Namibia travel guide

Getting there

Hosea Kutako International Airport near Windhoek is the main gateway, with connections via Johannesburg, Cape Town, Frankfurt and other hubs. Road borders link Namibia with South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Angola.

Best time to visit: May–Oct – dry season, great for wildlife viewing.

Tougher months: No bad time – but January-March brings heat and summer storms, which can make some gravel roads harder going.

Weather by month in Windhoek

• 30°J●●
• 29°F●●
• 27°M●●
• 26°A●
• 23°M
• 20°J
• 21°J
• 24°A
• 27°S
• 29°O
• 30°N●
• 31°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Africa/Windhoek. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 137 of 198 other passports can enter Namibia without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 61 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 0 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Namibia (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-05-15). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Namibia travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Namibia are based around Sossusvlei & Deadvlei, Etosha National Park or Swakopmund. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$40–70 for a backpacker and US$120–220 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Namibia page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: D, M. Voltage: 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +264.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Sossusvlei & Deadvlei (Namib-Naukluft · dunes): Towering red dunes and a white clay pan dotted with centuries-old dead camelthorn trees.
• Etosha National Park (North · wildlife): A vast salt pan surrounded by waterholes that attract huge concentrations of animals.
• Swakopmund (Coast · adventure town): A seaside town of German architecture, cafés and adrenaline activities.
• Skeleton Coast (Northwest coast · wilderness): A remote, fog-bound coastline of shipwrecks, dunes and seals.
• Damaraland (Northwest · desert landscapes): Rocky landscapes with rock art, desert elephants and community conservancies.
• Fish River Canyon (South · canyon): A dramatic canyon carved over millions of years, best seen at sunrise.
• Lüderitz & Kolmanskop (South coast · colonial & ghost town): A windswept harbour town and its eerie abandoned diamond settlement.
• Zambezi Region (Caprivi) (Northeast · rivers): Lush rivers and wetlands with hippos, elephants and boat safaris.

Things to do

• Climb Big Daddy at Sossusvlei. Hike one of the world's tallest dunes, then descend to the ghostly dead trees of Deadvlei.
• Safari in Etosha. Watch elephants, lions and rhinos gather at floodlit waterholes in the dry season.
• Sandboard in Swakopmund. Fly down coastal dunes before trying quad biking or a scenic flight.
• See the Skeleton Coast. Drive past fog-wrapped shipwrecks and seal colonies on this wild Atlantic shore.
• Kayak with seals at Walvis Bay. Paddle among curious Cape fur seals and spot flamingos in the lagoon.
• Explore Fish River Canyon. Peer into one of the largest canyons in Africa or tackle its multi-day hike in the cooler months.
• Visit Twyfelfontein's rock art. Discover thousands of ancient engravings of animals and footprints in Damaraland.
• Track desert-adapted elephants. Search for elephants and rhinos surviving in dry riverbeds of the Kunene region.

Source: full Namibia guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Kapana – street-grilled beef strips with spicy salsa
• Potjiekos – meat and vegetable stew cooked in a cast-iron pot
• Game meat – oryx, kudu and springbok steaks
• Biltong – dried, spiced meat snack

Source: RoamSun Namibia guide

Money and safety

Currency: Namibian dollar (NAD). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Expected – about 10% in restaurants and tips for guides and fuel attendants.

Emergency numbers: 10111 police.

• The currency is the Namibian dollar, pegged to the South African rand, which is also legal tender.
• Cards are widely accepted in towns and lodges, but carry cash for small shops, fuel stations and community campsites.
• Namibia is one of the safer African countries for travellers, but avoid walking alone at night in Windhoek and keep valuables out of sight.
• Gravel roads cause many accidents; drive slowly, avoid driving at night and check tyres often.

Source: RoamSun Namibia facts