Why We Love Namibia…
If you’re on the hunt for a destination with some epic landscapes, incredible wildlife and fewer crowds – Namibia is perfect for escaping it all and immersing yourself in nature.
Entry Requirements
Visas
If you are a British or American passport holder your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Namibia and have at least one completely blank page for Namibian immigration to use.
British nationals can enter Namibia for a holiday or private visit of up to 90 days without a visa. Before leaving the immigration desk in the airport arrivals hall, check that you have been given permission to stay in Namibia for the duration of your intended visit up to the maximum allowable of 90 days and that you have been given a correctly dated entry stamp by Namibian Immigration officials, as this will be checked on departure.
As of the 1st April 2025, there will be new entry visa regulations meaning that tourists from the UK, USA, Canada, and most European countries will need to pay for a visa to enter Namibia.
Requirements include: a return ticket, medical insurance & a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival.
As far as we are aware, it will be in the form of an online e-visa application, that is then paid upon arrival. The amount will be N$1,600, (approx. £67.22 per person).
Children Travelling
Children, under the age of 18 years, who are travelling into or through Namibia must provide a certified copy of their full unabridged birth certificate (stamped no more than 3 months ago) as well as a valid passport (an abridged (short) birth certificate won’t be accepted). The main details of the birth certificate should be in English, the certificate can be multilingual as long as English is one of the languages. If the original is in another language, it should be officially translated and certified.
Adults travelling with children where they are not the biological or legal guardians of those children, should be in possession of an affidavit statement from
the child’s parents or guardians giving consent for their travel. If a child is travelling with only one parent, the other parent must give consent for travel in
the form of an affidavit.
Please check out your local travel advice and let us know if you’re travelling from a different territory.
Transfers & Car Hire
We’re able to arrange your transfers for you, just let us know your flight number, and we’ll plan the route and let you know the cost! For multi-stop trips, we can also arrange your transfers between hotels/regions.
If you’re travelling by light aircraft flights – you might have a couple of stops at different airstrips before yours. Schedules are announced on the day and our local partners will inform you of this information and timings locally.
Car hire is popular in Namibia. If it is something you are doing or considering, we advise ensuring each driver carries their full licence with them at all times. You will often be required to place a refundable deposit and provide the car hire with a credit card. We will provide you with accurate directions and advice on how to get between camps, you can also request to have a GPS in the car.
Baggage Allowance
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, there are specific baggage allowances for each country and sometimes even different airlines. Don’t worry, we’re on hand to make your packing as easy as possible.
See below for Namibia’s baggage allowances.
Airline: Wilderness Air
Type: Light aircraft
Weight allowance: 20kg (soft-sided) – total weight including hand luggage
Dimensions: 25cm x 30cm x 62cm
What is a soft-sided bag? The aircraft require light bags as they are small planes, we recommend duffel bags like this one from our friends at Stubble & Co.
Packing Tips
Please see our What to Pack on Safari blog for our top packing tips for your safari adventure.
– We strongly recommend that you carry overnight essentials and any prescribed medication in your hand luggage on international flights, particularly if connecting to an onward destination.
– Most lodges and camps will offer laundry services, with a 24hr turnaround but it’s worth noting that almost all do not do women’s underwear due to cultural reasons.
Climate
Whilst you can visit Namibia year-round, the dry season runs from July to October – which is also the best time for wildlife viewing, making it peak travel season.
Laws and Customs
Please read the local laws and customs on the Gov.UK website here
Plug Type
You’ll find plug types D and M in Namibia. Plug type D has three round pins in a triangular pattern and plug type M features three round pins.
Currency
You can use both the Namibian Dollar and the South African Rand in Namibia.
Tipping/Gratuities on Safari
As a guideline, we recommend NAD 60 per day for your guide and NAD 100 per day for general lodge staff, which can be placed in the general tip boxes at reception and is shared equally among staff (excluding the guides usually). For restaurants, 10% is the established amount or 15% for excellent service. Car guards and petrol attendants often expect NAD 10 when they help as well, so it’s worth having smaller denominations for these instances.
Vaccinations
We aren’t certified to give medical advice so always recommend you consult your doctor or a travel doctor, as they will know which vaccinations you have had already and any additional ones necessary for your trip. You can also take a look here for travel vaccination information and advice on bringing medication into the country.
It’s worth noting that Yellow Fever Vaccinations are mandatory when coming from a country which has a risk of yellow fever transmission. More information on this can be found on the above link.
Flights & Time Zone
The average direct flight time from London, the UK to Namibia takes around 10 hours 20 mins.
Namibia’s time zone is GMT + 2.
Language
English, Portuguese and Afrikaans are widely spoken in Namibia.
Food
With traditional, German and South African cuisine influencing their dishes, there are lots of cuisines (and a lot of meat-based dishes) to be sampled during your time there.