Overview
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1. Bring binoculars
Namibia is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Not only in Etosha National Park but spread over the whole country. You will see many oryx and ostriches along the road. If you are lucky, you may even come across desert elephants and hyenas in the wild. Binoculars are therefore something that should not be missed in your suitcase to Namibia, to be able to see all these fascinating animals in detail.
We brought our Bresser Travel 8×42 Binoculars from Kamera Express and have used them countless times.
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2. Visa
A lot of the countries have a visa exemption agreement with Namibia. They do not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. All you need is a valid passport for at least six months after the date of entry, and sufficient pages for entry and exit stamps (at least three blank pages for the entry and exit stamps).
If your country doesn’t have a visa exemption agreement with Namibia, you can always apply for a visa on arrival.
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3. Rent a 4x4 vehicle
Because most of the roads in Namibia are unpaved, it is highly recommended to rent a 4×4 vehicle and, even better, one with off-road tires. A 4×4 is much better equipped to drive on these roads, as they have more grip on the track, but also because you sit higher, which is a lot more pleasant. It is easier to drive up steep roads and the car is also more resistant to stones and potholes. We rented our 4×4 from Zambezi Car Rental and made it through all the roads with great comfort and without any problems.
If you are traveling to Namibia during the rainy season (from October to March), it’s impossible to drive without a 4×4, as parts of the road will be flooded.
4. Camping in Namibia
If you ask us, Namibia is the ideal country to explore while camping. We have never seen so many people traveling with a rooftop tent in any other country. Such a popup tent can be set up in just a few minutes and you can pitch it at the most beautiful campsites in Namibia. And believe us, this country has some camping gems! Wild camping, on the other hand, is not allowed.
It is not only a pleasant way to explore the country, but also the cheapest one. Namibia does not have such an extensive range of accommodations and those that are available are often on the luxurious and therefore expensive side. We can also highly recommend Zambezi Car Rental for this. The tents on their vehicles are very easy to set up and sleep comfortably too. They also provide all the camping equipment you need, such as chairs, a table, cooking utensils… you name it!
5. Prepare for dust & sand
When we say Namibia is dusty and sandy, we really mean dusty and sandy. Due to the gravel roads, a lot of dust ends up in your car and therefore also between your belongings. This is inevitable but also part of the adventure. So, always make sure that your most dust-sensitive items are at the front of the car and close your suitcases that are at the back in the cargo box. Most 4×4 rental vehicles have some kind of dust valve on the side that provides negative pressure, which minimizes the amount of dust, but it will always be a lot.
Book your 4×4 in Namibia now!
6. Long distances
We have said it several times already, but the distances in Namibia are sometimes long and you can sometimes come across nothing or no one for hours. Therefore, do not postpone refueling. As soon as you come across a gas station, it is best to fill your fuel tank completely again.
We also recommend that you consider registering a second driver when renting your car so that one does not have to drive for too long at a time. You also have to plan carefully for these distances. It is best to travel a little slower in Namibia and try not to cram too much into one day. It is strongly discouraged to drive after dark because of the animals on the road. Good planning is therefore essential.
You will find the perfect itinerary through Namibia with or without a roof tent here!
7. Sim cards & coverage
To stay connected in Namibia, we recommend that you buy a local SIM card. The largest and best-known telecom company in Namibia is MTC. You can buy a SIM card at the airport, but we noticed that this was quite expensive. The price at the airport was around €40 for 20GB. We have therefore decided to wait and buy a SIM card in Windhoek. We went to an MTC store there and bought 18GB for €15. If you prefer to be connected immediately upon arrival, you can always purchase an eSIM card.
Please note that coverage in Namibia is very poor, especially in the more remote areas. More often than not you have no service. We therefore recommend that you download maps and music in advance when you leave on a Namibia road trip. Be sure to check out our other tips for self-driving in Namibia.
8. Stock up at larger cities
Only in Windhoek, Swakopmund, and Otjiwarongo have we seen larger supermarkets, especially Spar. We came across very few supermarkets in the rest of Namibia and the ones we found barely had anything to cook a complete meal. That’s why one of our best travel tips for Namibia is to stock up on enough food and water in the larger supermarkets of Windhoek, Swakopmund, or Otjiwarongo. If you don’t do this, you will have to cook very creatively, which can also be a fun challenge!
9. Climate & dress code
The climate in Namibia can vary a lot throughout the country with a wide range of temperatures. During the day, it can be up to 45° Celcius in the desert, while in other places there can be a cold wind. At night, it cools down a lot in some places. Therefore, be sure to provide clothing with light fabrics for the day and the desert, but also be sure to bring a warmer sweater and pants for the colder evenings and nights. It is also better to take a raincoat with you because it happens that there will be occasional showers. In the rainy season, a raincoat is a real must!
10. Plan ahead
Namibia is certainly increasing in popularity as. a travel destination. It can be quite busy, especially in high season. However, accommodations and campsites are very limited in Namibia. That is why it is important to plan your trip ahead and book accommodations, campsites, and activities in advance.
We traveled to Namibia in the low season and had not booked anything in advance. It happened a few times that campsites in Namibia were fully booked. Please, learn from our mistakes and book everything well in advance. If you go during the high season, you have to book even earlier! Discover all our Namibia travel guides here to prepare your trip down to the last detail!
Namibia
11. Money and tipping
The official currency in Namibia is the Namibian Dollar (NAD), but they pay in South African Rand just as much. It has exactly the same value and both currencies are used together. So, don’t be surprised if your change is in South African Rand. You can also pay by credit card almost everywhere. Yet, it is always useful to have some cash with you, just in case, but also to give tip. To withdraw money, you will find ATM’s in major cities, such as Windhoek and Swakopmund but not in the more remote places.
While tipping is not mandatory in Namibia, it is customary to leave a tip. In restaurants, it’s common to tip around 10%-15% of the bill. At gas stations, petrol attendants will fill up your tank and sometimes clean your windshields. If required, they will also check your tire pressure and oil. In this situation, it is common to give a tip of 5-10 NAD. There are also parking attendants who watch your car when you go shopping, for example. They are also usually given a tip of about 5 to 10 NAD. And the same goes for guides.
12. Budget
Don’t underestimate it, but Namibia is quite an expensive destination. It is not a highly developed country, it is not very touristy and the infrastructure is not extensive. But this is excactly the reason why it is quite expensive. The range of accommodations and campsites is so low, prices are considerably high. The only way to explore the country is to join an organized trip or rent a 4×4 car yourself.
- For a 4×4 rental car, you usually pay around €2000 for 2 weeks.
- The distances you cover are quite far, so you will also have to spend quite a bit on fuel. We drove about 5000 kilometers and paid about €400-500 in fuel.
- Campsites are between €15 and €30 per person per night. Compared to the prices for the lodges (at least €100 per night), camping is still the cheapest way to explore Namibia, and you can cook your own food.
- Food and drinks in the supermarkets are fairly cheap. Prices were also certainly acceptable in restaurants. You pay between €10 and €20 for a dish. We cooked as much as possible ourselves, but we also spoiled ourselves every now and then.
- Not many countries have a direct flight connection to Namibia. Flight ticket prices can therefore be quite expensive, so be sure to book them well in advance!
13. Travel adapter
In Namibia, they have a somewhat special kind of power plug type M. This is a type that is usually not included in the standard travel adapter. Therefore, make sure that you have the correct travel adapter with you so that you can charge your electronic devices at all times. You can also bring a cigarette lighter USB charger, so that you can charge your phone in the car. Some rental cars already have a built-in USB port, which is even more convenient if you bring the right cable.
14. Be sparing with water!
A large part of Namibia is covered by desert. It will therefore not surprise you that the country has an extreme water shortage. Deadvlei is a good example of this. The country doesn’t have its own constant supply of safe, fresh water. Only the north of the country is connected by a network of canals from the Kunene River in neighboring Angola. But by the time the river flows into Namibia, most of the water has evaporated.
We therefore ask you to use water sparingly. Do not wash your car unless requested to do so when returning your rental car. Close the tap when you brush your teeth. Shower for as short a time as possible and close the tap when you soap yourself. You’d be surprised how much water you can save and literally every little bit helps!
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Win-Win for everyone
Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?
However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!
