Social ConventionsIn urban areas, western customs prevail; normal courtesies should be shown when visiting someone’s home. In rural settlements, visitors should follow the advice of a local guide.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airline is
Air Namibia (SW) (website:
www.airnamibia.com.na).
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsWindhoek (WDH) (Hosea Kutako International Airport) is 42km (25 miles)
from the city (journey time – 30 minutes).
To/
from the airport: Shuttle services carrying two or more passengers at a time go to the city. Private taxis are also available.
Facilities: Restaurant, bars, snack bar, duty-free shops, post office, bureau de change and car hire.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: There is a modern deep-water harbor at the
Walvis Bay. There is also a small port at
Lüderitz.
Getting There by RailTransNamib StarLine (tel: (061) 298 2175
or 2032
or 2083; website:
www.transnamib.com.na) runs a train from Windhoek to Upington, just across the border in South Africa. However, the service is slow and there are no onward trains from Upington to other South African destinations.
Getting There by RoadA tarred road runs from the south through Upington in South Africa to Grünau, where it connects with the tarred road from Cape Town. The Trans-Kalahari Highway links Walvis Bay and Windhoek with Gaborone, Botswana and Gauteng, South Africa. The Trans-Caprivi highway runs through the Caprivi strip and via Botswana into Zimbabwe.
Bus: Intercape Mainliner (tel: (061) 227 847; website:
www.intercape.co.za) runs comfortable overnight services from Windhoek to Cape Town four times a week, as well as services to Johannesburg and Pretoria via Upington. It also runs a service to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (close to the border with Zambia). The Johannesburg/Pretoria route connects with a direct service to Gaborone, Botswana.
OverviewThe following may be imported into Namibia by persons over 16 years of age without incurring customs duty:
• 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco.
• 2l of wine and 1l of spirits.
• 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette.
• Gifts to the value of N$50,000 (including value of imported duty-free items).
Note: Hunting rifles need a permit, issued by customs when entering the country.
Prohibited ImportsHandguns are not allowed.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirFlying is the quickest and often the most economical way to travel around the country.
Air Namibia (SW) (website:
www.airnamibia.com.na) links Windhoek’s
Eros Airport to all of the major towns in the territory. A number of local charter companies can arrange flights and tours by light aircraft.
Getting Around by RailWith the exception of its two dedicated luxury services, rail travel in Namibia is not geared to tourism – progress is slow, the network is limited and most trains run overnight. The main routes are Windhoek–Keetmanshoop–Upington, South Africa, Walvis Bay–Swakopmund–Tsumeb, Windhoek–Tsumeb and Lüderitz–Keetmanshoop. First- and second-class carriages are available and light refreshments are offered on some services. On overnight voyages, seats in first-class compartments convert to four couchettes and those in second class to six couchettes. Local passenger trains run daily.
The luxury
Desert Express runs between Swakopmund and Windhoek, a 19-hour 30-minute journey which includes several stops which give travelers the opportunity to watch lions feeding, see the Namib Desert, walk in the sand dunes and admire the stars. A three-course dinner and overnight accommodation are included in the ticket price. The
Northern Desert Express is a luxury service to Etosha National Park. More details on rail services are available from
TransNamib (website:
www.transnamib.com.na).
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the left. Roads are generally well maintained but away from the main highways surfaces are gravel or dirt, not tarmac. There are 64,799km (40,266 miles) of road, of which 7,841km (4,872 miles) are tarred. Although traffic is very light, people and animals sometimes walk in the road; driving after dark can be particularly dangerous. If traveling along the Caprivi Strip, stay on the tarred road.
Bus: The
Intercape Mainliner (tel: (061) 227 847; website:
www.intercape.co.za) luxury coach service runs from Walvis Bay to Livingstone in Zambia and from Windhoek to South Africa via Springbok or Upington, stopping at major towns along the way.
Car hire: Self-drive cars are available at the airport and Windhoek city center, as well as some other major centers.
Regulations: The minimum driving age is 23 years. The speed limit is 60-80kph (37-50mph) in built up areas, 80-90kph (50-56mph) on gravel roads and 120kph (75mph) on tar roads. Seat belts are compulsory.
Emergency breakdown service: AAN (Automobile Association of Nambia) (tel: (061) 224 201).
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesThere is a local
bus service in
Windhoek, and
taxis are available in all Namibian towns.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from
Windhoek to other major towns/destinations in Namibia:
| Air | Road |
| Walvis Bay/Swakopumund | 0.50 | 3.00-4.00 |
| Odangwa/Etosha | 1.30 | 5.00 |
| Sossusvlei | 1.00 | 4.30 |
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