Getting to Namibia

Namibia is in itself a stand alone destination, and with flights between Victoria Falls, Botswana, Cape Town and Johannesburg it can be combined with any Southern Africa itinerary.

» The International Airport in Windhoek is called Hosea Kutako named after a famous Namibian freedom fighter
» Eros, Keetmanshoop, Oranjemund, Ondangwa, Oshakati, Grootfontein, Mpacha, Runud, Walvis Bay and Luderitz Airports are also available for immigration and customs
» Eros Airport is outside of Windhoek and has daily flights to Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Etosha
» Namibia is well supported by a Charter Flight network
» Air Namibia is the national carrier and has operated for many years
» British Airways, South African Airways and Lufthansa all operate flights to Namibia.

There are major airlines flying into Namibia from Europe, Australia and America to Windhoek. However, flights are limited and it can be cheaper to fly into South Africa and go overland (by bus or with a rental vehicle) 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, 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.

Namibian Transport & Road Network

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, connecting the various lodges and areas, enabling us to provide luxury fly in safaris throughout the country.

There is also a good road network making it possible to self drive around Namibia.

Cars, motorbikes and 4WDs are available for hire, but remember distances between places can be vast in Namibia and some places are only accessible by good graded gravel roads. A few remote areas require a 4wd vehicle. The cost of fuel can also be substantial when covering such vast distances a more economic and less tiring way to see the country is to hire a guide to do the driving or take one of the many excellent scheduled safaris - click here for more information on Namibian Safaris.

Joining an organised camping tour, will enable you to see far-flung places like the Skeleton Coast, Damaraland, the Kaokoveld, Kunene Valley and Bushmanland - without breaking your budget. Typically, these range from guided accommodated safaris to low-tech camping-and-transport affairs.

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.

There are taxis in Windhoek and a local bus service.

Namibian Weather & Climate

With great weather, friendly people, amazing views, fantastic wildlife, deserts and mountains. It is possible to travel to Namibia throughout the whole year.

Namibia has a dry climate, and weather typical of a semi desert country where droughts are a regular occurrence. Days are mostly warm to very hot, while nights are generally cooler. Expect daytime temperatures that sear into the high thirties throughout the year.

When the rain that does fall arrives it is in the summer months and takes the form of short sharp showers.

During summer the temperatures in the desert can almost be unbearable and therefore activities are limited to early mornings and late afternoons. During winter months the temperatures during the day are more moderate but the morning and night time temperatures plummet as a lack of cloud means that the is nothing to keep the warmth in. Temperatures at the coast are more comfortable where the cool Benguela current cools the coastline.

» Namibia's peak season runs from July to October. This coincides with 'winter game viewing' in Etosha national park. Book early for these periods.
» Travelling outside of these times offers you of better availability, and sometimes lower off season rates.

July to October: Namibian Peak Travel Season

Namibia is exceptionally busy and popular between July and October, this is winter, the temperatures are more moderate, the nights cool and the days warm and sunny. This is usually the most popular time to visit Namibia as the game viewing in Etosha, Damaraland and Caprivi Strip is at its best at this time of year. However, the lodges and hotels are full and availability is exceptionally limited. Booking well in advance is absolutely critical to the success of planning your trip at this time of year.

Namibian Flag

Namibian Currency

Namibian Time Zone

Namibian Languages & Culture

English is the official language of Namibia, German and Afrikaans are also widely spoken.

There are a number of other languages spoken within the different Namibian cultures - see Namibian History and Culture for more information.

Namibian Electricity Supply

Namibian Visas and Entry Requirements

Namibian Food

Namibian History and Culture

Namibia's inhabitants range from hunter-gatherers, herders and farmers to an urban population of semi skilled, skilled and highly skilled people, including traders, industrialists, civil servants and professionals.

When you travel to Namibia you will immediately see there is a diverse amount of culture in the country. Most of the culture in the country is as a result of its history and the various communities from which they came from. Some 1.8 million people live in Namibia. They form a fairly diverse population, spare in much of the country, with only 2.1 people per square kilometre. Over 70% of the Namibians belong to dark skinned, Bantu speaking peoples such as the Ovambo and Herero.The population of Khoisan, consisting primarily of San ( Bushman ) although small in comparison is the largest in Africa. Other cultural minorities include the Damara, the Whites ( mainly Afrikaners and ethnic Germans ), and people of mixed blood known as Coloured and Basters.

»Notable examples of Namibiia’s diverse cultural groups are the Herero woman in distinctive Victorian dresses
»Listen to the Nama or the Damara who speak with intriguing clicking sounds
»Meet Himba women with their intricate hairstyles and ornamental copper necklaces and anklets
»San people are the last representatives of the hunter gatherer tradition
Namibian Cultural Background

Namibian Wildlife

Travel to Namibia and see the extradordinary adaptation the wildlife and plants have made to living in this harsh environment. From large trees to small insects everything seems to make every effort to conserve water simply to exist.

· See the Desert Elephants in Damaraland who have adapted to live for water for up four days
· The Terebrionid Beetles collect fog for water in the Namib Desert
· Photograph the Oryx in Sossusvlei who can control the temperature in their brains by passing it through capillaries
· Damaraland is a hot bed of Ghecko evolution and home to the largest population of Desert Black Rhino in the world
· See the seals at the Cape Cross Seal Colony
· Caprivi Strip is a verdant oasis of rivers and wetland not unlike Chobe and Okavango
· Experience awesome Etosha National Park with its vast salt pan and surrounding waterholes drawing in all the animals and birds.

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