Tourism Information

Come lose yourself in a land as vast and big as the sky. A place where the mountains are made of sand and the plains stretch to an endless horizon.
Where the quiver tree speaks of the dawn of creation and the game roams free from the intrusion of man. Come to NAMIBIA and find a land of never-ending discovery…!

Climate

The best time to visit is during the cool, dry winter months of May to September. In summer, November to March, the landscape is verdant green, but expect high temperatures and heavy downpours.

Summers here are hot with daily highs of over 28° Celsius (82 ° F) between October and February; evenings are usually cooler. Winter days are milder, with maximum and minimum means of 20 ° C (69 ° F) and 6° C (43° F) in July, but early mornings and evenings are crisp with frost.

Size and geographical situation

Namibia is situated in south-western Africa on the latitude of the tropic of Capricorn. In the north it borders on Angola, in the east on Botswana, in the south on South Africa and in the west on the Atlantic Ocean. The Caprivi, in the far north-east of the country, extends as far east as Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Namibia has a surface area of 823 144 km². It is four times the size of Great Britain, more than twice the size of Germany and larger than Texas.

Topography

The country has many contrasting landscapes. Thorn-bush Savannah in the central highlands, dense bushveld, woodland Savannah's and the endless plains of the Etosha Pan in the north, the majestic Fish River Canyon in the south, and finally the Namib, the world’s oldest living desert, in the west of the country, which borders on the Atlantic Ocean.

Population

According to a 1998 estimate, Namibia has a population of 1,8 million, with a population density of 1,7 people per square kilometer, and an annual population growth of 3,1%. The population is heterogeneous, with all eleven population-groups living together peacefully and giving the country a treasure house of diverse cultures.

The largest part of the population lives in rural areas. Windhoek, the capital, is the only city in the country with a population of approximately 250 000. Other bigger towns in the country are Keetmanshoop, Ondangwa, Oshakati, Otjiwarongo, Rehoboth, Rundu, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Tsumeb.

Health requirements

Vaccinations against smallpox, cholera and yellow fever are not required. However, visitors travelling from or through countries where yellow fever is endemic must be in possession of a valid International Certificate of Vaccination. This requirement does not apply to air travelers in transit.

Please contact your outfitter for further medical details or your local medical practitioner.

No major vaccinations are required.

Air travel

The Chief Hosea Kutako Airport (Windhoek International Airport), 45 km (28 miles) east of the capital, is the major point of entry into Namibia. There are landing strips throughout the country and air-charter services are available in Windhoek and Swakopmund (coastal town).

Flights from USA
Flights depart on a daily basis from Atlanta, Chicago and New York to Johannesburg. There is also a daily connecting flight between Johannesburg and Windhoek International Airport (Chief Hosea Kutako Airport). Please contact DELTA AIRLINE International flight division for more information.

Flights from Europe
Direct flights are available from Frankfurt (Germany) or London (England) to Windhoek, Namibia. Other destinations in Europe can be routed through Johannesburg where daily connecting flights are available to Windhoek, Namibia. Please contact your travel agent for further details.

What to wear

During the day dress is generally casual, but in some of the more sophisticated hotel restaurants and bars, jeans, T-shirts and slip-slops are not acceptable during the evening when "smart casual" clothes are the norm.

Early mornings and evenings can be cold during the winter months (May to September), so pack warm clothing such as trousers, long-sleeved shirts, a jersey or anorak. During the hot summer months (October to April) loose-fitting clothes, a wide-rimmed hat and raincoat are essential. After rain, temperatures drop by quite a few degrees so include a light jersey for the occasional cool summer evening. Mosquitoes can be troublesome during summer, so remember to pack loose-fitting trousers and long-sleeved shirts to protect legs and arms during the evenings. Warm clothing is necessary throughout the year along the coast where fog and a chilly breeze can create unpleasant conditions.

Time

In summer, Namibian Standard Time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and the same as South African Standard Time; in winter, Namibian Standard Time is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and thus one hour behind South African Standard Time. Summer time commences at 02:00 on the first Sunday of September; wintertime commences on the first Sunday of April.