How to get there
Transportation to Namibia is usually by air, with direct
flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as direct
international flights from Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf
and London. Hosea Kutako International Airport is situated
45 km's east of Windhoek, as strong prevailing winds and
high mountain ranges render the Windhoek valley unsuitable
for large planes to land.
Credit Cards
International Visa, Diners Club, American Express and
MasterCard credit cards are generally accepted, while
the Speedpoint and ATM facilities assure quick and efficient
service. Holders of other card types are advised to clarify
whether their card qualifies as an acceptable payment
method in Namibia. You have the possibility to exchange
foreign currency at a number of hotels and lodges throughout
the country. Note: No credit cards are accepted at petrol
service stations.
Local time
Namibia’s summertime is two hours ahead of GMT from
the first Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April.
Wintertime is one hour ahead of GMT, from the first Sunday
in April to the first Sunday in September.
Currency
The Namibia Dollar (N$) equals the South African Rand
(ZAR) 1:1. The South African Rand is legal tender in Namibia
and is accepted throughout for payment. Denominations:
5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, N$1, N$5, N$10, N$20, N$50, N$100,
N$200.
Water
Tap water is safe to drink throughout the country, except
for isolated rural areas, where the consumption of filtered
or bottled mineral water is recommended.
Electricity
220/240 Volts AC. Round two or three-pole 15 amp plugs
are used, it is advisable to buy an appropriate adapter
before leaving home.
Health
and entry requirements
Due to the hot dry climate Namibia is virtually free of
tropical diseases, therefore health certificates are not
normally required. Visitors arriving from a yellow fever
zone require a valid international yellow fever inoculation
certificate. Anti malaria prophylactics area advisable
if visiting the north of Namibia. A valid passport, which
is valid for 6 months beyond intended departure, is required.
Contact your nearest Namibian Tourism Board office or
Namibian Embassy for an updated list.
Medical
Services
All major centres have state-run hospitals and in Windhoek
there are currently three world-standard hospitals. Doctors
are listed under ‘Classified Medical Listings’
in the local telephone directory. As Namibia is such a
vast country, emergency medical evacuation services extend
to the furthest corners of Namibia and are supported by
a well-developed charter industry and a good road network.
Insurance covering travel, accidents, illness and hospitalisation
is advised for the duration of your stay and must be arranged
at time of booking.
Climate
Seasons are opposite to those of the northern hemisphere.
Namibia averages 300 days of sunshine a year! The climate
is typical of a semi-desert country where droughts are
a regular occurrence. September to April are summer months
with the rainfall season from October to April. Winter
ranges from May – August. At the coast hot east-wind
weather may occur during winter times.
| The average temperatures
in degrees Celsius are: |
| Tourist Centre |
Summer |
Winter |
| Windhoek |
15°C - 35°C |
7°C - 28°C |
| Swakopmund |
12°C - 22°C |
9° - 18°C |
| Fish River Canyon |
17°C – 34°C |
6°C – 27°C |
| Etosha National Park |
17°C – 32°C |
7°C – 26°C |
| Average rainfall figures vary from
less than 50 mm along the coast to 350 mm in the
central and 700 mm in the far northeastern regions. |
Language
The official language is English but German and Afrikaans
are widely spoken and understood. Namibia has 15 ethnic
groups with some 27 languages and dialects being spoken. |
