Namibia - basics - Countries Guide

Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the first Sunday in April and the first Sunday in September).

Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round three-pin plugs are standard.

Language: English is the official language, but many people also speak Afrikaans and German. There are also several indigenous languages spoken, mainly in the rural areas.

Health: A yellow fever certificate is required for all travellers arriving from infected areas. Travellers should ensure their polio vaccinations are up to date as there was a Polio outbreak in July 2006. There is a malaria risk in the northern region during the rainy season, from January to April. HIV/AIDS is prevalent and precautions are essential. Cholera outbreaks do occur and visitors should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. There has been an increase in the incidence of rabies among dogs in Windhoek. There are good medical facilities in Windhoek, but medical insurance is essential as treatment is expensive. Travellers to Namibia should take medical advice at least four weeks prior to departure.

Tipping: Tips of 10% are expected where a service charge has not been included in the bill. Tour guides, game rangers and trackers rely on tips for their income and should be tipped accordingly.

Safety: The majority of visits to Namibia are trouble-free, but beware of street crime and pickpockets in the town centres. Theft from vehicles, especially from service stations, is common and valuables should be kept out of sight and the car locked. Avoid using taxis if possible and never take one alone. Care should be taken when travelling in the Caprivi Strip; travel in daylight hours only (livestock wandering onto roads at night cause many accidents) and stay on the main tarred highway, as there is a risk of landmines remaining from the Angolan civil war.

Customs: It is best to check before taking pictures of State House or properties where the President is residing, as well as any buildings guarded by the army or police.

Communications: The international access code for Namibia is +264. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)61 for Windhoek. Most towns are covered by a GSM 900/1800 mobile network. Internet access is available from some hotels and Internet cafes are available in Windhoek and Walvis Bay.

Duty Free: Travellers to Namibia over 16 years do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco; 2 litres wine and 1 litre spirits or liquor; 50ml perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; and gifts to the value of N$50,000.

Climate: Rainfall occurs exclusively in the summer months, between November and February, when heavy thunderstorms can be expected. Summer is very hot and the Namib Desert should be avoided at this time as temperatures are often above 104ºF (40ºC). The coast is cooler and often foggy. The best time to visit is during the winter months from March to October (April and June are preferable) as days are warm and dry, and wildlife easier to spot as they tend to congregate at waterholes. Nights can be very cold with frost.
Cities & Regions: The Namib Desert | Windhoek | Fish River Canyon | Etosha National Park