To visit Namibia is to be catapulted into a timeless landscape, with virgin spaces that unfold into infinity. Game viewing opportunities are exceptional - cheetah, lion, rhinoceros, zebra - and you will also experience a mosaic of ethnic groups whose heritage has been preserved down the centuries, including the Khoi-khoi, San, Kavango, Herero, Owambo and Afrikaner peoples. From the highest sand dunes in the world to the centre of the Namibian desert, to the magnificent game reserve of Etosha teeming with lion, leopard, elephant, cheetah and giraffe ... passing through the mighty Fish River Canyon, one of the deepest in the world, Kaokoland - a rare African wilderness and the INTRO of the Himbas, one of the few remaining nomadic tribes. Namibia will captivate you with a unique experience!


USEFUL INFORMATION

Visa
Passport - valid six months after date of entry.

Time Difference
Summer: 1st Sunday in Sep - 1st Sunday in Apr: +2 hrs GMT
Winter: 1st Sunday in Apr - 1st Sunday in Sep: +1 hrs GMT

Electricity
Namibia electricity supply: 220/230 volts AC 50 Hz. Most plugs have three round pins but some plugs with two smaller pins are also found on appliances. Adaptors can be purchased.

Currency & Credit Cards
The Namibia Dollar and South African Rand are the only legal tender in Namibia and can be used freely to purchase goods and services. Traveller's cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged during normal banking hours (MON-FRI 09:00-15:30 & SAT 09:00-11:00) at any of the commercial banks, and at Bureau de Change offices. Visa and MasterCard credit cards are generally accepted. Visitors may bring any amount of foreign currency into the country. Note: No Credit cards are accepted at petrol filling stations.

Language
The official language in Namibia is English; Afrikaans is the common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population. Other officials languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama. 

Tax
All goods and services are priced to include value added tax of 15%. Visitors may reclaim VAT at the Hosea Kutako International Airport, Eros- and Walvis Bay Airport.

Tipping
Tipping is common practice in Namibia for a range of services. In restaurants the accepted standard is around 10% of the bill. Porters receive 2 to 5 N$ and a petrol station attendant about 2 N$.

Weather
Summer (October-April) Average interior temperatures range from 20C-34C during the day. Temperatures above 40C are often recorded in the extreme north and south of the country. The rainy season is from October - April. The average annual rainfall varies from less than 50mm along the coast to 350mm in the central interior and 700mm in the Caprivi

Malaria
While malaria is found mainly in the north of the country, it has also been reported in the central region. Tourist can help reduce the risk of malaria by using personal protection measures (mosquito net at night, long sleeves and long trousers at night, apply mosquito repellents to skin and clothing…) and prophylactics.

Personal safety
For tourists, Namibia is as safe as any other destination in the world. Namibia boasts a vast array of cultures, communities, sites and attractions. Most parts of the country can be safely visited by tourists provided they take basic common-sense precautions (for example not walking alone in deserted areas at night and being circumspect about how much photographic equipment or flashy jewellery you carry).

Driving
Vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road. An international driver’s license should be obtained if the driver’s license is not in one of the major European languages. Travelers must ensure that the vehicle has enough fuel and oil, that there is water in the radiator and that there are 5 to 10 liters of water in the vehicle at all times, for drinking and filling the radiator, in the case of emergency. Travelers should be particularly cautious when driving on gravel roads.

Vaccinations
Visitors who are entering Namibia from a yellow fever zone must have a valid international yellow fever inoculation certificate. Only infants under the age of one year are exempt. Immunization against cholera and small pox are not required and no other vaccinations are required when visiting Namibia.

Shopping
Most major shopping centers and malls operate 7 days a week, but you will find that in the smaller towns and rural areas that shops are closed on a Sunday.
Monday - Saturday: 09:00 to 17:00
Sunday: 09:00 - 14:00