Sub Saharan Africa

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

• Health
• General
 

Travel Summary

• Presidential and National Assembly elections will take place throughout Namibia on 27 and 28 November 2009.  The campaign period will end on 26 November.  During the campaign and election period, you should be alert and take precautions.  The elections are expected to be largely peaceful. For further information, please see the Political Situation section.
  
  
• 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).   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.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section and of this advice Travel Insurance for more details.