS and therefore this will be your own responsibility and arrangement.
You can have a look at the following link for more information regarding visa requirements: https://www.visahq.com/
Please check on the internet or with the Embassy whether you require a VISA to be arranged in advance or whether you can obtain it at point of entry. In some cases, it can take up to 3 months for Visas to be issued so please do not leave this to the last minute. Please note that we cannot arrange Visas from our side as the application requires your signature as well as the actual passport to be endorsed.
NB: Passports need to be valid for at least 6 months from date of departure/ the date you end your holiday.
This information is extremely important for all families traveling to and from Namibia, South Africa and/or Botswana.
The Namibia, Botswana and South African Governments have introduced requirements for minors travelling through all ports of entry. The development, which is aimed at managing the movement of children across these country borders, has an ultimate goal of tackling human trafficking which is a global challenge.
Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, like other countries is affected by this problem and as such has enacted the United Nations Anti-Human Trafficking Protocol, which calls upon governments to come up with deliberate measures aimed at combating human trafficking.
All minors travelling through Namibia, Botswana and/or South Africa borders will be required to produce certified copies of unabridged birth certificates in addition to their valid passports. In the event that one parent is not travelling with the child, the other parent’s affidavit consenting to such travel should be availed.
However, an affidavit will not be required if the father’s name does not appear on the child’s birth certificate.
Minors younger than 18 years traveling to Namibia must have an unabridged birth certificate. In addition, when traveling:
Vaccinations:
You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination.
Namibia does not require any specific vaccinations; however, you may need to show that you have been vaccinated against Yellow Fever if you will be travelling from or via a Yellow Fever Risk country.
Namibia is a malaria risk country; however, this is mostly in the northern parts of the country, along the rivers and Caprivi strip. Etosha is also a risk area, but this is mostly during and shortly after the rain season.
We recommend that you consult your local physician with regards to vaccinations and precautions to be taken against malaria. Your doctor will be able to advise you regarding suitable malaria prophylaxis.
Some tips against malaria:
Water:
Generally, throughout Namibia, water is safe to drink, however bottled water is also readily available and can be purchased at all shops and lodges. Makes sure you drink enough water, especially during the summer months when it can get very hot. It is a good idea to keep a water bottle filled with fresh water at all times and have this with you, especially when on activities or out and about during the heat of the day.
Water is a scarce commodity throughout Namibia, so please use water sparingly and save water where you can.
Dietary Requirements:
If you have any specific dietary requirements, please advise this on booking your tour. This is also requested from you on the booking information form. This information will be given to all the lodges prior to your arrival so that this can be accommodated accordingly.
Medical Conditions:
Any medical conditions you may have, needs to be noted. Please ensure that we receive this information prior to your arrival and on booking your tour. This is also requested from you on the booking information form. This includes advising us of health issues and any allergies. If you will be travelling with medication, it is best to have this properly labelled and if necessary, keep this on you at all times.
Namibia is a safe country for travel with a low crime rate, however we always recommend that you take precautions where necessary and be aware of your surroundings.
Some tips:
We also do not recommend you travel before sunrise or after sunset, this is due to animal activity at dawn/dusk and when it is dark. Visibility in areas where there are no road lights means inability to see animals on the road and this can be dangerous.
Roaming is expensive and therefore it is a good idea to make use of a local sim card when travelling in Namibia.
Sim cards can be purchased at most shops and fuel stations throughout the country, and you can simply recharge with credit as you go along. If your service provider activates your sim card on request, you can also have internet access on your phone whilst travelling.
MTC has the best coverage throughout Namibia, but it is important to keep in mind that there are areas with little to no reception. Should you wish to rent a satellite phone, this will be additional. We do not include this, due to the call tariffs involved over and above the daily rates, and therefore you can look to contact Sat4Rent for more information and to book a satellite phone, if you prefer to have one with you just in case. https://www.sat4rent.com/
The dialling code in Namibia is +264
Throughout Namibia almost all of the lodges offer WIFI connection of some sort. This is generally at the main area/ reception area of the lodge and not necessarily in the rooms. Some connections are still very slow, and it is best to remember that WIFI connectivity and access to the internet is not guaranteed.
In Namibia the common power plugs and sockets are of type D and M, which have 3 round pins (as in South Africa), however sometimes plug points are also used which have 2 smaller round pins (type C and N) (as shown below). The standard voltage is 220 V.
Image of 3 pin round and two pin. These plugs will work in Namibia.
If you need an adaptor, then the best adaptor to get would be a type D adaptor. This can always be purchased in Windhoek.
Where a public holiday falls on a Sunday, Monday will then usually be declared a public holiday.
During public holidays and often on weekends, limited shops are open and usually only until 12:00 / 13:00pm in the afternoon.
In Namibia, we have set public holidays throughout the year, although some dates change annually. Below is a list of the public holidays for your reference:
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 Human Rights Day
25 December Christmas Day
26 December Boxing Day
Namibia uses the same offset as Central Africa Time Zone, which is GMT + 2 hours.
Since 2018, Namibia no longer uses Daylight Savings Time in the winter months.
The official language in Namibia is English, however German and Afrikaans are also widely used and there are numerous African languages and dialects spoken throughout the country since Namibia can be divided into at least 11 ethnic groups.
Personal / holiday insurance is for your own arrangement, and we highly recommend that you ensure you have the necessary comprehensive cover before traveling.
The currency in Namibia is the Namibian Dollar (N$). This has a fixed exchange rate to the South African Rand (ZAR) of 1:1.
South African Rand (ZAR) are accepted throughout Namibia, but it is important to keep in mind that the Namibian Dollar (N$) is not accepted in South Africa.
Foreign currency and traveller’s cheques can be exchanged at any bank throughout Namibia. There is no limit with regards to the amount of foreign currency allowed into Namibia.
Credit cards (Visa & MasterCard) are widely accepted throughout Namibia and most lodges will accept credit cards for payments of extras. Most fuel stations accept credit cards. We do however recommend that you have cash with you at all times to pay for extras and fuel should the credit card machines be offline or if credit cards are not accepted.
We do not recommend that you carry large sums of cash with you, but rather that you only keep a limited amount on you and rather that you draw cash from ATMs or banks in the towns/ cities you will be passing through as you go along.
Further information or assistance can be obtained from any of the commercial banks in Namibia.
NB: As an indication we suggest that you have roughly ZAR 500 – ZAR 1000 (per person) on you at all times.
If you will be visiting any of our neighbouring countries it is a good idea to keep the following in mind:
Make sure you have the local currency with you, especially at the borders to be able to make payment of your cross-border fees.
Some lodges and hotels will request a key deposit be paid on arrival when handing over the key to your room/s. This will have to be paid in cash as it will be refunded to you when the key is returned on checking out.
Tipping in Namibia is voluntary and discretionary and is considered an appreciation of good service. A tip given should always be relative to the service received.
Here is a guideline to give you an idea:
Restaurants/ Hotels / Bars:
10%-15%
Porters:
ZAR 10 – ZAR 20 (depending on the amount of luggage)
Car Guards:
ZAR 2 – ZAR 5
Petrol Pump Attendants:
Lodge Staff:
ZAR 30 – ZAR 50 per guest per day (usually there is a tip box for these tips in reception)
Guides (Activities):
ZAR 100 – ZAR 250 per guest (depending on length of tour/ activity and involvement of the guide)
Guides (Private):
ZAR 100 – ZAR 300 per day
Tipping a guide is an autonomous act and would completely depend on the service received and the nature of what the guide offered, whether a guide on an activity or a guide that was with you for the duration of your tour. Tips for guides are a bonus. It is acceptable to tip in local or foreign currency.
If you are not sure when to tip, the general rule is at the end of your stay or activity etc. and to only tip once for all days instead of per day.
All products and services in Namibia are priced to include VAT (value added tax) of 15%
You can look to reclaim VAT on purchases at the Windhoek International Airport, Eros Airport and Walvis Bay Airport. If you have enquiries about this, you can contact the Ministry of Finance for assistance.
Ministry of Finance - +264 61 209 2405
Take note of the standard check-in and check-out times at the lodges and plan your travelling days accordingly. Check-in is usually from 14:00pm and check-out is usually around 10:00/11:00am. Should you arrive early or depart late, you will need to arrange this with reception accordingly or arrange to leave your luggage at reception if necessary. Most accommodation will try to be flexible, where possible.
Check-in for international flights will be 2 hours prior to your departure flight time. For domestic flights, this is usually only 1 hour, however we always recommend being there 2 hours in advance.
Please be aware that on arrival at international airports, transfers are usually arranged for 45 minutes after your flight arrival time to allow adequate time for you to disembark the aircraft, to go through customs and immigration and to collect your luggage.
For private charter and scheduled flights, check-in times will be specified, however this will usually be 1 hour in advance of the estimated time of departure.
As you are on holiday, leave yourself ample time for transfers etc. so that your holiday can be relaxed, and you can travel without any additional stress. This makes for a good start or end to your tour.
Take note that park entry gates open at sunrise and close at sunset.
Entry fees need to be paid for each day entering or for each day you will be inside the park. These fees can often be paid for all at once, but make sure you then keep your slip-on hand as proof that all entry fees have been paid in advance.
NB: All National Parks restrict the use of plastic bags in the parks and therefore no plastic shopping bags will be allowed into the parks on entry.
Some tips on what to pack:
It is important to note that certain light aircraft transfer flights will have a smaller and stricter luggage limit. Please note, all laundry in camp is done by hand and dried outdoors, therefore turnaround time is dependent on the weather. Out of respect to local culture and customs, we do not wash underwear. Washing powder is provided in all of our guest rooms should guests wish to wash their own.
Usually, the days are hot, but the nights can be cool. For this reason, pack for both seasons and think about dressing in layers, especially when travelling in winter. This way, as the day warms up, you can remove cloths to beat the heat. You should also think about bringing along both open and closed comfortable shoes.
We recommend you download the app called TravelKey.
This allows travellers to carry their itinerary with them while they travel. Even while offline.
The app is available for both Android and iOS.
In order to fly and operate a drone within Namibia you must obtain written authorization from:
Note: Foreign nationals to Namibia must submit applications for permission to fly recreationally at least 60 calendar days before and commercially at least 120 days before the intended flight.
NB: Remember there are rules that must be adhered to when flying or operating a drone as follows:
The whole Namibian coastline is generally known as the Skeleton Coast stretching from as far south as Luderitz all the way up to the Angolan Border in the north of which a large portion is the Skeleton Coast National Park.
This name has a number of meanings from the whale skeletons left on the beaches centuries ago, to the actual shipwrecks found along the coast, but wherever you are on this coastline, you are actually on the Skeleton Coast. However, we always advise including specific areas and activities to give you a real Skeleton Coast experience:
The Skeleton Coast National Park is largely closed off to the public, but when most people refer to the Skeleton Coast, they are referring to this area. There is only one lodge actually inside the park – Shipwreck Lodge and another in the area, with selected activities into the park - Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
Yes, in most cases we can arrange additional accommodation at our starting or ending hotels. If we are unable to provide you with the extra nights, we will give you the name of a hotel you can contact directly. Please also note that extra accommodations must be booked at least 30 days before start of safari.
Travellers arrive from all over the world to begin our tours and it is not possible to include international airfare in our prices.
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