Planning a trip to Namibia? Wondering where to go, when and how to get there and all the things to do? My own trip to Namibia happened in October 2012. Being the planning freak that I am I still did a lot of research plus I noted a lot of information as I discovered the natural wonders of this beautiful country. This article contains all the info I collected to help plan and make the best of your time in Namibia.
Navigate back to the complete Namibia Travel Guide
OVERVIEW
Officially called the Republic of Namibia, the country, located in the South of Africa is one of the least densely populated countries in the world.
It is a democracy that gained independence in from South Africa in 1990 and established its capital city in Windhoek. The German legacy from the colonial times is evident in some street and town names as well as in the food and architecture.
This country is fascinating as it posesses some of the most stunning landscapes and Natural wonders in Africa:
- Huge sand dunes in Sossusvlei
- 2nd largest canyon in the world, Fish river
- Strange trees and giant piles of Rock at the Giant’s playground and Quiver tree forest
- Abundant wildlife, especially in Etosha National Park
VIDEO - 2 WEEKS IN NAMIBIA
Here is a video to give you a taste of what you could experience should you decide to visit beautiful Namibia
BEST TIME TO VISIT NAMIBIA
If you are wondering when you should book your trip to Namibia, here are some pointers about each seasons:
April and May
Increasingly dry, best weather
Green landscape
- Air is better, free from dust
June to August
- Dry period
- Cooler temperatures and nights can be cold, especially in the desert
- Less tourists
September to November
- Warm
Lot of dust and less greener scenery
- November is variable, you may have dramatic skies with the first rain
December to March
Very hot
- May have humid days with rain and localized thunderstorms
July to October is the peak season so May and End of October would be considered the best times to visit Namibia.
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
Self-drive
With long straight road easy to navigate (but sometimes bumpy to drive) a lot of people choose the options to go on a road trip by themselves. However don't forget these few recommendations:
- 4WD vehicles may be necessary in more remote areas
- Carry plenty of extra water in case of a breakdown
Never pass a service station without filling up
look out for animals and close the farm gates behind you
Find more recommendations on the Africa Geographic Blog
If considering a self drive with kids, check out this article by Marcelle on what to do in Namibia with kids
Organised Tour
Many organized tours are out there, especially from June to October. This allows you to see a lot of without being tired of driving. However it prevents you from stopping whenever you want and doing some detours. I personally used Wild Dog Safari and their 2 week Namibian experience, which was a camping tour.
Public Transportation
Quite limited… don’t forget the density is very low. One option is shared taxi
TIME NEEDED TO TRAVEL AROUND
Namibia is quite a big country and the various famous sites are sadly not very close from one another. So you need to plan sufficient time.
Remember that, in correct road conditions:
- Windhoek – Swakopmund: 4h30 drive
- Windhoek – Etosha: 5h30 drive
- Windhoek – Sossusvlei: 5h30 drive
- Sossusvlei – Luderitz: 7h drive
- Luderitz – Fish River Canyon: 6h drive
Don't forget to check road status on 4 WD requirements (for example on this road report)
Now, considering time for your entire trip:
- For admiring the highlights of the whole country, you need a grand minimum of 2 weeks is necessary
- And if you want to explore the top North as well, then 3 weeks is the minimum time you need to plan
- Just Game driving in Etosha and the dunes Soussusvlei can be done in one week
To help you plan your itinerary you can check out my Namibia online destination guide with many photos and planning tips about specific locations and activities.
GETTING IN THE COUNTRY
- Passport valid at least 6 months
- VISA: a lot country have Visa weaver for tourism stays of less than 30 days
- VACCINE: it depends on your approach to vaccination. However Malaria is at medium risk in the North of the country and you might consider taking tablets. (I did but was the only one on my tour and nobody caught it)
- Most international flights land in Windhoek and most go through Johannesburg first
GETTING READY
When it is getting closer to leave for your amazing trip, you can also check my post on preparing and packing for a trip to Namibia!
Want to see MORE of NAMIBIA?
Discover more things to do with photos and planning information in my online Namibia Travel Guide.
Any question? Ask in the comments...
