Africa
Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries - History
Visa Requirements - Holders of UK passports do not require a visa for entry into Namibia, although you should have a full passport with at least six months validity from the date of your return to the UK.
Non-British passport holders should check their visa requirements with their local Embassy or High Commission. Please also be aware that you need to have at least two blank pages in your passport.
Health Requirements - There are no mandatory vaccinations required to enter Namibia although a Yellow Fever Certificate is required if arriving from or via an infected country. Malaria does exist in northern areas of Namibia, especially along the Kunene and Kavango rivers and throughout the Caprivi Strip. It is therefore essential that you seek qualified medical advice on its prevention if travelling to these areas.
We strongly recommend that you contact your doctor or the MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) Travellers Health Line on 0870 606 2782 for all professional medical advice.
Time - From the first Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April: 2 hours ahead of GMT. From the first Sunday in April to the first Sunday in September: 1 hour ahead of GMT (i.e. the same as B.S.T. - British Summer Time)
Money - The currency is the Namibian Dollar which is fixed to and interchangeable with the South African Rand. Travellers cheques and foreign currency can be freely exchanged at most commercial banks. Credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are generally accepted in most of the larger establishments although if travelling in remote areas it is sensible to carry sufficient amounts of cash.|
Flights
|
Airline |
Route |
Frequency |
Via |
|
British Airways |
Heathrow/Windhoek |
Daily |
Johannesburg |
|
South African Airways |
Heathrow/Windhoek |
Daily |
Johannesburg |
Climate - a rough guide
Namibia has a generally dry climate, typical of a semi-desert country where droughts are an ever-present threat. The seasons can be split as follows, although regional differences do occur:
WINTER (APRIL - OCTOBER) In general, the temperate winter stretches from April to October with very warm, clear days and cold nights. On average, the days are hot with temperatures of around 80F and this contrasts dramatically with nighttime temperatures that can fall to 45F or lower in some areas. Temperatures in the central highlands region tend to be a little lower on account of the altitude, although the northeastern Caprivi area can be very hot.
There is little rain during this period and many parts of the country can go for months without a drop and suffer quite severe droughts at times.
SUMMER (NOVEMBER - MARCH) The summer season lasts from November to March and early summer sees the daytime temperatures and humidity begin to increase significantly as the rains approach. Daytime temperatures can reach 95F with nights being cooler, but generally well above freezing.
The 'light' rains generally fall in November/December and then the main rains last from January through to March that can cause temporary flooding in some areas as a result. Rainfall is highest in the northeastern region close to the Okavango River that has a sub-tropical climate and up to 600mm of rain annually. Along the coast, the cold Benguela current reduces rainfall and causes thick coastal fogs.
When to go
The optimum time to visit Namibia is during the dry winter months from April to October when the days are warm to hot and the nights are cool. Also at this time of year the bush becomes thinner and the wildlife concentrates around the last few remaining waterholes resulting in some excellent game viewing.
During the summer months from November to March, days tend to be hot and humid and, should there not be a drought, are often marked by heavy afternoon thunderstorms. Temperatures in the true desert regions can be extremely high during these months. However this can also be a beautiful time of year with green vegetation and abundant wild flowers and is a good time to observe the smaller mammals, birds, frogs, lizards and insects.
The exception to the above is the far south of the country, which falls into a winter rain zone: that is to say most rainfall occurs during the months of May to October, although in this semi-desert region these rains often fail completely.
|
Windhoek |
||||||||||||
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Temp (F) |
85/ |
84/ |
83/ |
75/ |
70/ |
66/ |
66/ |
74/ |
77/ |
85/ |
86/ |
87/ |
|
Rain (in) |
2.8 |
2.9 |
3.0 |
2.0 |
0.5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.25 |
0.5 |
1.5 |
2.0 |
Temp (Fahrenheit) = Average Maximum Temperatures (day/night)
Rain (inches) = Average Monthly Rainfall
