What should i know about namibia

But had mixed feelings after my visit. The result of this has been many community-based tourism initiatives that provide social and monetary benefits to the communities and authentic experience for visitors.

That enables them to travel for miles across sand dunes to reach the water. You can find out more about desert elephants here. Or at the very least check out this 3-hour game drive. The easiest, but perhaps scariest is lying down and heading down the dune headfirst. The second is standing up, which is slower, but more difficult to master. I definitely preferred the head first version.

I learned that climbing up sand dunes is breathtaking, but exhausting, perhaps even more so than hiking up mountains! Check out this 3-day tour to fully explore Sossusvlei. The capital city of Namibia is Windhoek. The president, elected to a five-year term, is both head of government and head of state. The geography of Namibia is diverse and attracts ecotourists. The Kalahari Desert is perhaps its best known feature. The climate is very dry and only one percent of the land is arable, but half the population depends on subsistence agriculture.

The population density of Namibia is very low compared to other countries, while the income inequality is very high. Food in Namibia is absolutely delicious.

Every single meal we had in Namibia was really good. All the lodges where we stayed made an effort to prepare special meals for the children as well. Furthermore, there were usually many more options than the usual spaghetti or fries. Most hotels in Namibia have breakfast and dinner included, so you only have to worry about lunch. As you can imagine, there are not many places where you can eat during the day when traveling in remote areas.

Most lodges offer to prepare a lunch pack for you upon request. Alternatively, stop at the supermarket before you leave the town and stock up on water and some food that stays good for a couple of days. Taking a travel cooler 12V with you will give you lots of flexibility on the road. You can use credit cards in most lodges and restaurants, but you do need to carry some cash as well.

Tipping is expected everywhere so make sure you always have some small notes on you. When you park your car in the city, at the campaigns, and some other areas, often you will see men asking for some change in order to guard your car.

I also recommend packing a power bank , especially if you are planning to use your smartphone camera a lot. One of the nicest things about a vacation in truly remote areas is that you can disconnect from the rest of the world. No emails distracting your attention, no Facebook feeds, no tweets…. Furthermore, Wi-Fi connection is often pretty slow and unreliable. If you go camping, you will probably be offline during the whole trip, except during your stay in Windhoek or Swakopmund.

Cell phone coverage is good in some places and nonexistent in the others, so you cannot count on it either. If you go on a long trip to Namibia and want to travel light, you will need to do your laundry there.

Also, it can be cheap or quite expensive, depending on the lodge you are staying at. Some people recommend asking one of the maids at the hotel as they usually agree to do your laundry for a minimal fee, but we never tried this. We packed enough clothes for two weeks and did the laundry only once in our hotel in Swakopmund which was just about in the middle of our trip.

We booked a self-catering apartment owned and operated by Cornerstone Guesthouse with all the facilities and it was really convenient when traveling with the family. When you travel in Namibia, sand is everywhere.

It really makes no sense to worry about it because you really cannot avoid it. But you can prepare for it a bit. All the baggage stowed in the trunk of your car will quickly be covered by sand when you drive on gravel roads.

So do not take your newest suitcases on this trip! If you want to avoid sand getting inside your bags, you can place your luggage in a big disposable plastic bag think plastic trash bags or at least cover it up a bit. Alternatively, carry a brush to dust off the bags. For most of us, Namibia is really a once in a lifetime bucket list trip. So make sure you pack the best camera that you have!

You will need two types of photo lenses in Namibia — a wide lens for landscapes and telelenses for wildlife. I took mm and mm lenses with me and it was sufficient. Alternatively, get a good point-and-shoot camera with a strong zoom lens like, for example, this budget-friendly camera.

Buying batteries outside the cities seems to be a big issue in Namibia, so make sure you stock up on batteries in advance. Half a day is sufficient. Better spend the first and the last nights of your trip at one of the many lodges outside the city. You will be glad you did! Many first-timer travelers to Namibia are wondering whether they should stay in Walvis Bay or in Swakopmund.

The two places are just a short ride from each other, and so I would advise visiting Walvis Bay, but staying in Swakopmund. How should I put it? Swakopmund is more touristic, has a nice downtown area, beautiful buildings, lots of restaurants and hotels, a nice beach… It just feels more like a vacation place.

Swakopmund is the perfect base for various day trips and excursions. As a part of a road trip, I would plan at least 3 nights in Swakopmund. That gives you time to do a couple of day trips in the area. Also, staying in a town with all kinds of facilities is a welcome break from traveling in the desert for days in a row.

There are plenty of dining options, many shops, banks, doctors… For us, it felt a bit like an oasis in the desert. There are many poor people in Africa, so try to help local communities in small ways. Buy something small from a street vendor, leave a tip for the cleaning staff, and be generous when tipping hotel staff and tour guides. Often, the amounts are really insignificant compared to the cost of your trip, but they can make a huge difference to the local people.

Do you have some old clothing or shoes that you plan to throw away after the trip? Guests visiting Namibia must be in possession of a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of travel and should have two blank pages available in their passport.

Step 3: Tick off those grand bucket list experiences that will fire your imagination. To see our cookies, view our full Privacy Policy. Travel Advice Namibia is a safe and stable country boasting modern infrastructure and facilities and one of the cleanest and neatest African capitals. Safety It is advised you check with your tour operator or hotel concierge — they will know if there are any potentially unsafe areas along your travel route.

Photography Please be sensitive when photographing people. What the Experts Say Bear in mind that Namibia is a country of high temperatures.