South Africa Luxury Travel

For packages that include Namibia, see this link...you will have to scroll down each package as these are multi country packages Namibia as well these Namibia packages

For Individual lodges, see

Since Namibia has one of the most uninviting and desolate coastlines in the world, it was neglected by European explorers like the Portuguese, who limited their activities to setting up navigational crosses along the desert shoreline. Today visitors have discovered the vast potential of a country rich in natural resources, with desert landscapes, sunshine, wildlife and a rugged, barren beauty.

It was only later, during the last half of the 19th century that the race for colonies among the world powers began, and so ensued the German control that became Namibia's colonial reign of terror. The indigenous tribes tried vigorously to retain their independence, and in 1904 a major uprising by the Herero and Nama people resulted in massive genocide retaliation by the colonialists, with an estimated 60 percent of the native population in the south being wiped out. Today the population consists of 11 main ethnic groups, and the towns still reflect the influence of German colonisation evident in the architecture, food and language, particularly in the capital city of Windhoek.

It has a diversity of natural habitats: the rugged coastline and haunting beauty of the Skeleton Coast, the endless stretch of undulating ochre-coloured sand dunes at Sossusvlei, the impressive gorge of the Fish River Canyon winding through the arid landscape of the great plateau, and the vast salt pan of Etosha National Park, one of the world's greatest wildlife viewing venues. These are the attractions that draw travellers to one of Africa's more intriguing destinations, the unspoilt wilderness of Namibia.

Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the first Sunday in April and the first Sunday in September).

Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round three-pin plugs are standard.

Language: English is the official language, but many people also speak Afrikaans and German. There are also several indigenous languages spoken, mainly in the rural areas.

Health: A yellow fever certificate is required for all travellers arriving from infected areas. Vaccinations for Hepatitis A, typhoid fever and polio are also recommended. There is a malaria risk in the northern region during the rainy season, from January to April. HIV/AIDS is prevalent and cautions are essential. There has been an increase in the incidence of rabies among dogs in Windhoek. Drinking water outside the main towns and cities may be contaminated. There are good medical facilities in Windhoek, but medical insurance is essential as treatment is expensive. Travellers to Namibia should take medical advice at least four weeks prior to departure.

Tipping: Tips of 10% are expected by tourist-orientated establishments where a service charge has not been included in the bill. Tour guides, game rangers and trackers rely on tips for their income, but are discretionary and depending on good service.

Safety: The majority of visits to Namibia are trouble-free, but beware of street crime and pickpockets in the town centres. Theft from vehicles, especially from service stations, is common and valuables should be kept out of sight and the car locked. Avoid using taxis if possible and never take one alone. Care should be taken when travelling in the Caprivi Strip; travel in daylight hours only and stay on the main tarred highway, as there is a risk of landmines remaining from the Angolan civil war.
Customs: It is best to check before taking pictures of State House or properties where the President is residing, as well as any buildings guarded by the army or police.
Communications: The international access code for Namibia is +264. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). Most towns are covered by a GSM 900/1800 mobile network. Internet access is available from some hotels and Internet cafes are available in Windhoek and Walvis Bay.

Duty Free: Travellers to Namibia over 16 years do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco; 2 litres wine and 1 litre spirits or liquor; 50ml perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; and gifts to the value of N$50,000.

A yellow fever certificate is required for all travellers arriving from infected areas. Vaccinations for Hepatitis A, typhoid fever and polio are also recommended. There is a malaria risk in the northern region during the rainy season, from January to April. HIV/AIDS is prevalent and cautions are essential. There has been an increase in the incidence of rabies among dogs in Windhoek. Drinking water outside the main towns and cities may be contaminated. There are good medical facilities in Windhoek, but medical insurance is essential as treatment is expensive. Travellers to Namibia should take medical advice at least four weeks prior to departure.

Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH)

Location: The airport is situated 26 miles (42km) east of Windhoek. Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the first Sunday in April to the first Sunday in September). Contacts: Tel: + 264 (0)62 702 402. Transfer to the city: A bus into the city is available after each flight arrival. A private shuttle service operates sedans, mini-buses or coaches to transfer individuals and groups to destinations in Windhoek and elsewhere in the country. Car rental: Car rental companies include Avis, Budget and Imperial. Facilities: The airport has two bureaux de change, an ATM, public telephones, a post office, VIP lounge and information desk. There are also restaurants and a cafe.

Namibia Climate and Weather

Rainfall occurs exclusively in the summer months, between November and February, when heavy thunderstorms can be expected. Summer is very hot and the Namib Desert should be avoided at this time as temperatures are often above 104ºF (40ºC). The coast is cooler and often foggy. The best time to visit is during the winter months from March to October (April and June are preferable) as days are warm and dry, and wildlife easier to spot as they tend to congregate at waterholes. Nights can be very cold with frost.

Windhoek	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rainfall (mm)	78	80	79	38	7	1	1	1	3	12	27	42
Rainfall (inches)	3.1	3.2	3.1	1.5	0.3	0	0	0	0.1	0.5	1.1	1.6
Min Temp (°C)	18	17	16	13	9	7	7	9	12	15	16	17
Max Temp (°C)	31	29	28	26	23	21	21	24	27	29	30	31
Min Temp (°F)	64	62	60	55	49	44	44	48	54	58	61	63
Max Temp (°F)	87	84	82	78	73	69	70	75	81	85	86	88

Namibia Currency

Money: The official currency is the Namibia Dollar (NAD) divided into 100 cents. Its value is linked to the South African Rand, which is also accepted as legal currency in Namibia. Major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at any bank or bureau de change office. ATMs are available in larger towns only.

Rates subject to change at any time

Currency Exchange Rates
NAD 1.00 =	USD 0.16	GBP 0.09	CAD 0.19	AUD 0.22	ZAR 0.99	EUR 0.14	NZD 0.24

Note: These currency exchange rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.

Namibia Passport & Visa Requirements

Entry requirements for Americans: United States citizens must have a valid passport (must be valid at least six months beyond period of intended stay). Tourists do not require a visa to stay for up to three months, but business travellers do.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British citizens must have a valid passport (must be valid at least six months beyond period of intended stay). Tourists do not require a visa to stay for up to three months, but business travellers do.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians must have a valid passport (must be valid at least six months beyond period of intended stay). Tourists do not require a visa to stay for up to three months, but business travellers do.
Entry requirements for Australians: Australians must have a valid passport (must be valid at least six months beyond period of intended stay). Tourists do not require a visa to stay for up to three months, but business travellers do.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans must have a valid passport (must be valid at least six months beyond period of intended stay). Tourists do not require a visa to stay for up to three months, but business travellers do.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealand citizens must have a valid passport (must be valid at least six months beyond period of intended stay). Tourists do not require a visa to stay for up to three months, but business travellers do.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals must have a valid passport (must be valid at least six months beyond period of intended stay). Tourists do not require a visa to stay for up to three months, but business travellers do.
Passport/Visa Note: All visitors require a passport valid for at least six months after the period of their intended stay, and documents for return or onward travel. Passports should have at least two pages free for endorsements.

Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements

Game viewing

The most visited and well known of Namibia's national parks is Etosha National Park, one of the world's finest wildlife viewing venues. Dominated by a massive mineral pan surrounded by wood and grassland, the salt pan attracts a huge diversity of animals and birds, making it an excellent place for game viewing against the extraordinarily photogenic backdrop of the white desert-like expanse. During the dry season the waterholes attract many different species, often at the same time, and floodlit waterholes at the rest camps allow superb night game viewing. Wildebeest, lion, giraffe, elephants, zebra, rhino, cheetah and leopard can all be seen. Unlike many other African game reserves, Etosha does not have its own guided safaris, but the park was planned and designed for visitors to drive themselves around.

The Namib Desert

The Namib Desert is the oldest and most arid desert region in the world, having been around for more than 80 million years. In the Nama language, ‘Namib' means 'vast', a description perfectly suited to the miles of barren landscape stretching endlessly along Namibia's Atlantic coastline.

The northern Namib is called the Skeleton Coast, an intensely mysterious, inhospitable area of treacherous rocks and sand banks, dry gravel plains and isolated, flat-topped mountains. The bleak wilderness is especially eerie when blanketed in the thick coastal fog that is brought about by the collision of cold sea air with the searing heat of the harsh interior. Sailors washed ashore from shipwrecks over the centuries soon became the skeletons that the coastline was named after, having no chance of survival in the pitiless wastes of the Namib Desert. Its appeal lies in the untouched quality, the colours and changing moods of the vast landscape, and the incredible adaptations to the desert habitat of its flora and fauna.

The southern Namib forms part of the Namib-Naukluft Park, one of Africa's most interesting and diverse nature reserves, including Sandwich Lagoon, an important wetland area for migratory birds, as well as canyons, rivers, and the Naukluft mountain massif, home to many species of animal, particularly the Hartmann's mountain zebra. This section of the Namib Desert is characterised by an endless sea of orange sand dunes, and the famous Sossusvlei dunes, the highest in the world.

Emerging from the desert stretch, and situated along the coast, is the charming little seaside resort of Swakopmund with its distinctly German character and old world charm.

Sossusvlei

One of Namibia's highlights is the clay pans of Sossusvlei, in the Namib Desert, enclosed by magnificent ochre sand dunes. The Sossusvlei dunes are among the highest in the world, reaching more than 960ft (300m), and are a wondrous sight of endless rolling shapes and sharp wind-sculpted crests. Although they have been developed over a period of millions of years, their forms are constantly changing, rising and falling at the mercy of the wind. A climb to the top of one of these 'hills' is well worth the effort, especially at sunrise or sunset, when the view of shifting sand, stretching as far as the eye can see, is an ethereal landscape of shapes and colours. The most impressive pan is Dead Vlei, a vast hollow depression of dry cracked mud scattered with ancient camel-thorn trees. The colours and contrasts here are a photographer's delight. The pans (vleis) are only ever filled with water after heavy rainfall, which happens only every couple of years, but the solid clay layers hold the water for a long time, providing a habitat for countless water birds and a drinking hole for animals. The beautiful black and white oryx (a large, spiral-horned deer) is occasionally spotted in the meagre shade of the thorn trees, lizards leave their tiny trails on the pristine mounds of sand, and the black 'tok tokkie' beetle is commonly seen stumbling over the sun-baked jigsaw puzzle pieces of the red clay surface. The area is also home to ostriches and springbok.

Opening time: Sunrise to sunset

Swakopmund

Swakopmund is an enchanting little seaside town in the middle of the Namib Desert. Often described as 'a slice of Germany on the edge of the desert', it has many fine German colonial buildings and a distinctly German character. Along with the region's food specialities of rock lobster, fish and Swakopmund oysters, traditional German fare, including sausages and pastries, can be enjoyed, and among the residents German is widely spoken. The stretch of coast is particularly known for its angling, and the surrounding dunes of the desert provide many opportunities for sand boarding, quad biking and paragliding.

Fish River Canyon

Widely regarded as the second largest canyon in the world after the USA's Grand Canyon, the Fish River Canyon is located in southern Namibia in the eastern Namib Desert. The 100-mile (161km) long canyon was caused by a fracture in the earth's crust and then further carved by the erosion of the Fish River over millions of years. The river can still become a torrent of fast-flowing water after heavy rainfall in summer, but dries up into occasional semi-permanent pools during the winter months. The main attraction of the area is hiking, but hiking the Fish River Canyon can only be undertaken during the winter months, requires a high level of fitness and good health and offers no facilities whatsoever. The five-day trail covers 53 miles (86km) and is the best way to take in the canyon's magnificent immensity, passing beneath the sheer cliffs with their visible rock strata patterns towering 1,640ft (500m) above the harsh, rock-strewn plain. The canyon comes to an end at Ais-Ais (meaning 'burning water' in Nama) where one of the most famous hot spring resorts in the country is located, and hikers can look forward to a relaxing soak in the therapeutic hot water after completing the trail.

Cape Grace Hotel, Cape Town

Cape GraceHhotel, cape town South Africa