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Travel Guide
Visiting Namibia
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Top Attractions in Namibia
The most iconic and unmissable experiences this country has to offer.
Etosha National Park
Spanning roughly 22,270 square kilometres in northern Namibia, Etosha is one of Africa's great wildlife sanctuaries, home to elephant, lion, leopard, black rhino, giraffe, and hundreds of bird species. Its defining feature is the Etosha Pan, a vast hypersaline salt flat covering nearly 4,800 square kilometres that turns brilliant white in the dry season and briefly floods with flamingos after summer rains. Waterholes scattered across the park draw animals year-round and make self-drive game viewing exceptionally rewarding.
Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan deep within the Namib-Naukluft National Park, ringed by some of the world's tallest sand dunes, their iron-rich sands glowing orange and crimson against a pale sky. The adjacent clay pan known as Deadvlei holds the skeletal silhouettes of camel thorn trees that died centuries ago when the river shifted course, creating one of southern Africa's most photographed landscapes. Visitors typically arrive before dawn to watch the dunes ignite at sunrise from the summit of Dune 45 or the towering Big Daddy.
Fish River Canyon
Fish River Canyon is the largest canyon in Africa, stretching approximately 160 kilometres in length, reaching up to 27 kilometres across, and plunging nearly 550 metres at its deepest point. The five-day, 90-kilometre hiking trail running the canyon's length is among the most celebrated multi-day routes on the continent, concluding at the natural hot springs of Ai-Ais. The canyon's sculptured rock walls, shifting light, and profound silence make it compelling even for visitors who choose to take it in from the rim.
Wise
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Airalo eSIM
Your phone plan was built for home. This one was built for Namibia.
- No SIM swapping
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4.7 ★ App Store·4.6 ★ Google Play
Health & Safety
Health & Emergency Info
Before You Travel
Before you travel check that: your destination can provide the healthcare you may need you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant. Emergency medical number Call 211111 (in Windhoek) or 10111 (everywhere else) and ask for an ambulance. Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment. Vaccine recommendations and health risks At least 8 weeks before your trip: check the latest vaccine recommendations for Namibia see where to ge
Full health advice (FCDO) →Emergency Numbers
Police10111
Ambulance10177
Fire998
Health information sourced from UK FCDO. Always consult a travel health professional before departure.
Practical Info
Travel Essentials
Travel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Namibia
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Namibia page at Yoogo.
Namibia uses the Namibian dollar (NAD), which is pegged at parity to the South African rand; rand are also accepted throughout the country. Cards are widely accepted in Windhoek, Swakopmund, and larger lodges, but cash is essential in rural areas and smaller towns.
Namibia is considered one of the more stable and peaceful countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with a relatively low rate of violent crime against tourists. Petty theft can occur in urban centres, so standard precautions around valuables apply, particularly in Windhoek.
Self-driving is by far the most practical and popular way to explore Namibia, as public transport between towns is extremely limited. A well-maintained network of tarred and gravel roads connects the main attractions, though a 4x4 vehicle is recommended for more remote parks and the Skeleton Coast; domestic flights offer a faster option for covering long distances.
The dry season from May to October is generally regarded as the best time to visit, with cooler temperatures, clear skies, and excellent wildlife viewing as animals gather around waterholes. The summer wet season from November to April brings lush greenery, lower accommodation rates, and the spectacle of flamingos on the Etosha Pan, though some roads become impassable.
English is the sole official language and is widely understood in hotels, lodges, and tourism businesses across the country. Oshiwambo is the most widely spoken first language, while Afrikaans, German, Herero, and a range of other indigenous languages are also heard, particularly in rural areas.
No vaccinations are compulsory for entry unless you are arriving from a yellow fever endemic country, in which case proof of yellow fever vaccination is required. Hepatitis A, typhoid, and tetanus jabs are widely recommended, and antimalarial medication is advisable for travel to the northern regions, including the Caprivi Strip and the Ovambo area, particularly between November and April.
Tipping is customary but voluntary, and a tip of around 10 per cent is the norm in restaurants where service charge is not already included. Safari guides and lodge staff typically receive gratuities of N$100–200 per day from each guest, as these often form a meaningful part of their income.
eSIMs are available for Namibia through international providers such as Airalo, offering data plans that work on local networks including MTC. Coverage is reliable in Windhoek, Swakopmund, and other towns, but signal drops away significantly in remote parks and along the Skeleton Coast, where connectivity should not be relied upon.