🏜️ Namibia

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Costs

Prices here are about 41% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

Sources do not agree on Namibia's visa rules, which changed in 2025. Older guides say some passports get visa-free entry, whereas newer ones say most visitors now require a visa or e-Visa, to be applied for in advance on the government portal. To find out whether one is needed, ask a Namibian embassy or the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHAISS) prior to booking. Stick to the official site only: copycat sites exist, and the portal may start with a 'confirm you are human' check. A return ticket, hotel details and a passport that has several blank pages and stays valid for 6 months should be in your bag.

Travel and culture - take note

The country is vast and thinly populated. Journeys cover long distances, many of the roads are gravel, mobile signal is patchy and fuel stops can lie 200 km apart. Carry water, fuel and spare tyres, avoid driving at night because of animals on the road, and let someone know your route. Keep to the left when driving. Strict rules apply in Etosha and other parks: remain in your vehicle and observe the gate times and speed limits. Days in the desert are very hot and nights cold. Photographing people calls for asking first, particularly in communities of Himba and Herero people, and payment should be expected for a village visit. In the north there is a malaria risk, so ask a doctor. Restaurants call for a tip of about 10%. Outside Windhoek, halal food is limited.

Emergency

Police 10111. 112 from a mobile phone. Ask your hotel or operator for the nearest ambulance number.

Good to know

Cards, cash and fuel stops

The Namibian dollar is the currency, and Canadian advice says the South African rand is also accepted. Major cards are widely used in cities and cash machines are widely available, but cash is needed outside urban centres. The Namibia Tourism Board says acceptance of cards varies and that service stations do not take cards for fuel.

Local laws and customs

Drugs, wildlife, photography and ID

UK advice says illegal drug use or smuggling can bring severe penalties, among them large fines and jail, and that buying, selling or trading protected wildlife or its parts, ivory and rhino horn included, is illegal without a licence. Police have detained people for photographing the President's official residence. Canadian advice says authorities may ask to see ID at any time and that a permit from the civil aviation authority is needed to import and fly a drone.

Taxis and scams

Registered taxis only

Registered taxis displaying the NABTA logo are the ones to use, and street hailing should be avoided, says Canadian travel advice. Outside Windhoek and Swakopmund, taxi availability may be limited. UK advice likewise says not to hail taxis from the street, particularly in Windhoek, and to ask your hotel, guest house or tour operator to recommend a reputable taxi company.

Who can help

local government

Namibia Tourism Board

Helps with: Namibia's national tourism board. Contact its Windhoek head office for visitor information. It also lists offices in Swakopmund, Rundu, Ongwediva and Luderitz.

Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Namibia or planning a trip there.

Phone: +264 61 290 6000

Email: info@namibiatourism.com.na

Address: C/O Haddy and Sam Nujoma Drive, Windhoek, Namibia

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Namibia

Helps with: The UN migration agency, in Namibia since 2011. It works on anti-trafficking referral, labour migration, migration health and resettlement or voluntary return for remaining refugees.

Who qualifies: Migrants, trafficking victims and refugees. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Phone: +264 61 231 639

Address: 38-44 Stein Street, Klein Windhoek, UN House, Ground Floor, Windhoek, Namibia

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Police emergency number 10111

Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists 10111, 999 and 112 together for ambulance, fire and police; the Canadian government page also gives 10111 for police.

Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.

Phone: 10111

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Medical emergency number 10177

Helps with: Reaches medical assistance (ambulance). This number comes from Government of Canada travel advice for Namibia.

Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.

Phone: 10177

Source · checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

Windhoek WindhoekCraft markets, restaurants serving grilled meat and German colonial buildings, Christuskirche among them, mark this compact capital, the main gateway.Photo: Christoph Strässler, CC BY-SA 2.0 Sossusvlei SossusvleiIn the Namib Desert, red dunes tower over white clay pans; visitors climb Dune 45 at sunrise and see Deadvlei's dead trees.Photo: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0 Etosha National Park Etosha National ParkAt waterholes in this wildlife park, centred on a vast salt pan, zebras, lions, rhinos and elephants gather.Photo: Yathin S Krishnappa, CC BY-SA 3.0 Swakopmund SwakopmundGerman-era architecture lines this seaside town, known for dolphin cruises, seafood, sandboarding and quad biking in the dunes.Photo: Olga Ernst, CC BY-SA 4.0 Fish River Canyon Fish River CanyonIn the far south, this vast canyon offers sweeping viewpoints and, in the cooler months, a challenging hiking trail lasting several days.Photo: SkyPixels, CC BY-SA 4.0 Damaraland and Twyfelfontein Damaraland and TwyfelfonteinDesert-adapted elephants and ancient, UNESCO-listed rock engravings feature in these rugged red landscapes.Photo: Mike from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY 2.0

City selection based on: Namibia tourism and safari operator guides plus UNESCO site listings

Festivals and events

nature

Dry-season wildlife (Etosha)

around Jun-Oct 2027 · Etosha

Game viewing is at its best, with animals gathering at the waterholes.

sport

ICC Cricket World Cup 2027

around Oct-Nov 2027 · Windhoek

Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia host the tournament together.

Official site

festival

Windhoek Oktoberfest

around Oct 2027 · Windhoek

A festival of beer, German in style.