Can I drink Tap water in Southern Africa?
It’s very important to stay hydrated when on safari in Southern Africa.
Tap water in Namibia is either purified or comes directly from boreholes and is therefore safe to drink. We supply drinking water from the tap, but Bottled mineral water is readily available at shops and Resorts should you prefer it. On the rare occasion that tap water is unsafe to drink, your guide will always advise the group before you arrive in the area.
All tap water in Namibia has been purified or comes directly from boreholes and is safe to drink. In some areas the water can be brackish, your guide will advise you daily on this and where to purchase bottled mineral water.
Should I Tip my Guide?
YES you should Tip your Guide.
Our tipping guideline for Guides are EURO 10 Per client, per day of safari. Example of a 10 Days Tour, Each client should Tip the Guide EURO 100 per Client.
Our tipping guideline for Drivers and Assistants are EURO 5 Per client, per day of safari. Example of a 10 Days Tour, Each client should Tip the Guide EURO 50 per Client.
Please remember that tipping is at your own discretion and the above is just a guideline. Tipping is only if you feel your crew deserve it.
Do I need a visa to enter Namibia?
Foreigners Travelling to Namibia
Nationals from the countries listed below are not required to obtain Visas to travel to Namibia on holiday for visits shorter than three months:
| Angola | Ireland | Portugal |
| Armenia | Italy | Russian Federation |
| Australia | Japan | Seychelles |
| Austria | Kazakhstan | Singapore |
| Azerbaijan | Kenya | South Africa |
| Belarus | Kyrgyzstan | Spain |
| Belgium | Lichtenstein | Swaziland |
| Botswana | Lesotho | Sweden |
| Brazil | Luxemburg | Switzerland |
| Canada | Macau (SAR) | Tajikistan |
| Congo Brazzaville (only Diplomatic/ Official and service Passports) | Malawi | Tanzania |
| Cuba | Malaysia | Turkey (only diplomatic and official passports) |
| Denmark | Mauritius | Turkmenistan |
| Finland | Moldova | Ukraine |
| France | Mozambique | United Kingdom |
| Germany | Netherlands | United States of America |
| Ghana (only diplomatic/ official and service passports) | New Zealand | Uzbekistan |
| Hong Kong | Nigeria (Only Diplomatic and Official Passports) | Venezuela (Only Diplomatic/Official passports) |
| Iceland | Norway | Zambia |
| India (Diplomatic and Official Passports up to 3 months) | Poland (diplomatic and official passports up to 3 months) | Zimbabwe |
Visa Requirements
- Completed Visa Application form;
- Valid passport with at least 6 months validity from the date of entry and at least 3 or more blank pages;
- One (1) colour passport photograph;
- Copy of round trip ticket or itinerary indicating your trip in and out of Namibia;
- Applicants must have (a) a return ticket; (b) adequate funds for the duration of their stay in Namibia; (c) proof that they will be supported by a person who is permanent resident of Namibia or is Namibian if such a case applies; (d) letter of invitation or business contacts in Namibia are required for a business visa.
- Visitors with tourist visas are not allowed to engage in any employment while in the country. Should they wish to do so, they should apply for an employment permit in their country of residence prior to entry in Namibia.
- Health requirements: yellow fever inoculation is a requirement only if the journey to Namibia entails passing through a yellow fever area of Africa by any other means than by a scheduled air service.
- VISA FEE (c/o the nearest Namibian Embassy/High Commission) (TO AVOID DELAYS, YOU ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO BRING THE EXACT FEE/AMOUNT TO THE HIGH COMMISSION WHEN LODGING AN APPLICATION)
Note that the processing time for visa applications is 3 Working days. Incomplete forms and requirements may delay the process. Visa Application processions should be submitted c/o the nearest Namibian Embassy/High Commission.
All PASSPORTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED, COLLECTED AND SIGNED FOR IN PERSON.
PLEASE NOTE:
It is the responsibility of clients to ensure that passports, visas or other travel documents are valid for the duration of their stay in Namibia and other areas included in tours, and the company will entertain no complaints related to invalid travel documentation. In the event that a client does not possess the necessary documentation to enter an area or country on the tour, the company reserves the right to request the client to disembark from the tour at the point of entry to such areas or countries. Should such a case ensue, the company will not be liable for providing further travel arrangements. If you are travelling on our 9 day Delta and Vic Falls trip, please check the visa cost for entering Zimbabwe. This is to be paid at the border crossing and they will require US$. If you have a passport that requires you to obtain a visa to enter Botswana, please make sure this is a multiple entry visa because this trip will enter Botswana more than once.
Do your Tours include International Flights?
NO. Travelers arrive from all over the world to begin our tours and it is NOT possible to include international airfare in our prices.
We would be happy to help you arrange flights. Just ask for an air quote when making your booking.
What vaccinations are recommended for this adventure?
Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique is a low-risk malarial destination but we recommend that you seek professional medical advice to enable you to make decisions on personal malaria protection.
Generally Northern Namibia, including Etosha National Park is considered to be higher Malaria risk than the Southern Parts of Namibia as well as Botswana and Zimbabwe. Malaria risk is also higher during the rainy months from December till May.
You should use an effective insect repellent on clothing and any exposed skin. Diethyltoluamide (DEET) is safe and the most effective insect repellent and can be sprayed on to clothes. Local Names in Namibia include Peaceful Sleep and Bug Off.
If you sleep outdoors or in an unscreened room, you should use mosquito nets impregnated with an insecticide (such as pyrethroid). The net should be long enough to fall to the floor all round your bed and be tucked under the mattress.
If practical, you should try to cover up bare areas with long-sleeved, loose-fitting clothing, long trousers and socks – if you are outside after sunset – to reduce the risk of mosquitoes biting.
And some local advise would be to drink a Gin and Tonic at Sunset ????
Can you help arrange my travel visas?
Requirements for travel visas vary widely depending on your nationality and your destination.
Although we are unable to arrange visas on your behalf.
If you do require a visa we can give you all documents needed on our side for you to apply for your visa.
What clothing should I pack for one of your adventures?
We always recommend packing as light as possible however the specific requirements for your tour will vary widely depending on where and when you are traveling. Our ‘Trip Details’ document includes a suggested packing list and these can be downloaded from each individual trip summary page.
- Comfortable, lightweight clothing for the daytime and a sweater or jacket for early mornings and evenings.
- Comfortable walking shoes and sandals.
- Protection against the sun – sunblock, hat, sunglasses, lip balm and moisturising lotion.
- Flashlight (headlamp), binoculars and a good camera with extra film or memory card.
- For electrical small appliances or chargers a conversion plug to a three-pin type outlet.
- Swimsuit as most lodges and hotels have swimming pools.
- Insect repellent, rehydrating solutions or concentrates, diarrhoea medication, malaria prophylaxis (if traveling in malaria areas), bandages, etc.
- Warm jersey or fleece plus anorak or parka,Scarf, gloves and beanies/woollen hats for the cold winter months.
- Headlamp – Especially when going on the camping safaris
- Some flip flops that can be used when showering at Campsites
- Pillow – Although we provide comfortable camping mattresses and sleeping bags at extra costs, we do not provide pillows on our camping safaris. We advise bring along a small travelling pillow to make your sleeping even more comfortable.
- A 2 Litre Water Bottle. – Namibia is quite dry and during the hot summer months we recommend drinking alot of water to prevent dehydration. Therefore always keep water with you and make sure you stay hydrated.
Do I need travel insurance for my safari?
The short answer is YES; you absolutely need travel insurance.
It’s compulsory for people travelling on our safaris and we place the onus on our clients to make sure that they are adequately insured. It is also important to realise that should you need to make a claim on your policy (for medical expenses for example), it is most likely that you will personally have to pay any bills up front, at the time the service is provided. You will then have to make a claim against your insurance company when you get home. With this fact in mind we recommend to all our clients that they have enough funds available to cover any unexpected costs. Usually the best way to do this is to carry a credit card with a sufficient credit limit.
What type of ground transportation is used on your tours?
Most of the safaris will use our Toyota Land Cruiser 10 Seaters vehicles with pop-tops. The vehicles have modified seating for more leg room and there are large windows for game viewing, while the pop-tops are great for photographing game.
Smaller groups may travel in either a minibus or double cab or Toyota Luxury Fortuner 4×4.
Can I book extra nights of hotel accommodation before or after my tour?
Yes, in most cases we can arrange additional accommodation at our starting or ending hotels. If we are unable to provide you with the extra nights we will give you the name of a hotel you can contact directly. Please also note that extra accommodations must be booked outside of 30 days of departure.
