Namibia

The combination of a vast country, untouched by man and a relatively tiny population makes Namibia the ultimate land of discovery and soul-searching. This is a land of wide horizons, endless stretches of golden desert dunes, surreal rock formations and rocky plains. Namibia is home to a wealth of birds and animals, many of them rare and exquisite plant life found nowhere else in the world.

With a wealth of unique sights and scences, from the charm of the capital city of Windhoek, to the wild extremes of the Etosha National Park, a huge oasis in the midst of a semi-desert, providing one of the most extraordinary game viewing experiences in the region – contrast that with the lush Caprivi Strip, a network of rivers, forests, swamps and waterways. Take to the skies in a hot air ballon over the towering sand dunes of Sossusvlei, a photographer’s dream backdrop to the dead pan of bleached, cracked mud, dotted by skeletons of ancient thorn trees. For surreal desolation, the Skeleton Coast is a graveyard coastline of huge, rusting shipwrecks, while the vast Fish River Canyon – second only in size to the Grand Canyon – is equally challenging and similarly imposing.

Extraordinary scenery and wildlife are undoubtedly hallmarks of a Namibian trip, yet the fascination extends beyond that to the countries traditional tribes like the Herero and the nomadic desert Himba.

From the charm of a Cape Fur Seal colony, to the quaint, lively German town of Swakopmund, to bushman paintings in Damaraland; go quad biking on dunes and indulge in oysters and champagne as the sunset streaks the sand with rich golds and reds. Namibia is the quiet land of scenic drama and contrast.

Location

Namibia is located on the coast of south west Africa. To the south, Namibia shares its border with South Africa, to the east is Botswana and to the north is Angola. The country has a total land boundary length of 3,936 km (2,446 mi) and a coastline of 1,572 km (977 mi). A predominantly arid country, Namibia can be divided into four main topographical regions: the Namib Desert and coastal plains in the west, the eastward-sloping Central Plateau, the Kalahari along the borders with South Africa and Botswana and the densely wooded bushveld of the Kavango and Caprivi regions.

Highlights of Namibia

Stunning scenery and unique wildlife are just two of the reasons tourist come to Namibia. Other highlights include:

- Explore the oldest desert in the world with some of the highest sand dunes coloured from pale apricot to deepest red
- Watch springbok dance across the shimmering Etosha Pan
- Explore the quaint seaside town of Swakopmund, the adventure capital of Namibia
- Spend the day viewing the awesome Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world.
- See impressive Bushman / San paintings at Twyfelfontein
- View the rare desert-adapted elephant and rhino in Damaraland

Currency

The Namibian dollar (N$) equals 100 cents, and in Namibia it’s pegged to the South African rand, which is also legal tender in Namibia, at a rate of 1:1. This can be confusing, given that there are three sets of coins and notes in use, all with different sizes: old South African, new South African and Namibian. This can be confusing, given that there are three sets of coins and notes in use, all with different sizes: old South African, new South African and Namibian.

Visas

British passport holders wanting to visit Namibia do not require a visa. Travellers receive an initial 90 days entry to the country.

Full details and requirements can be discussed when you make your travel enquiry. Please remember, travelers are solely responsible for ensuring they have all the correct travel documents in place for their trip.

Power

The power sockets in Namibia are 220 volts and use a standard European twin round pin socket.