Sub Saharan Africa

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

Travel Summary

• You should avoid driving outside towns at night as wildlife and stray livestock pose a serious hazard.
  
  
• There is a growing level of violent street crime affecting foreign tourists, particularly in Windhoek.
  
  
• If travelling along the Caprivi Strip, stick to the well-travelled routes.
  
  
• You should carry identification with you at all times.  A photocopy of the relevant pages from your passport is sufficient.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• Approximately 28,000 Britons visited Namibia in 2007 (Source: Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism).  Most visits to Namibia are trouble-free. 53 British nationals required consular assistance in Namibia in the period 01 April 2008-31 March 2009 for the following types of incident: deaths (16 cases); hospitalisations (5 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (3 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (114 cases).
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  See the General (Insurance) section of this Travel Advice.
  

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. 

For more information see our Terrorism Abroad page.

Crime

Violent street crimes (muggings and robberies) targeting foreign tourists have increased significantly in 2009, particularly in Windhoek.  Attacks can take place even in busy city centre locations in broad daylight.   

Theft from vehicles, particularly at service stations,  is common. Keep your vehicle locked and valuable possessions out of sight.

Residents of Namibia have reported incidents of interception of mail and theft of mail contents by Post Office workers in Namibia.  Any valuable parcels or documents (e.g. bank and credit cards) should be sent by registered mail at least and preferably by a reputable commercial courier company.

Beware of pickpockets in town centres.  Do not use the taxis generally available for hire, particularly in Windhoek, as these vehicles have been involved in attacks on foreign tourists.  Instead, ask your hotel, guest house or tour operator to recommend a reputable taxi company.  Do not enter townships at night unless accompanied by someone with local knowledge.

An armed robbery on a bar in Ausspannplatz on Windhoek's main street, Independence Avenue, was foiled by police on 2 April 2009.  Two robbers were shot dead and two were wounded as a result.  No bystanders were hurt.

Take precautions to safeguard valuables and cash, and deposit them in hotel safes, where practical.  Keep large amounts of money, expensive jewellery, cameras and cell phones out of sight.  Do not change large sums of money in busy public areas. Keep separate copies of important documents, including passports.

Remain with your group when visiting parks and game reserves.

Since October 2008, Namibian authorities and visiting foreign tourists have reported an outbreak of credit card skimming taking place at some hotels and lodges around the country. Okakuejo Lodge in Etosha National Park has been identified as a particular trouble spot for this. Unscrupulous employees there and at some other establishments have been accused of copying card details onto hand-held readers and passing the details on to criminal gangs.  Visiting foreign tourists have been targeted.  When paying by credit card, keep the card in full view at all times and always check your statement carefully to ensure you do not become a victim of fraud.

For more information see our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Political Situation   Namibia Country Profile

Local Travel

If you travel along the Trans-Caprivi Highway between Rundu and Katima Mulilo (in the Caprivi Strip), or in other remote areas of northern Namibia, you should travel during daylight hours and stick to well travelled routes.   The Namibian authorities are clearing unexploded ordnance from areas that are barred to public access.

Road Travel

You can drive in Namibia with a UK Photo Driving Licence.  If you wish to hire a car, you should also bring the paper counterpart with you.  You must carry your licence at all times and produce it on request at roadblocks leading in and out of Windhoek and other major towns and cities. If you hire a car, pay particular attention to the insurance cover provided.  Most policies will not cover accidents that do not involve other vehicles or animals.  Given the higher than normal  probability of an accident taking place on a gravel road because of the condition of the road, we strongly recommend that you take out fully comprehensive insurance on any hired vehicle. You are not allowed to use a mobile phone whilst driving.

If you hire a car, pay particular attention to the insurance cover provided.  Most policies will not cover accidents that do not involve other vehicles or animals.  Given the higher than normal probability of an accident taking place on a gravel road because of the condition of the road, we strongly recommend that you take out fully comprehensive insurance on any hired vehicle.

It is easy to lapse into a false sense of security on Namibian roads, because most are well maintained and there is little traffic.  But there have been a number of fatal accidents on gravel/dirt roads, especially on bends in the road. It is dangerous to exceed the speed limit of 80km.

During the rainy season (normally January to April) many roads can become impassable.  The rainy season of 2009 was particularly destructive and many roads throughout the country were badly damaged.  It is advisable to check with your destination on the local road conditions before setting off.

You should avoid driving at night outside the towns as wildlife and stray livestock can pose a serious hazard.  Tyre punctures are common on gravel roads; if possible, carry two spare tyres. It may also be necessary to adjust tyre pressures to suit differing road conditions.  Keep your petrol tank topped up, as there are long distances between petrol stations.  For further information see our Driving Abroad page.
 
Rail Travel

The Desert Express between Windhoek and Swakopmund is a popular tourist route.  Although there have been no accidents involving this train, you should be aware there have been two incidents on this line since 2007. In August 2007 a freight train derailed (one fatality), and in May 2008 a freight train collided with a stationary passenger train (no fatalities).

Air Travel

The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel - European Commission Transport - Air.

For more general information see Airline Security.

Local laws and customs

Drug taking and smuggling is an offence.  Punishments can be severe.
Homosexuality is tolerated but Windhoek’s only gay bar (the Ceibas Café) is regularly shut down by Drug Squad raids.
There are no formal rules and regulations limiting photography by tourists in Namibia, but we are aware that some people have been detained for taking pictures of State House and properties where the President is residing.  There are also parts of Namibia that require a permit to enter and it would be wise to check about photography when applying for these permits.  Likewise, if the army or police are protecting a building or place, check before taking any photographs.  If in doubt, do not take pictures.   You should carry identification with you at all times. A photocopy of the relevant pages from your passport is sufficient.  For more information see our Your Trip page.

Entry requirements

Visas

British nationals can enter Namibia for a holiday or private visit of up to 90 days without a visa.  However, we are aware of several cases in which, on arrival, visitors have only been given permission to stay for periods significantly shorter than the 90 day maximum, some as short as only seven or ten days.  Before leaving the Immigration Desk in the Airport Arrivals Hall, check that you have been given permission to stay in Namibia for the duration of your intended visit, up to the maximum stay allowable of 90 days.  Overstaying the time period granted could lead to detention or arrest for breaking immigration laws.

Please also check that, on arrival, you have been given a correctly dated entry stamp by Namibian Immigration officials, as this will be checked on departure.  An incorrect or missing entry stamp could lead to you being arrest on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant.

If you intend to work or reside in Namibia for a period over 90 days, you must contact the Namibian High Commission in London and apply for the required visa before travelling.

UK Passport Issuing

Our High Commission in Namibia does not issue standard passports.  Before leaving, you should ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months and has several unused pages remaining.  Applications made from Namibia for new passports are processed by the British High Commission in Pretoria.

All applications for full passports should be sent direct to the British High Commission in Pretoria, where they will be processed and printed.  Contact details for the Consular Section of the British High Commission in Pretoria together with passport application forms and details of how to make payment are available from our website (www.ukinnamibia.fco.gov.uk) or can be collected in person from the British High Commission Windhoek  premises at 116 Robert Mugabe Avenue.

Applicants can choose themselves which courier company to use to forward their applications, but will wish to be aware that the FedEx Express Licensee in Namibia, Supaswift, has agreed to a reduced rate of N$100 for the return trip of a passport application from its office to and from Pretoria.  Supaswift contact details are also available on our website (www.ukinnamibia.fco.gov.uk).

The British High Commission in Pretoria remains committed to our Consular Business Target of issuing 90% of all straightforward passports applications within 10 working days on receipt of the correct supporting documents and fee and excluding transit time.  Customers will need to allow extra time for applications to be sent to and from Pretoria.

The British High Commission in Windhoek will continue to issue Emergency Passports for customers who need to travel urgently. However, Emergency Passports are only valid for a single journey to the United Kingdom via agreed transit points as necessary, or to some Commonwealth countries providing prior agreement exists with the Commonwealth country concerned. The British High Commission in Windhoek can advise which Commonwealth countries accept Emergency Passports.

Passport validity

Your passport must be valid for at least six months upon entry and you must have at least one completely blank page for Namibian Immigration to use. If you are travelling on to South Africa, you should be aware that while the South African authorities state officially that only one blank passport page is required for entry, there have been reports that some officials insist on two blank pages.  We recommend you have a total of three blank pages.

Failure to comply may result in you being denied entry to Namibia, being denied onward passage to South Africa; being detained pending supervised departure, or all three.
Travelling with children

Single parents and other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.  For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration, please contact the Namibian High Commission in London.

Health

There are good medical facilities in Windhoek but you may be expected to pay for treatment, even if you are insured.  See the General (Insurance) section of this advice for more details.  Evacuation from remote areas can take time.
Rabies, malaria and cholera are common to Namibia.  The latter two diseases are common to northern Namibia, malaria more so during the main rainy season (January - April) when the malaria belt extends as far south as Okahandja, 65km north of Windhoek.  You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.  If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Namibia you should seek immediate medical attention.
  There was an outbreak of polio in Namibia in July 2006 and the Namibian authorities co-ordinated a mass vaccination campaign. You should ensure that your polio vaccination is up to date. You should consider carrying your vaccination card with you.   Some people suffer skin problems from Namibia's hot and dry climate.  There is, for the same reason, a serious risk of dehydration.  When travelling outside main cities ensure you carry a good supply of drinkable water.  In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 180,000 adults aged 15 or over in Namibia were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 15.3% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Namibia and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.  For more information see our Travel Health and Swine Flu pages.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. You should be aware that even with fully comprehensive travel insurance, private hospitals in Namibia may insist on personal proof of payment (e.g. cash or credit card) before commencing treatment.  They may also insist you pay up front, reclaiming from your insurer directly. For more general information see our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.

You should be aware that even with fully comprehensive travel insurance, private hospitals in Namibia may insist on personal proof of payment (e.g. cash or credit card) before commencing treatment.  They may also insist that you pay up front, reclaiming from your insurer directly.

Registration 
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

Money

Credit and Cirrus bankcards can be used in some Namibian cash machines.  The Namibian Dollar is tied to the South African Rand, which is accepted everywhere in Namibia.