Visiting Namibia for the first time can be rather daunting, with a variety of activities and excursions to choose from. Tourism Update unpacks Namibia for first timers.
What to consider prior to your visit
A passport that is valid for six months after the initial date of travel is a definite requirement. It is recommended to get hepatitis A and B, typhoid, polio and tetanus vaccinations too.
When to visit
Namibia is an all-season destination, so the season depends on the type of traveller. For those who are sun lovers, October to April is ideal. Off-peak season boasts thriving vegetation, however wildlife visibility is low. May to October is peak-season and is the best time for wildlife spotting.
How to get there
Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) is the country’s flagship airport, 45 kilometres east of the capital city, Windhoek.
The second largest airport is Walvis Bay, located in the dunes of the Namib Desert, around 15 kilometres from Harbour Town.
How to get around
Most people hire a car on arrival in Namibia. Metered taxi cabs and hotel shuttles for private tours are also a good option for getting around. Visitors mostly opt for 4x4 vehicle hire, as it gives the freedom to go off-road.
Sense of Africa, a bespoke tour operator offers guests a variety of scheduled, private guided and self-drive tours.
Scheduled guided tours
Sense of Africa tours offer an unlimited range of attractions. The Exploring Namibia scheduled guided tour is a 13-day classic Namibian safari, which is a great introduction to both Namibia and Africa for any first-time traveller.
The tour offers awe-inspiring landscapes, such as the Fish River Canyon, the Namib Desert and the mountain ranges in Damaraland, as well as wildlife in the national parks and conservancies.
Self-drive tours
Sense of Africa says, due to Namibia’s safe and secure surroundings, good road infrastructure, frequent and clear toad signs, and accurate maps, it is a great self-drive destination.
Sense of Africa offers a 17-day Wonderland Namibia Self-Drive Tour, which affords travellers the time and leisure to discover the vastness of the Namibian landscape on their own with a detailed itinerary to guide them through their Namibian adventure.
The tour takes travellers to the world’s largest sand mass in the Kalahari Desert and the ghost town of Kolmanskop.
Guided tours
Jewels of Namibia private guided tour by Sense of Africa, which is a 13-day trip, affords guests the opportunity to explore Namibia by air or road travel.
The tour takes guests to Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei, where they learn ways of the San and Damara cultures. Etosha National Park is also on the itinerary, where guests can enjoy a tracking experience.
Drifters offers a 17-day camping tour and a 17-day accommodated tour of Namibia.
“Highlights include places like Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Spitzekoppe and Etosha,” says Christiaan Steyn, Marketing Manager of Drifters Adventours.
“Our tour also includes the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which is seldom visited, as well as two nights on our private desert reserve.”
Drifters’ tour focuses on the wildlife found in the Kgalagadi and Etosha, as well as the open spaces of Namibia through various hikes and walks.
Article has been updated since first published.
