this.submitForm(); The vast open and colourful landscapes of Namibia. Is it best to fly to Cape Town and then catch a flight to Windhoek? We struggled to see anything at Etosha. Because youll be unlikely to have data coverage while youre driving, and sometime even in lodges, the guidebook made our trip so much less stressful. In search of things about this country I found your article. After Mongolia, Namibia is the most sparsely populated country in the world. We were lucky and never ran into any trouble on our Namibia self-drive. if (selected) { Should I travel to Namibia? : r/Namibia - Reddit if (field.className.indexOf('invalid') === -1) field.className += ' invalid'; If youre still concerned about the safety of the water, we recommend that you bring along a purifier like Steripen. }, P.S. this.removeTextFieldError(input); And even better: we actually saw some of thoseanimals wandering around in the wild! Best Places to Visit in Namibia - Favorite Things to Do Its one of the safest and least intimidating countries Ive travelled through. A land older than time itself, the country has reinvented itself as a destination of choice for discerning travelers, offering desert adventures, unique game drives, boutique accommodation and incredible natural wonders. Where even is Namibia? We slept at Sesriem Desert Camp, which was magnificent.Day 10:We got up at sunrise to enter the park, climb Big Daddy sand dune, and explore Deadvlei. . Have an offline map downloaded or a good old paper map, with your route and stops worked out. Looking forward to reading more posts to relive my trip/see how its changed. Dec 20, 2022, 11:29 PM Save I have read mixed reviews about Twyfelfontein, especially about the geological sights there. Otherwise, October/November is probably the best time to visit Etosha. For all the would-be tourists out there: I am a Namibian and love my country with all my heart! As visitors to Namibia, you can help by being conscious of the water restrictions that citizens abide, such as shorter showers and not washing vehicles unless necessary. Still, traveling to Namibia can still offer a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of some of Africas best wildlife. There are over 150 tripoints in the world, but only one quadripoint, making this a very special place on the planet. Thatll be cheaper than a tour and then you wont have to worry about tackling the bad roads yourself. We are storytellers, photographers, and videographers traveling the world full-time in search of outdoor adventures, wildlife encounters, cultural experiences and ways to make a positive impact on the destinations and communities we visit. Best Time of Year to Visit Namibia How Many Days to Spend in Namibia. Yes. Namibia has been calling my name lately but as you said its so darn expensive. 3. If youve got the cash, opting for a two wheel drive with higher ground clearance would be a smartidea, as part of the bottom of our car fell off on our second day of driving, thanks to all the rocks that had been flicked upinto the undercarriage. Hi! if (type === 'text_field') { Any advice would be greatly appreciated for first timers. field.className = field.className.replace(/ invalid/g, ''); this.form.addEventListener('submit', function(e){ On top of standard travel insurance, youllalso want to make sure you get some of the best car insurance money can buy. }); We saw dozens of giraffes, zebras, and a rare black rhino, then spent the night back at Halali. The Namibian Sunset and Sunrise. } You can ask questions, you can get directions, you dont have to mime all the time its all so easy. Loved this introduction into what its like the travel there. When its that cheap, theres no reason not to get one. There are a lot of dogs at this farm. Making it a much more wet area and home to a large population of hippos and crocodiles. Deadvlei. At first glance, you might consider that a week is long enough to cover the main Namibia tourist places. May: South KoreaJune: EnglandJuly: IrelandAugust: MauritiusSeptember: AustraliaOctober: Tuvalu, NauruNovember: AustraliaDecember: Chile, Argentina. 34 comments Best Add a Comment OneLostOstrich 1 yr. ago It's a wonderful place. This time also brings the summer rains which turns much of the country slightly more green and lush and even brings flooding to some northern parts. On the whole the staff seem disinterested. I have to confess I knew nothing about it before you visited but it looks like such an incredible country. Budget Travel in Namibia | Safari Travel Guide - African Budget Safaris formSubmitting: function() { All I knew of Namibia was the rockin sand dunes. Planning Tips Should you plan and book in advance? At Sesriem Desert Camp(pictured above Vingerklip Lodge), we slept in luxury tents in the desert with wild oryx roaming outside. When traveling to Namibia, the tour packages are also generally expensive. We stayed for 2 months and did a little bit of traveling. Absolutely! if (response.success) { Really safe too. Most of these destinations are so far from each other that youll have to break up the drive into two days. The park is one of the top places to go in Namibia for most travelers. Yep, Im convinced! if (document.addEventListener) { Very inspiring! Hi Lauren, Im currently finding out as much as I can about Namibia from books and the net, which is where I stumbled on your blog, which Ive got to say, is excellent. for (var i = 0; i < fields.length; ++i) { With the higher demand, decent accommodation can also be difficult to find. this.fieldAndListValidation(); Is Namibia worth visiting? The average price for a 44 in Namibia is around $100 per day. In Namibia, there isnt really that option if you want to get outside of the cities and towns. I would cover up my shoulders sometimes, but usually wandered around in a t-shirt and shorts. Anyway just a few questions if you still remember from your time there How much did you roughly spend during the two weeks, excluding flights, travel insurance, vaccinations. We spent the night in an Airbnb apartment.Day 7:For day 7, we took a day trip out to nearby to Walvis Bay to see its seal colony, which is one of the largest in the world. 10 Most Beautiful Places in Namibia: The Top Spots to Visit | NEXT In planning to visit Namibia next month I have come to the realisation that it is one of the busiest months and as such have been unable to find a tour. But I agree: if you usually spend this amount of money in other countries as you travel, youd feel as though you got a lot for your money in Namibia. You can save a lot by renting a 2WD, and even more if you are looking for a regular compact car vs one with a higher clearance. It offers a rugged and exciting adventure with a desolate coastline and the worlds oldest desert. Also, the costs of fuel which can be around $200 for a 7-day road trip. It gives us that peace of mind when we were traveling off the beaten path. Your blog has now convinced me, although it seems like the dry season is best for animals. , which for 35 Namibian Dollars gives you 100 minutes of local calls, 700 SMS and 1GB of data for 7 days. } this.revalidateOnChange(); Animals in Namibia tend to congregate around water holes and it can be much easier to guarantee to spot them in these drier months. There arent many major towns and cities in the country and honestly, the best parts of Namibia are outside of them so thatmakes finding accommodation tricky. We are unable to recommend one to others. Learn how your comment data is processed. THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Namibia - Tripadvisor Written by: Juan Proll on 20 March 2023 Walvis Bay in Namibia - more than just the main port city Travel Tips Rich whale and fish deposits, a natural and safe deep-water harbor that is also suitable for larger ships, as well as the military-strategic and geopolitical potential determined the history of Walvis Bay in Namibia. And if you compare what you get for the money with what youd pay in somewhere like Australia, it seems like you definitely got your moneys worth. Most of the population lives in the central and towards the north of the country, with very few majorly populated areas. They have traditionally lived in the Kalahari Desert and in eastern Namibia. And did you get any flats or have other car troubles? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Perhaps it will be the destination booked when I visit Africa again rather than the Safaris I did in 2010 or the Gorilla trekking in Rwanda! Includes vital information, including where to stay, how to get around safely, and how to prepare for your trip. Even further south in the Namib Desert, you can find a number of game animals, similar to Etosha National Park. Have you convinced me? Also, Namibia have deep canyons, abundant wildlife and a rich colonial and indigenous history. It was a fairly relaxed day after all of the movement, and we spent the night at Kairos B&B.Day 12:We saved the best for last, because for day 12, we drove to Kolmanskop at sunrise and and had the entire place to ourselves. It looks SO different than the places Ive visited in Africa (Uganda and Zanzibar) that Im very intrigued. I stumbled on it while planning my trip to hike Hadrians wall and went exploring to see if you had been to Namibia. this.isValid = false; Im just wondering about travel injections. Most tourists get a flat tyre in Namibia at some point at a minimum (we got one roughly an hour from the airport on our final day) and replacing them/repairing the rental car can be pricey. Hi Lauren. To be honest, this is the first time Ive heard of Namibia. Both in Aus and Morocco we didnt seem to have problems with flat tyres but we were deflating / inflating when appropriate. Well, low-ish season. window.attachEvent('onload', function() { this.updateSubmitButtonText(this.submit.getAttribute('data-thanks')); Head to Etosha National Park and youll get to drive alongsideelephants, giraffes, lions, black rhinos, and more. Close. this.onSelectCallback(input); But, Namibia is actually quite different and unique. What Makes Namibia One Of The Most Interesting Places To Visit? - TheTravel The bonus of this? Thanks for the free advertisement..might I add, Namibia is quite clean, it helps to have a small population density. Just prepare yourself for a hell of a lot of feta cheese! this.removeTextFieldError(email); Namibia Travel Tips for if You're Planning a Self-Guided Tour Roughly 50,000 people from this indigenous tribe remain between Namibia and Angola today. The town proper is not super compact and your own wheels make life a . Traveling to Namibia can be quite isolating for this reason and you might even go an entire day of driving through the desert without seeing another soul. One of my favourite aspects of eating in Namibia was getting to try so many of the delicious game meats on offer. American living in Namibia!
var _this = this; It makes Namibia safari tour quite unique. Or so we thought. I havent been before but you have me just about convinced! Thanks for writing this complete guide. 29 Vital Namibia Travel Tips To Know Before You Go - Global Gadding How long is the drive from South Africa to Namibia? this.isValid = false; Your email address will not be published. I cant wait to visit. We walk amongst the Gemsboks in our streets down here. Animals are everywhere: on the beach, by the side of the road, wandering around your lodge or tent. You will pass donkey carts with a passenger or two as they . Looking forward to digging into the accompanying posts soon! I am one of those who had never heard of Namibia..glad you shared this post. The locals are friendly and welcoming, theft is rare, and youronly real concernwill be how many flat tyres youll end up withon the seemingly-endless gravel roads. } Everything else wasnt too bad when it came to price. So is a tour package the only way to go for me? Somewhere thats much easier to visit, however, is the Tropic of Capricorn! Thank you!
checkboxAndRadioValidation: function(field) { I couldnt believe it: after six years of travel, Namibia was the first countrynobody seemed able to locate on a map. Today, they live mostly in the northern part of Namibia in the Kunene region, which also goes across into Angola. Its also best to find an ethical tour operator who also supports the community in some way. Maybe Im just being over cautious. Thanks! Enjoy your travels, hope you make your way back here for an extended journey and with many other wide-eyed visitors in tow! Camping is pretty easy, but in the cities it may be wise to book ahead (Chameleon in Windhoek has a couple camping spots, but they fill up). } })(this); We are Oksana & Max, eco-conscious travelers on a mission to inspire responsible travel practices around the world. top.location.href = this.formUrl('html'); Ooh, I can imagine! And great for children too. removeTextFieldError: function(input) { Archived. Id love to get back within the next couple of years especially because I need to have a better Etosha experience! For us, this was: Windhoek Etosha National Park Swakopmund Sesriem Luderitz Windhoek. } else { I have only allowed one day to get from Walvis Bay to Sesriem and one day between all our other destinations. } else { There were fewer tourists, prices for accommodation were almost half what theyd be in high season, and the weather wasnt bad at all. Wed usually pay around $10-15 for dinner each night. However, Some ATMs even dispense South African Rand instead of Namibian Dollars, so dont be alarmed if that happens to you. I'm Lauren, the founder of Never Ending Footsteps. The reasons for my addiction to Namibia`s wild open spaces, spectacular scenery and incredible wildlife are numerous, but the ones standing out for me is the silence (you hear yourself breathe), the fact that you can stop anywhere alongside the road for a cuppa or to pitch your tent without fear of any danger (be it human or nature) and above all.the solitude! Destinations What Makes Namibia One Of The Most Interesting Places To Visit? At Vingerklip Lodge(pictured above), we ate dinner on a towering cliff top, looking over Namibias version of Monument Valley. top.location.href = result.redirect; var script = document.createElement('script'); I might just use baby wipes for those 2 days! And the rental cars are definitely well-equipped for any flats you might have, with a spare tyre and a jack.
dropdownValidation: function(field, input) { However, self-catering will allow you to save money on other things like food. This place looks so stunning. The ghost town is worth seeing to understand how everything started with diamond mining in Namibia, as well as how the people lived and worked. If Namibia is Africa for beginners, as is often said, what a wonderful place to start. The 22 750 square kilometre park is home to four out of the big five, elephants, lions, leopards and rhinos. Next up: a detailed itinerary guide followed by dozens of stories to convince you to add Namibia to your bucket list! The SIM card costs 50 US cents and 1 GB of data is a whopping $2.50. I loved every single place we stayed in in Namibia, and even though they were ridiculously expensive, it felt as though we were still receiving fantastic value for money. this.dropdownValidation(field, input); this.onSubmitSuccess(response.result); Look forward to reading more posts about your trip. } thank you! textFieldError: function(input) { tourists. We spent 12 days in the country. Namibia in November: Travel Tips, Weather & More | kimkim Probably because Im from the other side of the globe.. or maybe I need to travel more! if (field.className.indexOf('invalid') === -1) field.className += ' invalid'; Safari is still one of the best activities in Namibia. if (typeof Widget === 'undefined' || !Widget.BasicDropdown) return; Thank you. Those traveling on a budget are best off hiring a basic 2WD car. Namibia has been on my bucket list since I first set foot in Africa, After seeing your images and reading your blog I need to get there! What was the heat like, was it still cool (ish) after rainy season? Humpback whales as well as southern right, can be found off the coast in Walvis Bay in the winter months, Even further south in the Namib Desert, you can find a number of game animals, similar to Etosha National Park. Nevertheless, thank you for this post! input.placeholder = ''; Namibia is the second-least-densely populated country in the world, with an average of just five people for every square mile. We came across a few Himba people near Etosha, but its not typically where this tribe is known to reside. If so, then Namibia is definitely worth a visit. you can hit the water on a boat in search of whales and dolphins. This post got me even more excited.
validate: function() { I would be interested to know if it has changed it didnt feel like the type of place that was changing quickly, but thats totally just me guessing! It is a typical Namibian Wildlife Resort. Humpback whales as well as southern right whales and Benguela dolphins can be found off the coast in Walvis Bay in the winter months from June to November. Yep, almostevery lodge we stayed at in Namibia was well over $100 a night, and we were nearly alwaysbooking the cheapest option we could find. The whole family loved every bit of the holiday. Regards Indileni, Yes, I definitely noticed that! The best way to get around Namibias long distances and remote roads is by self-driving. We kept a gallon of drinking water and snacks in our car at all times. We struggled to find detailed information about the country both before we arrived and while we were there, so our Bradt book was 100% invaluable. So glad to have come across this overview. The endless stretches of mopane trees charmingly blanket the eastern part of Damaraland as you traverse from Outjo towards Khorixas. new Mimi.Signups.EmbedValidation(); Food is quite affordable if you shop at local markets. Public transport doesnt really exist in Namibia, so if youre not going to take a tour, youll most likely need to hire a car. It's Really Expensive to Travel in Namibia 2. And on top of all youve listed, Ive also heard that they have some decent German beer there since it was a German colony for a while. Sim cards are available for foreigners and its not a difficult process to get one. Wi-Fi and the internet in hotels and lodges are also generally pretty weak. Because, this requires car rental which can be up to $100/day alone. And being on the tail end of that meant that instead we had to drive around in search of animals in the bushes. It might not stand out in Africa as the best for safaris, but its variety across many different aspects makes it a good all-round holiday destination. This makes it especially easy for crossing overland, if youre exploring more of Southern Africa. The best chance of spotting wildlife is substantial to the dry season in winter when animals congregate at water holes. In fact, some of the highlights from my time in the country were getting to stay outside of the main tourist trail. Thanks again. Quick Navigation Links 9 Things to Know Before Visiting Namibia 1. We didnt come up empty handed, though: while we didnt see a single elephant, we managed to see three black rhinos (super rare) and countless giraffes (my favourite animal). Almost all of the tourists I saw in the country were wearing shorts and t-shirts. Check it out and discover this hidden gem of Africa! No blogs, guides, or anything. Its definitely worth the visit :-), I enjoyed the read! The Tsauchab river and the creative interplay of the forces of nature var email = document.getElementById('signup_email');
Namibia also felt like the safest country in Africa Ive been to so far.function extend(destination, source) { Incidents such as muggings and bag snatching happen frequently, especially in areas frequented by foreigners. Its one of the coolest countries Ive ever been to. The climate in Namibia is quite different from what most people expect. We are travelling to Namibia for the first time in October. Even camping and self-catering can be quite expensive. Namibia Travel Tips: 9 Things to Know Before Traveling in Namibia Safari is still one of the best activities in Namibia. Amazing! Itinerary is arrive in Windhoek, drive to El Dorado Guest Farm in the morning, spend two nights there and then head southwards. Our first month we are renting a 44 and touring Namibia.. Its been on my bucket list since I gave up an opportunity to do Peace Corps work there in the early 90s. text = this.submit.getAttribute('data-invalid-text'); I wrote about it in-depth in the article, Exploring Kolmanskop: Namibias Ghost Town in the Desert. Hope to host you guys soon in our beatyfull paradise so peacefull, quiet and serene. . Although Namibia is often touted as one of the safest countries in the whole of the African continent, it still certainly has a few issues of its own that you should take note of. Originally from the U.K., I've now spent over a decade travelling the world with my Kiwi partner. From the main landmarks, the most beautiful places, most famous tourist attractions in Namibia to the less known fascinating stops that should be on your Namibia road trip itinerary, this list has all the 'musts'. But with all this extra awesomeness (aside from the lodging prices) sound right up my alley! Thanks for the information! text = this.submit.getAttribute('data-default-text'); field.className += ' invalid'; And were there places to buy / stock up on bottled water or did you kind of need to ration to make it to the next lodge or gas station.
if (!Mimi) var Mimi = {}; Surprisingly, German is also widely spoken. Thanks for the tips <3. In-Depth Namibia Travel Guide (2023): What's it Like to Travel in Namibia? If youre still concerned about the safety of the water, we recommend that you bring along a purifier like, Essential Things You Need To Know About Renting A Car In Namibia, If renting a car seems a little stressful for your Namibia vacation then you can always opt for a group tour with a company like. } else { } else { Wildlife of Namibia. Do you have any Questions about Namibia? this.isValid = false; But, we stopped to help out a few other fellow travelers with tyre changes along the way. In Swakopmund and Luderitz, food was slightly cheaper at around $8-10 per meal. The Himba Tribe in Northern Namibia - Wandering Wheatleys Looking forward to more posts on your time there. Two other areas are emerging as complements to Etosha. The most famous of these tribes is the San and Himba. The reply to this query is an unequivocal YES. Managed to see one shipwreck on the beach, but didnt have enough time to get anywhere else. textAndDropdownValidation: function(field, type) { Lderitz is not really worth visiting, especially as the weather can be very foggy there. if (this.isValid) { If wed had a bigger car, thered have been a greater chance of it rolling on the bad roads, for example, and they can be much more expensive to rent while also using more fuel. The roads are generally quiet and open with little traffic in much of the country. text = this.submit.getAttribute('data-choose-list'); setFormClassName: function() { The Kolmanskop Ghost Town allows you to understand through photos, everyday objects, restored homes or left to the fury of the elements the lives of the diamond miners who use to work here in the early twentieth century. The problem was there often wasnt any local restaurants. 30 Essential Tips On Namibia Guided Tours & Safaris Our rental car a Toyota Corolla had us up for $30-a-day, which is pretty standard for most countries around the world.
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