Destination

Namibia

Sand seas, a cold coast, and the Etosha pan.

About Namibia

Namibia is one of the least densely populated countries on earth, and the reason to come is distance rather than density of wildlife. The Namib, which gives the country its name, is generally described as the oldest desert in the world. Etosha is built around a salt pan large enough to be seen from space, and in the dry months the game comes to the waterholes rather than you going to find it. Roads are good, the signposting is honest, and the driving distances are longer than the map makes them look.

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Practical information

When to visit

May to October is dry and cool, and the best window for Etosha, where the waterholes do the work for you. November to April is hotter and greener, with short violent thunderstorms, and the desert occasionally flowers. The coast around Swakopmund stays cool and fogged in most of the year whatever the interior is doing.

Best for

Desert landscapes, photography, road trips, Etosha waterholes, travellers who want space.

Gateway airports

Hosea Kutako International, Windhoek (WDH), Walvis Bay (WVB)

Currency and payment

Namibian dollar (NAD), pegged one to one with the South African rand, and rand is accepted everywhere. Cards work in towns; carry cash for park gates and remote fuel stops.

Visa

This changed on 1 April 2025. Thirty-three nationalities that previously entered visa-free, including the UK, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia and most of the EU, now need a visa. It is available on arrival or online in advance, currently NAD 1,600 for non-African passports. Confirm before you fly.

Editorial

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