11 things to know before you visit Namibia

With wide, expansive deserts, the biggest sand dunes in the world, and a thunderous wild coast, Namibia seems to have it all. Dry and arid conditions inland dramatically transition to salty ocean towns, and the landscape varies dramatically; with rocky, craggy peaks mellowing into the softest of sand dunes, before hardening into clay deserts, and then crumbling into lush beachside.

The country has something to offer for all types of travelers, and can be readily conquered by the most novice of backpackers, through to luxury holiday makers. We arrived and made our way impulsively; following our whims and fancies when it came to plotting our route. What was immediately apparent is that we would not have enough time to cover the entire country in our short visit, and so we opted for a shortened trip to some of the country’s highlights;

Windhoek
Mt Etjo
Etosha National Park
The White Lady
Sesriem
Sossusvlei
Swakopmund

You can read about each of these places in more detail over the next few posts.

For now, we want to share a few tips for first-time visitors to Namibia, looking to do self-drive tours.

1. Where exactly is Namibia?

Located in Southern Africa, Namibia shares a number of borders with other nations; Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the East, and South Africa to the South and East. While technically not sharing a border with Zimbabwe, the width of the Zambezi separates the two nations.

2. You are going to have a lot of alone time.

With roughly only 2.3 million people spread across its expansive 824,292 s.q. km coverage, one of my favourite things about Namibia from the moment of arrival is the sense of space. With such diluted population density, there was an extended feeling of peace and quiet, with many of our daily drives only encountering one or two other cars between campsites, if that. While this dilution of people is not the same in all areas of Namibia (with a natural increase in density around major cities) the feeling of ‘openness’ is pretty static, no matter where you are.

3. Namibian Dollars

As a couple that regularly travels to South Africa, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that the Namibian dollar is equal to the South African Rand; something that made it much easier when calculating costs and establishing budgets. In addition to this, many shops that we stopped at actually accepted Rands; the airport ATM disbursed them! While many things are reasonably priced, such as food and drinks, some costs simply cannot be avoided; such as fuel. It’s always a good idea to carry at least some cash, however we found that many places allowed for payment on debit card, and both of our foreign cards were accepted without any difficulty.

4. You will need a 4WD

There are a huge range of companies that rent out 4×4 pickups/utes/trucks that are fully equipped with camping gear, tents, extra fuel tanks and all manner of equipment. These vehicles are the best at handling the rough terrain and sand that you inevitably come across on the daily. We rented our vehicle from Autovermietung Savanna, and found that they had thought of every possibility when it came to doing an overland trip. If you are not able or comfortable in renting a self-drive vehicle, there are some companies that can arrange guided tours for you.

With self-drives in mind, it’s important that you know how to manage the vehicle. Whilst many car hire places provide emergency numbers in the event of a breakdown or accident, it is important that you know how to monitor your fuel consumption, change a tyre, and put up a tent. If not, you might be waiting a long time for help to drive by.

5. Learn to read a map

Between towns and populated areas, there is a large amount of countryside not covered by mobile service; meaning that you cannot make or receive calls or SMS, or use Google Maps. Be sure to pick up a hardcopy map from your car rental agency, or consider downloading the Namibia edition of Tracks4Africa, to ensure that you are headed in the right direction. Most roads are well sign posted, however it is always better to be prepared. If you’re someone who regularly uses Spotify, Deezer, or an Apple/Android music service, it’s also worth downloading music onto your phone, as streaming is not effective outside of major areas.

6. Be sure to hydrate, and carry supplies

I was alarmed at how quickly we dehydrated while we were driving around. As we live in a tropical climate much of time, I was not used to the excessive dryness of Namibia, and was immensely grateful that we over-catered for water, as ultimately it ended up being the perfect amount. We averaged over 3L of drinking water each per day, and I would recommend you allow for the same. On the same thread, taking hand creams, lip balms and moisturizers is also advisable as your skin and face are sure to dry out under the desert sun. Be sure to always keep extra food and water in your vehicle, as if you run into trouble, it may take a day or two for help to reach you. Dried or canned food, along with extra water never goes astray.

7. Free camping is not allowed, and do not drive at night

In decades past, travelers could pitch their tents on the side of the road if night fell whilst they were driving. These days, free camping is not allowed, and you are required to check into a registered campsite each night. Many spots do fill up quickly, and so we recommend that you book at least a few of your major stops in advance in order to avoid disappointment, especially over holiday weekends. If you have misjudged your travel time and find yourself unable to reach your intended campsite before dusk, it is best that you make alternative arrangements, and try to find one closer. One of the leading causes of death to tourists is accidents as a result of self-drives; many people are unfamiliar with the driving conditions, and so it is always ill-advised to attempt driving after dark. If you find yourself stranded at a full campsite without a booking, you should still request to stay in their overflow area, or a spot adjacent to their camp, for your own safety.

8. Finding the best accommodation

In cities, AirBNB is always a good place to look, as well as Booking.com. Many campsites are also registered on Booking.com, and we recommend you contact them by phone, rather than email in order to speak to someone directly, as we found that email responses can sometimes be poorly timed. For the best call rates, consider buying a local sim card at the airport upon arrival.

9. Languages other than English are prevalent

While English is a national language, Afrikaans and German are also very commonly encountered, especially by Caucasian tourists. The most widely spoken languages used in households are Oshiwambo dialects, Nama/Damara language, Kavango language, and Herero. If English is not your first language, but the only one in your arsenal for your Namibia trip, you can rest assured that most people you encounter will be disarmingly friendly and accommodating. To brush up on your English, German or Afrikaans, download the Duolingo app a few weeks before your trip, to brush up on your greetings.

10. The food is great for meat eaters

With heavy influences from South Africa, Germany and traditional African cuisine, Namibia has a wide and range of meat dishes, and a seemingly never-ending supply of game meat, drywors and biltong available. With spectacular South African wines readily available, it’s very easy to throw together a simple meal for a reasonable price. As a vegan, I found that most coffee places we stopped at did not have plant milks available, however there are a number of supermarkets which stock plenty of vegan options to take with us on our travels. If you find yourself in Windhoek, be sure to check out Joe’s Beerhouse for a great range of brews and wines, in a quirky and eccentric setting.

11. Although it is desert terrain, you will probably get cold.

While the days of driving were often blisteringly hot, the nights in our little tent were chilly, and I was very appreciative of having jeans and jumpers readily available. When we went it was around Easter, and although it wasn’t in the middle of winter, carrying at least a pair of jeans, a jumper and a shell jacket is strongly advised. During winter months they become necessary, as the temperature can dip to below 10 degrees celcius. If camping, make sure your sleeping bag is cozy; “it’s always better to have and not need, than to need and not have!”

Getting There

Air

As we were coming from Tanzania, we flew via Addis on Ethiopian Airlines; which I cannot recommend enough. If you are coming from or via South Africa, South African Airways run multiple flights per day, arriving in Windhoek. Check Skyscanner for the best deals on flights from your closest city.

Bus

For South Africans, the Intercape Mainliner runs services from Cape Town, Victoira Falls and Johannesburg, and is a convenient option for travellers looking to cut costs. For other border crossings there are a mix of busses and taxis, however more information would be best sought from those points of origin.

Car

There are a number of border posts to cross at from South Africa, such as Vioolsdrift/Nordoewer Mata Mata, Rietfontain, Nakop, Onseepkans, Sendelingsdrif, and Alexander Bay. Self-drive crossings are also available from Botswana, Zambia and Angola, however as we did not enter this way, we cannot vouch for the convenience or accessibility of these routes.