With limitless purple sand dunes set in opposition to a superb blue sky, the Southern African nation of Namibia stirs the spirit and strikes the guts. Namibia is so massive and sparsely populated that it’s doable to find huge open areas with out roads, cities, timber and even stones, simply the lonely desert wind passing by one of the enchanting corners of the earth. The otherworldly landscapes, the world’s oldest desert, wild coastlines plagued by shipwreck stays and whale bones, and weird desert-adapted natural world will seize the creativeness of even probably the most seasoned traveler. It might not supply the large sport of the extra verdant African international locations, however you’ll nonetheless discover loads of huge sport right here. On high of that, Namibia can be dwelling to quite a lot of ultraluxe lodges, attracting discerning vacationers from all around the world.
Get probably the most out of your (luxurious) journey to Namibia with my journey information. Discover out extra about:
TRAVEL GUIDE TO NAMIBIA: BEST TIME TO VISIT
Having fun with a dry local weather, Namibia is taken into account a year-round journey vacation spot. Nevertheless, deciding on one of the best journey interval actually depends upon which areas and points of interest you’ll be touring to and what your pursuits are. For instance, the dry months in Namibia are finest for outside actions in addition to wildlife viewing in locations reminiscent of Etosha Nationwide Park, whereas the wet summer season months are finest for birdwatching and low lodge charges.
- Basically, the dry winter season from Might to October is the most well-liked time for vacationers to go to Namibia: the skies are clear, the danger of malaria is at its lowest, and the day time temperatures aren’t too scorching (though nights between June and August within the desert are freezing chilly). In wildlife reserves reminiscent of Etosha Nationwide Park, the mixture of sparse foliage and the dearth of rain forces the sport to congregate round waterholes, making animal recognizing significantly simple.
- November to March are the most popular months in Namibia and temperatures in some areas can attain above 50 C° (122 F°) through the day. These months are additionally thought of to be the wet summer season season, though many areas in Namibia obtain little or no rain in any respect. Through the wetter months, some tracks within the north japanese a part of the nation (often known as the Caprivi strip) can grow to be unsurpassable. These are the toughest months for recognizing wildlife in parks reminiscent of Etosha they usually additionally carry the best threat of malaria.
TRAVEL GUIDE TO NAMIBIA: HOW TO GET THERE
Most vacationers arrive in Namibia by way of Hosea Kutako Worldwide Airport, the essential gateway for all locations within the nation (positioned a forty five min drive from the capital Windhoek). A number of main airways supply direct flights to Windhoek, together with Eurowings, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airways. Click on right here for a repeatedly up to date checklist of airways that supply direct flights to Kigali.
It’s additionally doable to reach in Namibia overland as a part of a multi-country itinerary. Namibia is bordered by Botswana to the east, Angola and Zambia to the north and South Africa to the south. Whereas visiting Angola is just not on the bucket checklist of many vacationer (on account of excessive crime and an unstable safety state of affairs), many vacationers mix Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia in a single single vacation (typically beginning at Cape City in South Africa and ending on the Victoria Falls in Zambia or vice versa).
Before you purchase a airplane ticket, contemplate studying my ideas & tips for purchasing the most affordable airplane ticket.
TRAVEL GUIDE TO NAMIBIA: ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Necessities for entry into Namibia differ from nation to nation, and are topic to alter. Previous to departure, at all times test along with your authorities and your nearest Namibian embassy or consulate what paperwork you want for journey to Namibia. Some vital factors:
- You want a legitimate passport. The passport should be legitimate for six months after entry into the nation. You want one clean web page in your passport for entry stamps.
- Namibia launched new immigration guidelines in 2016 regarding journey with kids. Along with legitimate passports, dad and mom touring with kids (below 18) ought to always carry the unique or licensed copy of the unabridged delivery certificates. The total unabridged delivery certificates ought to checklist the kid’s particulars and each dad and mom’ particulars.
Be sure to learn my 10 tricks to plan a worry-free journey.
TRAVEL GUIDE TO NAMIBIA: GETTING AROUND
With the intention to attain most of Namibia’s Nationwide Parks, reserves and locations of curiosity, you will have to hire a automobile or constitution a airplane.
- The quickest and most comfy strategy to get round in Namibia is by air journey. Dozens of minor airstrips cater for chartered airplane and many of the remoted luxurious lodges have their very own touchdown strip. Flying will prevent a variety of time. For instance, getting from Sossusvlei to Damaraland will take two full days by automobile (with an in a single day cease in Swakopmund) whereas it’s simply two hours by airplane. There are a number of good constitution flight operators who recurrently fly vacationers between lodges, however it’s best to ask the lodge(s) you’re staying at to advise on flights and ebook them for you, since many have agreements with explicit constitution operators. One instance is Wilderness Safaris, which makes us of Wilderness Air (my expertise with them was wonderful).
- Most vacationers will hire a automobile, which is the simplest and least expensive method of getting across the nation. Namibia’s highway community is comprised of high-quality tarred highways and secondary gravel roads. Though most highway are typically navigable in a 2WD automobile, nearly all of self-drive guests hire a 4WD automobile: the upper clearance makes the experience extra comfy and 4WD automobiles are higher outfitted to sort out poor highway circumstances within the wet season. Most lodges that demand 4WD entry have a secure parking space for 2WD saloon automobiles, and can switch visitors in their very own 4WD automobiles, normally at no additional price. Throughout my journey to Namibia, I rented a 4WD automobile from Asco Automobile Rent close to Windhoek and was very pleased with their service.
TRAVEL GUIDE TO NAMIBIA: INSPIRATION, HIGHLIGHTS & TRAVEL TIPS
There are lots of explanation why Namibia must be in your bucket checklist:
- Having fun with unimaginable views on the world’s third largest canyon, the Fish River Canyon
- Visiting Kolfmanskop, a ghost city within the desert
- Recognizing wildlife in Etosha Nationwide Park
- Exploring the dramatic surroundings of Damaraland
- Climbing the dunes at Sossusvlei & Deadvlei
- Visiting the Skeleton Coast
- Hovering in a scorching air balloon over the desert
The next, complete articles can also encourage you and aid you plan your vacation to Namibia:
TRAVEL GUIDE TO NAMIBIA: SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
It’s not possible to counsel one itinerary for Namibia on this journey information, however I hereby share with you a schedule primarily based by myself holidays in Namibia, which is nice if you wish to see the nation in a timeframe of two weeks:
- Day 1 & 2: arrive at Windhoek & get pleasure from a basic African safari expertise.
- Day 3 & 4: drive (6 hours) or fly to the Namib Desert’s southern edge, and calm down in otherworldly surroundings.
- Day 5, 6, 7: drive (2 hours) to the Sesriem space, and discover the desert (together with an tour to Sossusvlei and a scorching air balloon flight).
- Day 8, 9: drive (5 hours) to Swakopmund and discover the world (together with a whale or kayak tour close to Walvisbaai). Swakopmund primarily caters to vacationers that love thrilling desert adventures but when that’s not your factor, I like to recommend to remain right here for just one evening (and even to skip Swakopmund by flying immediately from Sossusvlei to Damaraland).
- Day 10, 11: drive (5 hours) or fly to Damaraland and discover the world (in search of desert tailored elephants and endangered black rhinos)
- Day 12, 13, 14: fly to Hoanib Skeleton Coast (40 min) for what would be the spotlight of your journey, with safari drives searching for desert tailored lions and a drive/fly tour to the mist shrouded shoreline
- Day 15, 16: drive (4 hours) or fly to Etosha Nationwide Park’s west aspect for sport viewing
- Day 17, 18: drive (2 hours) to Etosha Nationwide Park’s east aspect for sport viewing
- Day 19: drive (6 hours) or fly to Windhoek and return dwelling
TRAVEL GUIDE TO NAMIBIA: RECOMMENDED HOTELS (+ REVIEWS)
I like to recommend to go to my high 10 checklist of the most fantastic resorts in Namibia if you’re wanting to understand how I rank Namibia’s high resorts, primarily based my very own expertise.
Beneath, you discover my detailed evaluations of resorts in Namibia (with execs, cons, & ideas to economize per lodge).
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