Namibia is one of the coolest countries we visited during our Africa travels, with some of the most unique, out-of-this-world landscapes we’ve ever witnessed!
Unsurprisingly, it earned the position as the top-ranked “Best Landscapes” on our 9-month journey from Cairo to Cape Town.
Are you thinking of going on a Namibia holiday? If so, have a read of our tips, which will tell you all the best advice you need to know before traveling.
We will keep this as short and simple as possible.
1 – Do I Need a Visa for Namibia?
What makes Namibia even better is that again it is a FREE visa to enter the country and allows you to stay for 90 days. It’s a simple process: arrive at any entry point, present your passport, and get your entry stamp.
2 – What are the Best Things To Do in Namibia?
Namibia has so much to offer. The road trips are an attraction in themselves as you witness the ever-changing unique landscapes and natural beauty that Namibia offers.
Listed briefly below are some of the best things to do in Namibia:
Sossusvlei and Namib-Naukluft National Park: Home to some of the highest sand dunes in the world, including the famous Dune 45, and of course, the surreal landscapes of Deadvlei.
Etosha National Park: Known for its vast salt pan and diverse wildlife, including elephants, lions, giraffes, and rhinos. Find your perfect safari with choices of full or half-day game drives.
Fish River Canyon: Africa’s second-largest canyon, offering stunning panoramic views and hiking opportunities.
Swakopmund: A coastal town known for adventure activities such as sandboarding, and quad-biking, and its German colonial architecture.
Cape Cross Seal Reserve: One hour North of Swakopmund is the home of one of the largest colonies of Cape fur seals in the world.
Skeleton Coast: A hauntingly beautiful stretch of coastline known for shipwrecks, dunes, and unique wildlife adapted to the harsh environment.
Spitzkoppe: Also known as the “Matterhorn of Namibia”, Spitzkoppe is a group of granite peaks in the Namib desert. Some of which are more than 120 million years old!!
Walvis Bay: A half hour south of Swakopmund is the town of Walvis Bay. Sail out on a catamaran and try to spot the ocean’s “Big 5” on this popular dolphin and whale spotting expedition.
Windhoek: Explore Namibia’s capital by getting a city and township tour.
Kolmanskop Ghost Town: Kolmanskop is an abandoned German diamond mining town in Namibia, near the coast of Lüderitz. Piles of desert sand sit in the now-abandoned buildings, in what was once a wealthy, thriving town.
For more information on the best things to do in Namibia, make sure to check out the post below.
3 – When is the Best Time to Visit Namibia?
The best time to visit Namibia largely depends on the experiences you seek and the regions you plan to explore:
May to October (Dry Season/Winter): This period is generally considered the best time to visit Namibia. The weather is dry with little rainfall, making it ideal for wildlife viewing as animals gather around water sources in national parks like Etosha. The days are warm, and nights can get chilly, especially in desert areas.
November to April (Wet Season/Summer): This time sees higher temperatures and occasional rainfall, particularly from January to March. The positives of this time is that it can bring vibrant landscapes, increased birdlife, and newborn animals, however, some roads may become inaccessible due to flooding.
Keep in mind that Namibia is a huge country with diverse ecosystems. Just make sure to research the specific areas you plan to visit for accurate weather and seasonal information.
Find more information on the best time to visit here.
4 – What is the Currency in Namibia?
The currency used in Namibia is the Namibian dollar, abbreviated as N$. At the time of writing 100 N$ is around the 4.85 Euro mark.
Take note that not all hotels or shops will accept cards, cash is king!
Occasionally, you might receive South African Rand as change. Rest assured, there’s no need to be concerned; you’re not being deceived!
Do not worry, you are not getting scammed! The South African Currence is widely accepted in Namibia and holds the same value.
5 – How Much Should You Budget For Your Namibia Holiday?
This is an extremely personal question to answer and has so many factors to consider, such as if you are a backpacker and watching your pennies or if you are on a no-expense-spared Namibia holiday.
Let’s give it a go!
How Much Did We Spend on our 1-Month Namibia Holiday?
During our month-long trip to Namibia, we spent 1,750 Euros. However, we managed to keep costs down by renting a small car (although we recommend an SUV), staying with friends in Swakopmund, and cooking our meals.
If you’re planning a Namibia Holiday and considering expenses for a larger vehicle rental, accommodations, and eating out, we’d suggest budgeting almost double our spending for a typical Namibia holiday.
Visiting Namibia we found to be more expensive than other African countries due to the car rental, however, the costs were averaged out when you take into consideration the lower costs of camping.
Oh, we didn’t mention the camping option yet? Let’s get into it!
Namibia Holiday: Accommodation
We opted for a mostly camping trip in Namibia and would highly recommend renting a vehicle that offers camping gear/rooftop tent.
Not only is this cheaper and more efficient on those long road trip days but camping under the stars in the world’s oldest desert, now that is a Namibian experience not to be missed!
Namibia has accommodations to suit all budgets, yes even while camping!
For example, during your visit to Etosha National Park there are plenty of luxury camping choices – let’s call it glamping! Prices start from 100 Euro up to a LOT more! Especially if you wish to reside within Etosha National Park.
A popular choice is Eagle Tented Lodge & Spa. The lodge boasts a restaurant, bar and outdoor swimming pool which is surrounded by a lush bush. The luxury tents offer a lounge area and large deck with a bathtub and views. You are sure to have an unforgettable “glamping” experience here.
However, we found one of our favorite camping grounds of all time, Trading Post, just outside Etosha for a mere 23 euros per night and we loved it. See, something for every type of traveller!
Please support Happy Irish Wanderers, if you are planning on visiting Namibia then please use any of the provided links. This will earn us a small commission but won’t cost you anything extra!
Namibia Holiday: Food
Namibians love their meats and especially Braaied meats! You might be familiar with Braai, which is often known as a Barbecue or as a “Barbie” in Australia!
Given that we were camping and staying with friends we enjoyed many yummy braais and experienced them as a great social event, bringing people together to share food, and share stories.
Namibia Holiday: Alcohol
Alcohol is readily available in bars, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and liquor stores across the country. Alcohol is cheap with certain wines in a liquor store costing less than two Euros.
Along with Braais, Namibians also love their beer and Namibia has a thriving brewing industry. Windhoek Lager, produced by Namibia Breweries, is one of the most popular beers in the country.
Some other popular beers in Namibia include Tafel Lager, Hansa Pilsener, and Castle Lite. We can confirm they are all delicious!
6 – Transport – How to Get Around During Your Namibia Holiday?
In Namibia, the choice of transportation largely depends on various factors such as your Namibia itinerary, budget, and preferred level of flexibility.
Here are some common modes of transport in Namibia:
Car Rental: Renting a car is one of the most popular and convenient ways to explore Namibia, especially if you want flexibility and independence.
We rented a car for our trip, not a 4X4/SUV. This was doable but definitely a lot slower and we may have required some spine realignment afterwards!
We would recommend at least an SUV for your own comfort on the many gravel roads (including Etosha) and of course, a 4×4 vehicle is a necessity for off-road or more challenging terrains like in the desert regions.
Guided Tours: Joining guided tours or hiring a guide is a great option, especially if you prefer not to drive yourself. There are various tour operators offering guided safaris, cultural tours, and adventure trips to different parts of Namibia.
Public Transport: Public transport options in Namibia primarily include buses and minibusses, but these might not be as frequent or reliable, especially for reaching more remote areas.
- We used McClune’s Transport Services between Windhoek and Swakopmund on many occasions. The perks were that they pick you up at your accommodation and drop you off at your chosen destination. Booking was hassle-free and reliable.
- For broader regional travel, we highly recommend the Intercape bus service, connecting Windhoek to South Africa, Zambia, and Botswana efficiently.
Domestic Flights: Domestic flights are available between major towns and cities in Namibia, offering a quick way to cover long distances. Air travel is convenient for reaching more remote or distant destinations, saving time, and avoiding challenging road conditions.
Taxis: Taxis are available in urban areas and can be used for short distances within cities or towns. It’s recommended to negotiate fares before the journey as they might not always use meters.
Each mode of transport has its pros and cons. Renting a car provides flexibility, but it requires confident driving skills, especially on gravel roads.
Guided tours offer convenience and local expertise but might be more expensive. Public transport is cheaper but not as flexible or readily available in all areas.
*If you do rent a car be careful on the roads as Namibians like to drive FAST. You will also encounter many people along the roads hitchhiking. This is a very common occurrence in Namibia.
Is There Uber in Namibia?
Uber is not available in Namibia. Yet, there’s an alternative app called Yango that works similarly and can be used for rides.
7 – Can you use ATMs in Namibia?
Major cities like Windhoek, Swakopmund, and Walvis Bay have a good number of ATMs, however, in more remote or rural areas, the availability of ATMs might be limited.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to carry enough cash when traveling to such areas where access to ATMs might be scarce.
8 – What Socket Type to Use During Your Namibia Holiday?
In Namibia, the power plug sockets are of type D.
- Type D: mainly used in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and some African countries. This socket only works with plug D.
The standard EU two-pin Type C plug can also be used as some accommodations provide a converter. However, do not always rely on this.
9 – Is Namibia Safe?
In answering the important question “Is Namibia safe?” Personally, we never encountered any safety issues whilst in Namibia.
However, instances of petty theft, especially in urban areas and tourist hotspots, can occur.
It’s advisable to keep valuables secure, be cautious in crowded areas, and avoid displaying expensive items openly.
Trust your gut in regards to your own safety, as with anywhere in the world.
10 – Do You Tip in Namibia?
This was a big thing we learned during our Namibia holiday. Expect LOTS of tipping.
For example, when filling your vehicle at a petrol station the worker will also clean your windscreen. It is expected to tip for this extra job.
After you have finished your food shopping at a supermarket someone will appear to take your trolley back – again, a tip is expected for this action
Parking your car, someone will always show up. You are expected to tip what you deem reasonable for this person to “look after” your vehicle while you are away.
So How Much Do You Tip?
We were confused by this ourselves! We asked our Namibian friends this question and they advised that a few coins are sufficient, 5-20 Namibian dollars (.25 – 1 Euro).
*If you do not have change available just say so.
11 – What SIM Card to Get in Namibia?
When getting a SIM card in Namibia, you’ll need to provide identification so don’t forget to bring your passport. SIM cards are available for purchase at various retail outlets, official stores of the network operators, as well as at the international airports in Namibia.
The two best network providers in Namibia are MTC and Telecom. We would recommend going with Telecom for the best coverage in more remote areas.
12 – What Packing Essentials Do You Need for Your Namibia Holiday?
This is the same list we recommend for the majority of African travelers (and travel in general).
- Warm gear – It gets cold at night in the desert.
- Head torch – For your camping trip.
- Multi Travel Adapter – so you are prepared for any plug type!
- Dry bag – For the protection of everyday items from the sand, lots of sand!
- Battery pack – For those long bus journeys as well as electricity outages.
- Download apps such as Google Translate, Google Maps, and Booking.com.
- Utilize budget apps such as TravelSpend to keep track of your spending.
You can find the full list of our travel tips here.
13 – Is Namibia Worth Visiting?
Namibia brought a completely different feel from the previous African countries on our Cairo to Cape Town trip.
The freedom of having a car aided this feeling undoubtedly as well as the braaiing, camping, and basic outdoor lifestyle. This is right up our street and we absolutely loved it!
We couldn’t get enough of Namibia’s unique natural landscape. So much that it ranked number one in our list of “Best Landscapes in Africa”.
Although we drove a lap of Australia we both stated that we had never seen deserts like in Namibia. We even went so far as to suggest if you do not have the 6-12 months to do a lap of Australia then a month-long Namibia road trip is not a bad alternative!
Given that comparison, we hope you have already guessed that our answer to “Is Namibia worth visiting?” is 100% yes!
Enjoy Your Namibia Holiday!
Everyone needs to witness some of the most unique landscapes in the world and get booking their once in a lifetime trip to Namibia.
If you have any more questions about our trip please do not hesitate to ask! Also, we would LOVE to hear if you have already visited Namibia and/or if you are now planning to.
If you have any questions then leave us a comment below, and don’t forget to check out our socials.
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