Through watching many landscape travel videos on Vimeo and Youtube, I came across Namibia. It looks like a beautiful place with so much wildlife and incredible contrasting landscapes with bright orange sand dunes mixed with dead trees. Africa is a continent that contains so much beauty, and it would be a great addition to our world trip.
Why do we want to go?
We’ve always wanted to travel to Africa, but we did not really know where to go. The more we see and hear about Namibia, the more we want to explore it. The epic landscapes, the culture, and wildlife are a big part of why we want to go. There is even a travel meetup on Namibia this month, so it seems to be calling us. These bucket list contenders should be convincing enough!
What are some bucket list contenders?
- Sossusvlei– The world’s oldest desert
- Definitely Deadvlei with its pitch-black trees and rusty sand dunes
- Stargazing!!! Some of the best in the world.
- Etosha National Park
- zebras, elephants, tigers
- Kolmanskop Desert ghost town
- Bwabwata National Park
- Lions, african wild dogs, birds, antelope
- Cape Cross
- Shipwrecks, Seal Colonies, Chameleons, Hiking, Hyena, Tortoise
- Spitzkoppe Mountain

Country Profile
COUNTRY | Namibia | |
Region | SW Africa |
Best Season | June through October is the dry season |
Average Temp / Weather Conditions | Subtropical desert climate with big swings between day and nighttime temperatures. Averages high temperatures during the best season are 21-25°C/70-77°F, but the lows can get down to 7°C/45°F and sometimes below freezing so be prepared. |
Key Attractions | Hiking, wildlife, photography, national parks, culture, epic landscapes |
Entry / Visa Requirements | Passport Valid for 6 months beyond departure date. Tourist Visa available at port of entry. Requires 6 blank passport pages. |
CURRENCY | Namibian Dollar (~$1 NAD = $.073 USD) | |
Daily Budget | $617 NAD ($45 USD) |
Frugal Tips | Book activities, etc. well in advance; cook your own food |
THE STAY | Possible duration: Two weeks to a month | |
Lodging Types | Hotels, hostels, Airbnb, couchsurfing, camping, vacation rentals |
Food | Meat barbecue, stews, homemade cheeses, beer, sausages, and bread rolls filled with cheese, eggs, meat or salad |
Transportation Options | Buses, trains, hitchhiking, car rentals (know how to change a tire as roads are corrugated, take 2-3 spare tires to remote areas) |
Driving Requirements | Drive on the left side of the road; gasoline is cash only; road signs are in English; roadblocks are common and you need to show your international driver’s license; tolls are common; 4X4 recommended for remote along with adequate supplies |
Connectivity | Wifi is not very common, so check to see where you are able to connect. Some accommodations will have it as well. |
CULTURE | Language: English (Official), Afrikaans, German and up to 30 native languages | |
Customs |
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Local Laws | Possession of illegal drugs is punished severely with long jail sentences; Defamation is illegal and the accused often pay fines. |
English Availability | English is the official language, but speak slowly because they will not be used to your accent |
Attitudes Toward Americans | Generally friendly |
Photography Concerns | The desert heat and sand could cause problems for your camera if you aren’t careful with it as well as other electronics. Theft is also a concern in cities primarily. |

SAFETY | |
General Safety |
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Emergency Number | Vary by location. See this site for more info. http://www.namibweb.com/emergency-numbers-namibia.htm |
Location of U.S. Embassy / Phone | 14 Lossen Street, Ausspanplatz, Windhoek, Central Namibia, Namibia, Namibia Phone +264 61 295 8500 |

MEDICAL | |
Medical Facilities | Modern medical care is readily available. Government hospitals tend to misdiagnose more frequently and are not as good quality as private hospitals. From most places you are likely a half a day away from a medical facility, so be prepared with a first aid kit. Some hotel lodges can provide basic first aid. |
Vaccinations Needed | None unless traveling from a yellow fever endemic country |
Health Concerns | HIV is very common a 25% of the population has it. Also, malaria is prevalent in the most northern part of the country, north of Etosha. |
Water Quality | Water is safe in hotels, lodges and other public places where it is purified. They do tend to recycle and purify wastewater, as water is a limited resource in Namibia. Bottled water is available at supermarkets. |
Additional Resources
Have you been to Namibia? What activities do we have to try out? What other countries should we consider?
Photos by Nomis Simon, Creative Commons

My name is Aaron, I am an adventurer who knows no bounds and is thankfully no longer tied to a desk job. My passion is finding the human connection with others who differ from me, understanding their culture, and learning various viewpoints on the world. I want to break down the boundaries of fear and inspire people to travel more. My passions are travel, video, anime, and culture.
See how we shave off an average of $1000 per week when we travel using just 5 tricks!