Namibia
One of the least densely populated countries on Earth, Namibia is made for self-driving: red dunes at Sossusvlei, rhinos and elephants at Etosha's waterholes, the fog-bound Skeleton Coast and the vast Fish River Canyon. Swakopmund adds German bakeries and adventure sports. Gravel roads are generally good, distances are long and the night skies are spectacular.
Overview
Namibia is more than three times the size of the UK yet home to only about three million people. A first trip is usually a two- to three-week self-drive loop from Windhoek: south-west to the dunes of Sossusvlei, west to Swakopmund on the coast, north through Damaraland's rock art and desert-adapted elephants, then east to Etosha National Park before returning to the capital. With more time, add the Fish River Canyon and the diamond-rush ghost town of Kolmanskop in the far south, or the river-fed Zambezi Region in the north-east.
Distances dominate: you may drive five hours between stops, mostly on gravel, so plan one long drive a day and avoid driving after dark. Costs are higher than many expect, because lodges near the big sights charge safari prices, but camping with a rooftop tent on a hired 4x4 cuts them sharply. Crowds are light outside Etosha and Sossusvlei, and the dry winter months bring cold nights, clear skies and the best wildlife viewing. Namibia suits self-sufficient road-trippers, photographers and families wanting an easy introduction to safari.
Map of Namibia
Top 5 highlights
- 1Nature
Sossusvlei and Deadvlei
Some of the world's tallest dunes, rusty red with iron oxide, surround these clay pans in the Namib-Naukluft park. Climb Big Daddy at sunrise and photograph Deadvlei's centuries-old dead camel thorn trees against the orange sand.
- 2Wildlife
Etosha National Park
Etosha's vast salt pan draws elephants, lions, black rhinos and big herds of zebra and springbok to its waterholes in the dry season. Self-drive the park and stay at Okaukuejo for its floodlit waterhole.
- 3History
Damaraland and Twyfelfontein
In rugged Damaraland, Twyfelfontein's sandstone slabs carry thousands of rock engravings made by hunter-gatherers, and became Namibia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guided drives along dry riverbeds track desert-adapted elephants.
- 4Nature
Fish River Canyon
About 160 km long and up to 549 m deep, the canyon is best seen from the viewpoints near Hobas at sunset. Fit walkers can tackle the multi-day hiking trail, permitted only between May and mid-September.
- 5Wildlife
Skeleton Coast and Cape Cross
Fog, shipwrecks and gravel plains define this Atlantic shore. At Cape Cross, one of the world's largest Cape fur seal colonies crowds the rocks beside a replica of the stone cross that Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão raised in 1486.
Biggest cities
Windhoek
A tidy, low-rise capital where most trips start and end; stay a night for the Christuskirche, dinner at Joe's Beerhouse and kapana stalls in Katutura before collecting your hire car.
Rundu
Facing Angola across the Okavango River, Rundu is a fast-growing northern trading town; few visitors linger, but riverside lodges make it a natural stop en route to the Zambezi Region.
Walvis Bay
Namibia's main port has a lagoon full of flamingos, kayaking trips among seals and dolphins, and 4x4 tours to Sandwich Harbour, where giant dunes meet the Atlantic.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Namibia
Best time: May–Oct.
Average climate in Windhoek
Festivals & events
- AugHerero Day
On the weekend nearest 26 August, Herero people in Victorian-style dresses and military uniforms parade through Okahandja to honour their chiefs, a striking reminder of the colonial past.
- OctWindhoek Oktoberfest
A legacy of German settlement, Windhoek's Oktoberfest brings oompah bands, lederhosen and local beer brewed to the 1516 German purity law to the capital each October.
How much does Namibia cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Kapana
Strips of beef grilled over open fires at Windhoek's Single Quarters market, dipped in spiced salt and chilli, and eaten standing up with fresh tomato salsa.
Oryx steak
Oryx (gemsbok), kudu and springbok appear on menus nationwide, usually grilled as lean, rich steaks; Joe's Beerhouse in Windhoek is the classic place to try them.
Oshifima
A stiff porridge of mahangu (pearl millet), the staple of northern Namibia, rolled into balls by hand and dipped into meat or spinach stews.
Getting around
Most visitors hire a car, ideally a 4x4 or high-clearance vehicle, as most roads to the main sights are gravel. Drive on the left, keep speeds down on gravel and refuel whenever you can. Intercape coaches link Windhoek with Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and the north, and shuttle minibuses run to the coast. FlyNamibia operates domestic flights, and fly-in safaris reach remote lodges.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- DM220V — bring a UK-to-D/M adapter
- Emergency numbers
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +264
- Time zone
- UTC+2 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Generally safe to drink
- Driving
- On the left
- Tipping
- Tip about 10% in restaurants, and give small amounts to petrol attendants who clean your windscreen, car guards, and safari guides and trackers.
- Etiquette
- Greet people before asking anything and shake hands. Ask before photographing anyone, and visit Himba villages only with a guide who agrees a fair payment or gifts with the community in advance.
- Main airports
- Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH), Windhoek; Walvis Bay Airport (WVB), Walvis Bay
Visas & entry for Namibia
Shown for a British passport.
Visa required — apply before you go
From 1 April 2025 you will need a visa to visit Namibia. The Namibian authorities have launched a visa on arrival scheme, which is extended to UK passport holders.
You can either apply for a visa on arrival when you arrive at a Port of Entry for Namibia, or you can apply online before you travel for an e-visa. For either route, the cost is 1,600 Namibian dollars for travellers over 11 years old. Children between the ages of 11 to 6 will will be charged 800 Namibian dollars. Children under the age of 6 will not be charged a fee for a visa on arrival. When granted a visa on arrival, you will receive a multiple entry visa valid for the period that you have requested.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanusTyphoid
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- DengueHepatitis BMeaslesPolioRabiesTuberculosis
- Yellow fever certificate
- A yellow fever certificate is only required if you arrive from (or transit through) a country with yellow fever risk — not if you fly direct from the UK.
- Malaria
- High risk of malaria
- There is a high risk of malaria all year in the Kavango East, Kavango West and Zambezi (including Caprivi) regions: atovoquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine recommended.
- There is also a high risk of malaria from December to April inclusive in Kunene, Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions: atovoquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine recommended.
- There is a low risk of malaria from May to November in Kunene, Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions: awareness of risk and bite avoidance recommended.
- There is a very low risk of malaria in the rest of Namibia: awareness of risk and bite avoidance recommended.
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Namibia
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Sat 26 Dec 2026 | Family Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Sun 21 Mar 2027 | Independence Day |
| Mon 22 Mar 2027 | Independence Day (observed) |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Good Friday |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter Monday |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Workers' Day |
| Tue 4 May 2027 | Cassinga Day |
| Thu 6 May 2027 | Ascension Day |
| Tue 25 May 2027 | Africa Day |
| Fri 28 May 2027 | Genocide Remembrance Day |
| Thu 26 Aug 2027 | Heroes' Day |
| Fri 10 Sep 2027 | Day of the Namibian Women and International Human Rights Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Afrikaans
| English | Afrikaans | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Goeiedag | KHOO-yuh-dakh |
| Thank you | Dankie | DUN-kee |
| Please | Asseblief | AH-suh-bleef |
| Excuse me | Verskoon my | fer-SKOO-un may |
| How much is this? | Hoeveel kos dit? | HOO-fee-ul kos dit |
Know before you go
- Keep to about 80 km/h on gravel, slow right down for loose patches and bends, and avoid driving at dusk; rollovers on gravel are a common cause of accidents involving visitors.
- Book Etosha's camps and lodges near Sossusvlei several months ahead for July to October; staying inside the Sesriem gate lets you reach the dunes for sunrise.
- South African rand are accepted at par throughout Namibia, but Namibian dollars are not accepted in South Africa, so spend or change them before you cross.
Namibia travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Namibia?
The best time to visit Namibia is generally May–Oct. Peak months are May, June, July, August, September and October. Average highs in Windhoek range from 20°C to 31°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Namibia cost per day?
Roughly £55 a day on a tight budget, £140 mid-range and £380+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Namibia?
Namibian dollar (NAD).
What plug type does Namibia use?
Type D and M sockets at 220V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Namibia?
Traffic drives on the left in Namibia — the same as in the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Namibia?
Generally safe to drink.
Do I need a visa for Namibia?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: From 1 April 2025 you will need a visa to visit Namibia. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Namibia before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/namibia/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Namibia?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid for most travellers, with Dengue, Hepatitis B, Measles, Polio, Rabies and Tuberculosis sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
