COVID: Review the latest FCDO Travel Advice before travelling to or from Namibia
Windhoek has an approximate population of around 431,000 people and you can typically expect to pay around £1.24p for an equivalent pint of lager or beer.
Up to date information for vaccinations before you travel to Namibia are available from the NHS Fit for Travel website.
For up to date information around safety and security in Namibia read the Foreign & Commonwealth Office latest information for Namibia.
May to October. Namibia is a scenic country and can be visited throughout the year. The colors will be most vibrant during and after the Wetseason. October to February can be unpleasantly hot.
There are many festivals to attend in Namibia. The first festival is the Oktoberfest held in Windhoek in late October, where locals celebrate German culture and tradition. Another festival is WIKA, held in April. It is possible to get off the beaten path and experience the local culture through community tourism. There are also plenty of events to visit during the year. For the most part, the weather is warm and dry. But be warned: the build-up to the rains can be uncomfortable.
The biggest annual event in Namibia is the Olufuko, which was officially inaugurated on 23 August 2012. It is an assembly of local Oshiwambo tribes and marks the transition of young girls into adulthood. While the ceremony is controversial among feminist movements and local religious groups, it still has a large following and attracts hundreds of locals. And because Namibia has so much to offer throughout the calendar year, there's no shortage of ways to experience it.
Mafwe Festival: The Mafwe people hold their annual cultural festival during the last week of September. Some of the Mafwe people travel outside of Namibia to participate in the celebration. The Oruuano Namibian Artists' Union organises this festival. The Mafwe show is an important event during the cultural celebrations in Namibia. There are also many other events to enjoy in the country during the year. The Mafwe cultural celebration is organized by the Oruuano Namibian Artists Union and is a popular event.
Maherero Day: The Oshituthi shomagongo marula fruit festival takes place in October and unites eight Aawambo communities in the north. During this two to three day festival, men and women carve wooden goblets and small serving gourds to commemorate fallen chiefs. The women make clay pots and baskets to process the omagongo. The young people then use traditional tools to extract the juice from the marula. The festivities also include poetry recitation and singing, and they recite traditional songs.
In October, the town of Okahandja celebrates the freedom fighters. The celebration is lively and colorful, with parades and patriotic poetry. It is one of the most unique festivals in Namibia. While there are many events to see, many of the events can be enjoyed by the whole family. If you're looking for a cultural celebration, Namibia has something to offer everyone. There are even several celebrations that can match the events of other parts of the world.
The biggest event in Namibia is the Windhoek Karneval, which was started in 1953 by a small group of German immigrants. It is a colorful and colourful festival with a royal ball in late December. It is also a good time to visit Namibia if you want to experience the country's unique culture. The weather is great in May, and availability is high during this time. At the Windhoek Karneval in August is a fantastic way to experience the festive spirit of the region.
This country in southern Africa is known for the Namib Desert that runs along its Atlantic Ocean coast. The country is home to diverse wildlife, including a large cheetah population. The main cities include Windhoek, the capital, and Swakopmund, a coastal town. You can visit the Christuskirche in Windhoek, which was built in 1907, as well as Etosha National Park, which has a vast salt pan.
Twyfelfontein is a rock formation that has been inhabited for 6,000 years. It was initially inhabited by hunter-gatherers, but later by Khoikhoi herders. It was also used as a sacred site and a place of shamanistic rituals. During these ancient times, the area was home to 2,500 rock carvings, which are now the largest concentration of rock petroglyphs in Africa. UNESCO approved this site as a World Heritage Site in 2007.
The city has many historical sites. The Windhoek Artillery Division Building was built in the mid 1890's and was used for weapon repairs. A memorial was also erected in 1903 at the suggestion of the commanding officer of the Schutztruppe, commemorating the German soldiers killed in the Nama region between 1903 and 1907. The town of Windhoek was named after this monument in 2007 after the war.
Although British nationals can enter Namibia for a holiday or private visit of up to 90 days without a visa, there have been cases where visitors have only been given permission to stay for periods much shorter than 90 days, sometimes as short as only 7 or 10 days.
See which forms you may need for entry into Namibia.
The official currency of Namibia is the South African Rand (ZAR). If you're looking to transfer or spend money in Namibia you can grab amazing South African Rand deals via Wise.com (GBP to ZAR).
Among the many animals which you can see in Namibia are: lions, elephants, giraffes, hippopotamus, cheetas, black and white rhinos, wildebeest, hyenas, vultures, black backed jackals, ostriches, zebras, seals, dikdiks (a tiny antelope species), baboons, springboks, wild dogs, kudus and oryx (or oryxes).
German food? "Meat and pap (a porridge)" is the unofficial Namibian national dish.
Among European languages spoken in Namibia are German, Portuguese, Spanish and French. You can learn some basic German before you travel to Namibia and really impress the locals!
The currency in Namibia is the South African Rand (Most travellers tip in cash, with the preferred currencies in Namibia being Namibian dollars or South African rand or, failing that, US dollars or even euros or GB pounds.).
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What is the time difference?
The GMT time difference is 2 hours