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Himba woman, Kaokoland
Namibia your way

Tailor-made Namibia holidays shaped around your passions

Himba woman, Kaokoland

Namibia is completely different to any other African safari destination. Much of its wildlife has adapted to its dry desert landscape, including elephant and lion. It has the world’s highest dunes, where barking geckos, cartwheeling spiders and quick-tongued chameleons scuttle across sun-baked sand. And, it has a long coastline where you can kayak with seals and see the skeletal remains of ships sent awry by thick coastal fog. Our Africa specialists have explored the country in-depth, from Sossusvlei to the Skeleton Coast, and can help you plan a holiday to Namibia tailored to your interests.

Namibia lends itself to self-driving, with well-maintained roads giving you access to Etosha National Park’s silvery salt pans, the red-rock landscape of Damaraland, and the vast crevasse of the Fish River Canyon. Photographers need look no further than Deadvlei, where burnt-orange dunes contrast against blackened camelthorn trees and clear blue skies. Meanwhile, Swakopmund offers more active experiences for families, from quad biking to sandboarding.

Creating tailor-made tours for over 25 years

Suggested tours for Namibia

Using their first-hand knowledge, our specialists can create a tour of Namibia that gives you a chance to spot wildlife in Etosha National Park, take in the ancient rock art at Twyfelfontein, and visit the sand dunes at Sossusvlei. We can arrange for you to enjoy a self-drive safari, or a private escorted tour that's tailored to your travel interests.

Suggested activities for Namibia

Make the most out of your Namibia trip, we'll choose experiences that have been tried and tested by our specialists and carefully matched to your interests. That could be kayaking trip to Pelican Point for a close encounter with cape fur seals, or a guided hike, in Fish River Canyon — the world's second-largest canyon.

  • Fish River Canyon hiking
    Fish River Canyon, Namibia

    Fish River Canyon hiking

    Fish River Canyon

    Fish River Canyon hiking

    Fish River Canyon, often compared to America's Grand Canyon, is one of Namibia's least visited wonders with incredible scenery but often challenging trekking conditions.

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  • Sossusvlei dune excursion
    Dead Vlei

    Sossusvlei dune excursion

    Sossusvlei & Sesriem

    Sossusvlei dune excursion

    Enjoy the amazing scenery of Sossusvlei, and maybe take a short walk to Deadvlei, a bizarre collection of ancient camelthorn trees, or climb the nearby dunes.

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  • Sandwich Harbour day trip
    Sand dunes in Namib-Naukluft National Park

    Sandwich Harbour day trip

    Swakopmund and Pelican Point

    Sandwich Harbour day trip

    Sandwich Harbour lies around 30 kilometres south of Walvis Bay. Here, there's a reed lined lagoon fed by freshwater springs, a sandy beach and pale dunes dropping straight into the sea.

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More choice for your safari

  • Inspiration across all our African destinations
  • Trip suggestions based on your interests
  • Advice on where to safari, when
  • Meet our team of safari experts

Best time to visit

Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Namibia, including information about climate, events and festivals.

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Useful information for planning your holiday in Namibia

What languages are spoken in Namibia?

The official language of Namibia is English, although Afrikaans and German are also widely spoken. There are many local languages, most of which fall into the Bantu and Khoisan language groups.

What's the currency of Namibia?

The currency of Namibia is the Namibian dollar (N$). It’s tied to the South African rand and both are used freely in Namibia. The Namibian dollar is a closed currency, so you won’t be able to buy it before arriving, but you’ll find ATMs in most major towns, including Swakopmund and Okaukuejo.

Larger hotels, shops, and restaurants accept credit cards, and some hotels and lodges may accept payment in US dollars as well, although the exchange rate will usually be poor. Although fuel can be paid for by contactless credit cards, we recommend that you always have some cash as a back up.

What food and drink should I try in Namibia?

In Namibia, you should try local dishes such as pap (a stiff maize porridge served with stews), el potjiekos (stew cooked in a three-legged pot), and meat skewers which are often made with ostrich, crocodile, zebra, or antelope meat. Oodhingu (air-dried meats) are a popular snack, and you’ll find fresh seafood by the coast.

In restaurants, you’ll often find steak, chicken, and schnitzel on the menu, and camps and hotels usually serve an international menu.

What should I wear in Namibia?

You should wear conservative casual wear in Namibia, and bring warm clothes for the evenings which can be cool, especially in the desert.

How much should I tip in Namibia?

Tipping is voluntary, but if you’d like to, we recommend tipping around 10% at restaurants in Namibia. You should also tip guides at the end of your stay in camp, and if you wish, add a contribution to the communal tipping box for camp/lodge staff. Porters will also appreciate a small tip. It’s also the custom in Namibia to give a small tip to car park and fuel station attendants.

Where can I find the latest travel advice for Namibia?

For the latest travel advice for Namibia, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website.

What can I experience in Namibia?

Namibia is known for its enormous, sculpted sand dunes, grand, cinematic landscapes, extraordinary wildlife viewing, and off-the-beaten track experiences. Rent a car and explore independently in a country that encompasses the world’s highest dunes, a vast, gaping canyon, and remote lodges that offer luxury as well as unmatched safaris.

You can take a hot-air-balloon ride over the desert, sandboard down dunes, visit seal colonies by kayak, or see hundreds of elephant gather around a diminishing water hole. Get out on foot and hike Fish River Canyon, or ride across grassy plains on horseback. Namibia’s allure lies in its diversity, and the variety and quality of the experiences it has to offer.

Where can I stay in Namibia?

In Namibia, you can stay in boutique hotels, historic guesthouses, tented camps, lodges, and farmhouses. Namibia has a great choice of places to stay and whether you’d like to bed down in a thatched chalet near the mountains, at an owner-run guest farm, or a rustic safari camp, we can help you find the right options.

You could stay in a luxurious ecolodge, join nature drives from a rural farmstead, or base yourself at a characterful wilderness lodge, and if you enjoy hiking, there’s always the option to join a multi-day trek where you camp under the stars. To get some more ideas, browse our collection of places to stay in Namibia.

Where should I go in Namibia?

In Namibia, you should visit Etosha National Park, Sossusvlei, Damaraland, and the Skeleton Coast for a good overview of the country. Most visitors arrive in the small but cosmopolitan capital Windhoek and spend a night there before moving on to the Naukluft Mountains, a scenic area for wildlife watching, and Sossusvlei to see the towering dunes.

The water holes in Etosha National Park attract huge herds of elephant and other wildlife, while wild and remote Damaraland is another great spot for wildlife watching or to see ancient rock art. For shipwrecks, canyons, and dramatic rock formations, the Skeleton Coast is an otherworldly place where the desert dunes drop into the sea.

What wildlife will I see on safari in Namibia?

In Namibia, you can see black rhino, desert-adapted elephant, lion, giraffe, and cheetah. Wildebeest graze on the arid grasslands. Hyena, kudu, oryx, springbok, and zebra are easily spotted, leopard laze in trees, and a huge variety of birdlife inhabits the parks and reserves. You can also spot seals along the coast.

How long does it take to fly to Namibia from the UK?

It takes around 13 hours to fly from the UK to Namibia.

What's the time zone in Namibia?

The time zone in Namibia is UTC+2 hours. Daylight Savings Time is not observed.

What's the best way of getting around in Namibia?

The best way to get around Namibia is to drive. The roads are well maintained, traffic is light, and the scenery you pass along the way is a highlight. If you’d prefer not to drive yourself, we can arrange for a private driver to take you to your destination. Once you reach your camp, guides will take you on foot or by 4x4 to remote areas. Alternatively, you could choose to fly between camps and see Namibia from the air.

Do I need a visa to visit Namibia, and what do I need to check with my passport?

Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for Namibia. Enter where you’re travelling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.

Do I need vaccinations to visit Namibia?

Your doctor can provide you with vaccine advice for Namibia, but you should also ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country. You can also check the suggested vaccinations on the Travel Health Pro website.

What’s the risk of malaria in Namibia?

Malaria is a risk throughout Namibia. Please see your doctor for advice about which antimalarial medication you should take.

Avoiding mosquito bites is the most effective step you can take to reduce your risk. Wear long, loose clothing, use a mosquito net in unscreened rooms, and wear a repellent, ideally with 50% DEET. Take repellent from home just in case there’s a shortage locally.

Other popular destinations

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