NAMIBIA

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT NAMIBIA

Visas

  • Passport – Valid for six months after date of entry
  • Exempt from visa requirements are:  USA, Canada, UK
  • Check with Embassy to confirm visa requirements and vaccinations required

Money matters

Currency:  The Namibian Dollars (N$) is linked to and equals the South African Rand which is also legal tender in Namibia.

  • Visa and Master Cards are accepted throughout the country
  • Most towns have commercial bank, some with International credit card/ATM
  • All goods and services are priced to include value – added tax (VAT) of 15%

Road conditions and driving tips

  • Courtesy goes a long way
  • Always be patient and good-humored at all courtesy stops, control points and border crossings. Show respect and be friendly with officials and locals
  • Respect all graves, cultures and traditions. In some situations it is not allowed to start a conversation with women or take pictures without the permission of the local chief
  • Never drive through villages if such roads or tracks are not properly indicated
  • There is no land in Namibia that does not belong to someone remember most property and people live there
  • Never hand out medicine as gifts. Rather stock up on small Packages of sugar, salt, cooking oil, maize, coffee and tea as gifts
  • Approach villages and settlements slowly and allow one vehicle to enter to ask directions or permission to proceed
  • It is compulsory in Namibia that passengers in the front and back seat wear seatbelts
  • Drivers are required to have their original drivers licenses with them at all times
  • You have to be 25 years or older to drive the vehicle and a valid drivers license from your home country
  • The use of cell phones whilst driving is dangerous and illegal.

 Gravel roads

  • The general condition of gravel roads in Namibia is excellent and motorist tend to travel at high speed and often do not have sufficient time to react to changing road
  • Conditions like sudden curves potholes or sections with loose gravel or deep sand
  • A safe speed to travel on gravel road is 60-80km/h. Driving at high speed is dangerous due to the fact that the road surface can change rapidly from a hard surface to soft sand, which could make it difficult to control a fast traveling vehicle
  • Stones in gravel roads could be thrown up by a car in front of you and damage your windscreen, so keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you. These stones could be thrown a distance of up to 100 meters, and you may not be able to see it due to dust and clouds from the vehicle in front of you.

Tarred roads

The speed limit on tarred roads is 120km/h (outside urban areas) however a speed 100 km/h is recommended until you are familiar with the tarred roads and traffic conditions.

Animals

Special attention should be paid to warnings of wild and domestic animals, as they often graze along the verges and can be unpredictable.

Cellular phone

  • The system used in Namibia is GSM
  • The service providers are MTC and Cell One
  • International roaming agreements exist with more than 100 countries
  • Pre-paid SIM card (and recharged vouchers) are available in many stores all over the country
  • Reception may vary according to the terrain