Organize your stay Namibia

Covid-19 : current situation Namibia

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, entry and travel restrictions may apply Namibia. Remember to visit the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you leave for the latest information

Money Money Namibia

The local currency is the Namibian dollar (N$ or NAD), its parity is fixed with the South African rand (ZAR): 1 N$ = 1 ZAR. South African rands can be used in Namibia. The reverse is not true, as Namibian dollars cannot be used in South Africa. Depending on the exchange rate, which has fluctuated greatly with the coronavirus crisis, 1 euro is worth more or less 17 Namibian dollars

Budget & Tips Budget & Tips Namibia

Namibia is a very unequal country where a minority of the population has very high purchasing power. As a tourist, you will belong to this category and you should expect that the activities you will do will be quite expensive. The daily budget depends very much on your accommodation type with a big difference between campsites at about 10 € per person per night and lodges that easily go up to more than 120 € per night: you decide!

There are community camps, government restcamps, youth hostels in town, guestfarms, guesthouses or guestranchs, small hotels and lodges

Apart from the airfare, the main expense will be the car rental, especially the 4 × 4 fully equipped for camping, but it is really worth it. The ideal is to be a group of 4 people to divide this expense.

The price of the car rental remains high. Namibia can be visited perfectly well with a standard car, but try to ask for a model with a certain chassis height for more comfort. Note that where a 4WD is really required, so is off-road driving experience!

An increase in park fees went into effect in 2021. Activities outside the national parks, often offered by the lodges(game drive, 4 x 4, sundowner...) are expensive and vary from one address to another. The activities offered in Swakopmund remain affordable for the simplest (dune surfing, fishing, boat trips or sea kayaking ...)

Eating out is still cheap compared to Europe. A full meal in a restaurant will not exceed N$ 150 to N$ 250 on average, even if there are some great restaurants that will solicit a little more the wallet

Passport and visas Passport and visas Namibia

A visa is not required for French nationals. A valid passport (valid for at least six months after the end of the intended stay) and a return ticket are required. Holders of a French passport can obtain tourist permits for a maximum of 90 days, which are issued free of charge upon arrival, particularly at the immigration controls at Windhoek airport. Concerning the formalities for children, it is now mandatory to have official birth certificates for the check-in by the airlines. In addition, this document may be requested at customs once in Namibia.

An extension to your visa can be requested from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Independence Avenue, PO Box 13200, Windhoek. After arrival, it is advisable to check the duration of the visa on your passport to avoid any problems when leaving the country. Consult the website of the French Embassy in Namibia to be informed of the latest developments related to the coronavirus (possible PCR tests or others).

Driver's license Driver's license Namibia

It is strongly recommended to have your French driver's license translated or to obtain an international driver's license so as not to be in an awkward position with Namibian police officers. Car rental is very easy from the airports or the main cities of the country, and is accompanied by the contracting of a local insurance. Be careful, you drive on the left and with the steering wheel on the right in Namibia and everywhere in the SADC zone.

Health Health Namibia

Very few health risks exist in Namibia, protected by its dry climate. It may just be worth taking a few anti-malarials if you plan to travel to the north (Etosha and beyond) in the rainy season. Water is safe to drink in the major towns and bottled water is readily available at any supermarket or gas station.

To avoid sunstroke, avoid sudden and prolonged exposure to the sun and don't forget to wear a hat and sunglasses when driving an open-air vehicle, walking or taking a boat trip. For those who are worried, the risk of succumbing to a snake bite or scorpion sting is minimal, if not non-existent. But check your shoes in the morning and don't leave them in front of the tent overnight, watch where you step as you walk, and be sure to zip up your tent or bungalow door, especially in late winter when snakes come out looking for a little warmth. Venom suction systems have not really proven themselves. The best thing to do in case of a bite is to move as little as possible, to bandage the affected limb (but not a tourniquet) above and below the bite, so as to block the blood capillaries only, and to call the emergency services for an evacuation to the nearest health center.

For more information, consult the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs' "advice to travelers" website.

In the bush, you obviously cannot behave as if you were in a large public garden... If a first glance around reveals no creatures, this does not mean that a lion is not watching you, its golden fur blending into the orange yellow of the savannah. Wild animals can be dangerous. Elephants, lions and other behemoths of the African fauna are not without their dangers for travelers, and no one is supposed to ignore the law of nature. It is therefore necessary to know how to adopt the behavior of the good Bushman, such as never getting up in a vehicle near cats, the unfortunate one would get out of the imposing mass of the vehicle to become a prey in the eyes of the predator. Always follow the instructions given in the protected areas or by the guides.

Health risks are very limited in Namibia and the hospital network is more than correct. No vaccination is mandatory to stay in Namibia and tap water is drinkable in town and in most camps, lodges or hotels. Malaria is non-existent in most of the country, except perhaps in the Caprivi area. If there is one message to remember, it is that Namibia is a healthy place, how could it be otherwise in a desert!

Mandatory vaccination Mandatory vaccination Namibia

No vaccination is compulsory in Namibia if you arrive from France. On the other hand:

travellers coming from countries where yellow fever is endemic must present proof of their vaccination against this disease (up-to-date vaccination booklet, vaccination certificate) upon arrival at the airport or border post ;

up-to-date diphtheria-tetanus-polio (DTP) vaccination is recommended, as well as rubella-mumps-measles vaccination in children; tuberculosis vaccination is also desirable (especially when travelling in the townships and in the north of the country);

depending on local travel conditions, vaccinations against typhoid fever and viral hepatitis A and B may be recommended;

vaccination against rabies may also be offered in certain cases, depending on the conditions and places of stay, particularly for children, in the event of a prolonged stay in the north of the country (regions of Kunene, Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Kavango and Caprivi). Ask your doctor or an international vaccination centre for advice

Security Security Namibia

Namibia is a very safe destination and no mishap should happen to you. However, a few instructions should be observed, such as not leaving personal belongings or valuables unattended or visible in a vehicle, not picking up a hitchhiker, using official cabs in town, especially in the evening, never going to townships without being accompanied by people you trust and who know the area, limiting travel on foot at night, strictly observing traffic rules and taking two spare wheels and several water bottles with you on long trips. To check your map or make a phone call, it is best to stop at a gas station.

In case of problems, the police can be called at 10111.

The biggest danger in Namibia is on the road, speeding is the cause. One does not always suspect the defective state of certain roads, in particular the gravel roads which seem to be smooth and safe but which are not always so. Loss of control is common. To avoid them, do not hesitate to reduce the pressure of the tires. In case of an accident, medical assistance may take a few hours to arrive, so it is best to be aware of this.

Time difference Time difference Namibia

There is almost no time difference between France and Namibia, ideal to avoid jet-lag when you get off the plane. There is only a one hour time difference between Windhoek and Paris from November to April. When it is noon in Paris, it is 1pm in Windhoek.

Spoken languages Spoken languages Namibia

Namibia is a multi-ethnic country where many languages are spoken. The most widely used language is English, closely followed by Afrikaans and Oshiwambo - but it will be difficult for you to learn them in a few days!

Communication Communication Namibia

Phone coverage and Internet quality are quite good for such a sparsely populated country. However, it is better not to rely on the national network (we recommend MTC for the purchase of a SIM card) outside the cities. If you need to go to particularly remote places, do not hesitate to rent a satellite phone that you can use in case of emergency.

Electricity and measurements Electricity and measurements Namibia

The South African and Namibian catches are very particular and often the universal chargers found in Europe are of no use. It is best to buy an adapter in your hotel or in a supermarket. For the rest, the metric system is aligned with French.

Luggage Luggage Namibia

In any season, bring a little bit of everything: bathing suit, hat, sandals and walking shoes, shorts, cotton shirts and t-shirts, sweaters, pants or long skirts for the evenings, cotton socks. Dress in luxury lodges and hotels is usually casual. Of course, sunscreen is essential, as well as a headlamp if you plan to camp. A K-Way is only necessary between December and March. The nights can be cool and the days are always hot: be prepared for this by taking warm and light clothes. In the dry season, in winter, from June to September: windproof anoraks, fleece, thick woollen socks, gloves, scarves and hats will be essential in the morning when you wake up and in the late afternoon when the sun sets, around 5:30 pm. For your future safari, avoid flashy red or fluorescent colors to avoid scaring the animals. Completely white outfits are also to be avoided, because the animals will spot them from afar, but also because of the constant dust baths during game drives. Avoid black, which is unpleasant because it absorbs the heat of the sun's rays

The configuration of Namibian electrical outlets differs from the European ones, think of the adapter, which can be bought on the spot if needed. Don't forget your passport. Your national and international driving license or an official translation is sufficient. Also think about road maps and directions. An application such as Track4Africa, for smartphone or GPS, can be useful. Namibian dollar (N$) and rand. Credit cards (Visa and MasterCard)

Some local addresses. Windhoek is full of "safari" stores, where you will find a wide range of shirts (cotton, light, many pockets, khaki color...), shorts, kudu shoes and other good quality hiking shoes. For the cold, you will find fleeces and warm jackets at Cape Union Mart, a South African chain, present in the large shopping centers of Windhoek.