Namibia Tours

• The Namib Desert is the world’s oldest desert.
• Dragon’s Breath Lake in the Otavi Mountains, Namibia, is the world’s largest underground lake and is about 2 hectares in size
• The largest complete meteorite landed in Namibia about 80,000 years ago, and weighs about 50 tonnes
• Namibia has the highest population of cheetahs
• Prior to 1915, Namibia was a German colony and during World War I, was taken over by South African forces
• Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990

Australian passport holders travelling to Namibia need a visa at this time. An E-visa needs to be applied for prior to travel. Please visit the Passports and Visas page for more information.

We require that your passport is valid for travel for at least six months from the date you are planning to return to Australia. Your passport must be valid to travel internationally and must be machine-readable. You also need to carry a valid return ticket on you.

Whether travelling on an Australian passport or the passport of another country, all travellers require visas for a number of countries, and it is your responsibility to secure what may be required before departing Australia. You can consult with your travel agent, but it is also recommended that you check the foreign embassy website for your respective destination as it can also provide you with useful information.

The Australian High Commission in South Africa is responsible for Namibia:

292 Orient Street
Arcadia
Pretoria 0083
South Africa
Ph. +27 12 423 6000
Fax. +27 12 342 8442

Australian Honorary Consulate in Namibia:

56 Chalcedoon Street
PO Box 86491, Eros
Windhoek
Ph: +264 61 300 194
Fax: +264 88 640 002

The official currency of Namibia is the Namibian Dollar. Notes come in denominations of N$200, 100, 50, 20 and 10.

The recommended currency to take to Namibia is the US Dollar, as their local currencies are not available outside of the region. Ensure you request smaller clean notes as many places will not exchange large denominations or notes that are torn and dirty. Once there, you can exchange your US Dollar for the Namibian Dollar. Ensure you change a small amount into small denominations.

Advise your bank of your travel plans so that they can make a note of it, otherwise they may cancel your credit card as a safety measure due to the overseas transactions. Also make a note of the 24-hour emergency contact number of the bank or building society which issued your credit card in the unlikely event that your card is lost or stolen.

Whenever possible use ATMs when the banks are open (Mon – Fri) so that if a machine ‘eats’ your card you can then deal with it straight away. It is always advisable to carry a supply of cash in addition to your credit card.

If you don’t have US Dollars with you on arrival, we advise you to exchange some money into the local currency at the airport even if the exchange rate is not the best, this way you’ll have money to get a drink, snack or give a tip during those first few hours of arrival. Your guide will be able to advise you on the best places to exchange money.

Small change is also useful for paying for toilets while on tour which is customary in many places outside of Australia.

• The price of a cappuccino in Windhoek is approximately USD2
• The price of an inexpensive lunch is approximately USD10
• The price dinner in a moderate restaurant is approximately USD20 - 22
• The price of a beer in a local pub is approximately USD1.75

Meat, whether it is stewed, smoked or fried, features as a large part of the cuisine in Namibia. In the pre-colonial period, indigenous cuisine was characterised by the use of a very wide range of fruits, nuts, bulbs, leaves and other products gathered from wild plants and by the hunting of wild game. However, the colonial period and the subsequent large tracts of land owned by the white minority restricted and discouraged traditional agriculture and wild harvesting. Some Namibian specialties include Potjiekos (one-pot bush stew); Rauchfleisch (smoked meat); game such as antelope, ostrich or zebra cooked on a braai (barbecue) and if you are a beer drinker, local brews Tafel Lager or Windhoek Lager are worth a try.

Important: When dining at buffets (i.e. breakfast) please refrain from taking food away with you to ‘save’ for later!  If you feel that you’ll need snacks between meals, pack some dried fruit, nuts, muesli bars etc.

If you have specific food allergies and/or preferences, we highly recommend you take every precaution before your tour, including carrying a small card with your food allergy listed in each language of every country you are travelling to show to table staff when ordering. Whilst we take all dietary requirements seriously, due to the serious nature of potential allergic reactions, it is your responsibility to be as prepared as possible.

Namibia has an amazing 300 plus days of sunshine per year, so you are almost guaranteed sunny weather whenever you travel. Travelling during the dry, cooler winter months of April, May and June can possibly mean a better wildlife experience, as the animals are forced to travel to the watering hole for their water.

Want to get out and explore on your own?

Windhoek has a local bus service and taxis are freely available but walking in a group may be the safest way of seeing the local sights.

When catching taxis, make sure you have small change on you and choose one with a meter, if it doesn’t have one then negotiate the price before getting in. We recommend you ask your guide or hotel staff the names of reputable taxi companies.

So, you’d love to bring home a special souvenir from Namibia…

Most of the shopping opportunities in Namibia focus on jewellery pieces with Namibian diamonds and semi-precious stones. If buying diamonds, make sure that they are accompanied by a certificate authenticating their quality - it's not unheard of to be ripped off. Local crafts include wood carvings, karosse rugs and Herero dolls. Handicrafts are plentiful and wood carvings are one of the most popular souvenirs. These are usually of giraffes or one of the big five and range from models as big as your palm to towering seven-foot tall creations that aren't going to fit in your hand-luggage.

• Always travel with others, especially after dark. Travelling in groups of three of four is strongly advised. Keep to well-lit, public places such as shopping malls and restaurants. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, as street crimes are commonplace
• Keep identification on you at all times – a photocopy of your passport page is sufficient.
• Don't take photos indiscriminately. Many people object to having their pictures taken, so ask permission first. Military installations, airports and bridges should never be photographed
• Don’t carry around non-essentials and valuables. Use your hotel safe and don't flash expensive jewellery, watches and cameras