VISITING NAMIBIA:

Namibia is a wide, sparsely populated desert-like territory sprawled along the Atlantic seaboard in the southwestern portion of Africa . The total surface area of Namibia is 823 144 square km. The Namib Desert , a belt of sand dunes and gravel plains 80 to 150km wide, extends along the entire coastline from the Orange River in the south to the Kunene in the north. The highest mountain, at 2580 m, is the Brandberg. The only perennial rivers are the Orange on the southern border, the Kunene and Kavango on the northern border. The Kalahari covers the northern and eastern areas.

Climate
Namibia has 300 days of sunshine per year. Summer days, with temperatures well above 35 degrees Celsius The hottest months are from October to January. Winter days in the interior are usually warm, but in midwinter the nights turn cold, sometimes with frost in the morning. On the Namibian coast, fog cools the air, winter are cold and damp.

Languages
English is the official language, Afrikaans and German have semi-official status while the main indigenous languages are Kwanyama (Owambo), Kwangali (Kavango), Herero and Nama-Damara.

Entry requirements
Foreign nationals must be in possession of a valid passport to visit Namibia . Passports must be valid for at least six months after date of entry. Visitors must be in possession of a valid return/onward air ticket or proof of other means of transportation enabling him/her to leave Namibia . A visa is required from all visitors except nationals of countries with which Namibia has the necessary visa abolition agreement. Tourists are welcome to remain in the country for a period of 90 days. Tourist visas can be obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs, at Namibian Embassies and at Namibian Tourism offices in Johannesburg , Cape Town , London and Frankfurt . A visa requirements if they are entering Namibia as bona fide tourists and they meet the minimum requirements stipulated below: Fed Rep of Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Ireland, UK, Austria, Italy, France, USA, Canada, Japan, Commonwealth of Ind. States, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Botswana, Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Mozambique, the Scandinavian countries, Iceland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Singapore, Kenya, Brazil, Cuba & Malaysia. No visas are required for citizens of the Republic of South Africa but they must be in possession of a passport, which must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended date of departure from Namibia .

Currency
The unit of currency is the Namibia Dollar, which is fixed at the exchange rate of the South African Rand. Traveler's cheques are exchanged at any commercial bank. A maximum of N$500 may be imported in Namibian currency. Major credit cards are accepted in all the main centers. South African Rand are an accepted currency in Namibia .

Liability
Be aware that a visit to Namibia may take you in close contact with animals, small, large, wild and domesticated. If you are staying with a host or if you are guided by someone else, an attack from an animal is not ruled out. This may be from a scorpion stung, a bite from a spider or a kick from a horse. This however is rare but your host or guide cannot guarantee that this will not happen in some unguarded moment. Neither your host, their employees nor agents can be held responsible for any injury or accident that may happen.

What to take
Don't forget the camera, camcorder and binoculars and take a torch for finding your way around camp at night. Stock up with plenty of film and camera batteries. Sunglasses and suntan lotions are important items and lip balm may also be a good idea.

Shopping
Windhoek , Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Lüderitz have a variety of shops for the bargain and souvenir hunter.

What to wear
Leisure wear, mainly cotton, is suitable for Namibia . Do pack a wind-breaker and warm jersey for evenings and when visiting the Namibian coast. Remember the tracksuit, shorts, t-shirts, swimming costume, sun hat, comfortable hiking shoes, sandals and a pair for ” better occasions.”. The winters are mild, although it can drop to freezing point from June to September. Restaurants and hotels will seldom demand dressing standards above “smart casual”. Some more formal establishments may require jacket and tie.

When visiting game reserves, neutral colors are preferred as bright hues may unsettle the animals. Shorts and safari shirts in browns, beige, dark greens or khaki are best. Most safari companies limit baggage to a 10kg soft travel bag.

Roads
Namibia has an extensive and well-maintained road network that makes touring the country a pleasure. 4 600 km are bitumen surfaced and carry about 70% of the total traffic. There are, additionally, 26 000 km of high standard gravel roads as well as 8 700 km of unsurpassed, but regularly maintained gravel roads.

When to visit
The winter months, May to September, are the best for the interior of the country while the summer months of October to April are best for the coast. North western Namibia can be very attractive during the early summer months of January to February

Health
Visitors to the northern parts of the country are advised to take anti-malarial medication, especially in summer.