Namibia Destination Guide

To the north west of South Africa lie the desert dunes, rocky plains, wide open spaces and never-ending skies of Namibia. A wonderful extension to any stay in Southern Africa, although it is definitely a destination in its own right and you could easily devote an entire holiday to exploring this vast land. Visitors to Namibia constantly refer to its contrasts, experiencing close encounters with desert-adapted elephants in the wild, enjoying the unusual German colonial architecture of the capital Windhoek and the coastal town of Swakopmund.

Namibia is a country of rugged landscapes punctuated by the contrasting features of the ochre dunes of the Namibia - the world’s oldest desert, the soulful sight of the wrecked ships buried in the sands of the Skeleton Coast, the abundant game in the Etosha National Park around the edges of the Salt Pan. This vast but sparsely populated country has an astounding variety of tribes, cultures and languages – from the ancient San of the Kalahari to the German-speaking ancestors of the European colonialists.

In a nutshell...

From the charm of the capital city of Windhoek, the wild untamed extremes of the Etosha National Park, the towering sand dunes of Sossusvlei, the vast Fish River Canyon to the desolate Skeleton Coast, Namibia really does offer a wealth of sights and scenes that offer a truly unique experience.  Prepare to be amazed as this beautiful country will no doubt take your breath away.

The facts

Geography - Bordered by South Africa, to the east by Botswana, Namibia is more than four times the size of the UK, yet has a population of only 1.8 million. The eerie Skeleton Coast is where the world’s oldest desert, the Namib, abruptly meets the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital city, Windhoek is a fascinating melting pot of people and cultures. Along the eastern border with Botswana lie the gentle rolling vegetated dunes of the Kalahari Desert and to the north the Caprivi Strip- a finger of land characterised by its complex network of rivers, channels and islands.
Language - English, Afrikaans and German
Visas – Visas are not required for full British passport holders. Non-British passport holders should check with relevant embassy for documentation requirements.
Vaccinations - Vaccinations are strongly recommended. For further information, please consult your doctor. Malaria tablets are recommended when visiting all areas north of Windhoek.
Travelling time - From London to Windhoek the flight is 10 hours. From Johannesburg or Cape Town the flying time to Windhoek is 2 hours.
Local time - GMT + 2 hours.
Currency - Namibian Dollar.