Namibia Tours | Alpha-Zulu Africa Travel

Situated between the Kalahari National Park straddling the border between South Africa and Botswana and the South Atlantic, Namibia has an amazing potential as one of the youngest countries in Africa. Namibia is a natural paradise and a photographer’s dream: its wild seascapes, rugged mountains, lonely deserts and stunning wildlife make it one of the most desirable tourist destinations on the continent. The country also has an interesting colonial past and a striking diversity of cultures and national origins. A predominantly arid country with a harsh climate, Namibia can be divided into four main topographical regions: the Namib Desert and coastal plains in the west, the eastward-sloping Central Plateau, the Kalahari along the borders with South Africa and Botswana and the densely wooded bushveld of the Kavango and Caprivi regions. Namibia has some of the world’s most impressive national parks, from the Etosha National Park in Northwestern Namibia, famous for its abundant wildlife, to the dune formations and desert plains of the Namib-Naukluft Park in Western Namibia. In Windhoek, the capital situated in the central highlands, you will find a vibrant modern commercial centre and an interesting ethnic mix of people. On the South Atlantic coast, the city of Swakopmund, with its German colonial past, offers some fascinating architectural gems. In that coastal region surfers and beach-lovers will also find something to do.
Yet the chief attraction in Namibia is nature itself. There you will find some of the wildest landscapes on earth, from the huge Etosha National Park where you might see a lion stalking its prey to the gigantic pink and orange sand dunes in Sossusvlei in the southern part of the Namib Desert. In some of the desert resorts, you can even glide down a giant dune on a sand board. For tourists with a taste for luxury Namibia has some of the most sumptuous nature lodges. But if you prefer, you can also spend a night in the desert under a sky thick with stars that you will never forget it.

Geography

Namibia is located in the south- west of the African continent, bordered by Angola and Zambia to the east - with Botswana in the south and south- east of South Africa. Namibia in the West it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The area of the country is 825.4 thousand sq. M. km. The official languages are Afrikaans, and English. The country's population is about 2 million people.
The country's capital city is Windhoek. Most of the territory occupied by the Namibian highlands , there stretches a vast plateau with an average altitude of 900 to 1500 meters , is divided into several plateaus, the largest of which are the Kaoko and Ovambo in the north, in the center of Damara and Nama in the south. Here is the highest point in the state - the mountain Königstein (Brandberg) (2606 m). From the west plateau limited the Great Escarpment, which is cut off to the coastal Namib Desert. The Namib Desert stretches in a narrow strip along the western coast of the state, washed by the cold current of Benguela. Sand dunes of the Namib Desert are the world's highest (reaching 300 m). To the east, the Central Plateau is limited to the Kalahari Desert.

Vaccinations

When entering Namibia vaccination is not required, but for tourists, who are planning to travel to the North of the country, is a mandatory passage rate of malaria. Pills have no side effects, but the 100% guarantee, that the person with the disease malaria will escape death. You should avoid bathing in local freshwater reservoirs (to avoid the disease schistosomiasis), Conduct prevention against malaria a week before travel, during it, and for four weeks after the trip, use the means against insect bites, ensure that the Windows of the premises were protected by mosquito nets.

Customs

For your stay in Namibia, a visa is not required. It is issued at the airport upon entry into the country. On departure from the country with tourists the airport tax is charged at the rate of 60 Namibian dollars (about $ 10 United States). The importation of canned meat products, drugs and explosives is prohibited. When importing weapons, and hunting equipment at the place of arrival, you must arrange for a temporary import permit. To avoid unnecessary problems when crossing the border, it is recommended that you bring no more than 1 rifles and 1 gun. It is worth remembering that in Namibia, it is forbidden to use for hunting all kinds of manual and automatic weapons, and crossbows. Export of hunting trophies is possible only if you have permission of the Department of wildlife conservation. It is forbidden to export more than two animals of the same species during the year; in addition, you must consult in advance with the customs services of the countries to which will be disposed of trophies, the rules of importation of such goods.

Currency

The official monetary unit of the State is Namibia dollar. 1 Namibian dollar is equal to100 cents. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Namibian dollars and coins in 1 and 5 dollars in Namibia and in 5, 10 and 50 cents. The Namibian dollar is pegged to the exchange rate of the RAND at a ratio of 1:1. The South African Rand has free walking in the country and is legal tender. Foreign currency can be exchanged in exchange offices, which are in almost every town, and in banks. Reverse exchange Namibian dollars for foreign currency often is not possible. If after a trip to Namibia you plan to travel to other African countries do not expect to spend the Namibian dollars there as official currency of Namibia has no circulation in other African countries. Cashless payment services developed in larger hotels, shops and restaurants in most towns in Namibia. ATMs are available in almost all cities of the country. Traveler’s cheques can be cashed at banks, it is best to travel to take traveler’s cheques in United States dollars or South African Rand. It's worth noting that you should always have a small amount of cash in Namibian dollars or South African Rand.
Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 15:30 and Saturday with 9:00 to 11:00

Security

Namibia is one of the safest for African Tourism. But still worth it to stick to the basic rules of safety: always have a copy of the Passport, not to travel to distant from major cities in the country areas alone, not traveling by car at night, buying tours only in licensed travel agencies and during excursions to national parks not to deviate from the conductor and listen to his recommendations on rules of conduct. Travel on some areas of the country is limited. Therefore, only with special permits, you can get to the National Park Skeleton Coast. Other national parks are only possible on tickets and in the daytime. In some national parks can be available 24 hours a day, but at night must necessarily be held in the camp under the supervision of guides. Most of the territory south of Lüderitz, where diamond mining areas, closed to the public. However, when you receive special permission from the Namibian police, you can visit some parts of the region.

Climate

The greater part of the territory of Namibia is dominated by tropical desert climate. In the North-East, subtropical climate prevails. Namibia is located in the southern hemisphere, winter is therefore accounted for April-August and summer is September-March. During the winter, daytime temperatures in the Central and southern parts of the country reach +20. +22 c, in the North of +23, +25 degrees, and on the Atlantic coast +17.. +19 c, night temperatures in these regions are respectively: +6.. +8 c, +8. .. +10 degrees and +10. +12 degrees. In summer, daylight hours in the Central and southern parts of the country, the air warms up to +28 ... +30 degrees North and +32 ... +34 degrees on the coast to +22.. +24 c, and at night in the regions of the air is cooled to +18.. +20 c, +19. .. +21 degrees and +15.. +17 degrees. The climate of the inner part of the Namib Desert climate differs sharply from that of the other regions of Namibia; it is the coldest desert in the world, where even in summer at night frosts may occur. "The rainy season" lasts from September to March and is most pronounced in the northeast of the country. Rainfall along the coast of Namibia does not exceed 25 mm per year, and more often than not they fall here only in the form of mist. In the Central and southern parts of the country, annual rainfall is about 400 mm of rainfall, and in the extreme North-East up to 700 mm. It is best to travel to Namibia in winter from May to October, when the smallest chance of rain.

Miscellaneous

Tip: : in restaurants, if the maintenance fee is not included in the account, you can leave a tip at a rate of 5% from the amount stated on the invoice.
Shopping: Shops are open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 17:00 and Saturday with 8:00 to 13:00
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz;
Time: : local time is behind European 1:00 in winter and summer 2:00.
Water: : tap water in the country, high-quality, and well cleaned. During the Safari and travel is recommended to use only bottled water

Transport

The primary means of transportation within cities is taxi. Bus routes are only in the capital of Namibia. In other cities, taxi services are also available, which carry passengers to airports. You can rent a car in all the major towns in Namibia. For this you should have international driving permit and be at least 23 years. In Namibia, in addition to the asphalt highway there are many gravel roads on which it is difficult to move around by car is also very common on the roads appear wild animals. In this regard, it is not recommended to exceed speed limits and designate not worth traveling by car at night.