Unforgettable  Namibia holidays & tours

Our Namibia tours currently depart from London Heathrow and arrive into Windhoek. For the latest flight options (including connecting flights from other UK airports), take a look at the tour page or speak to our travel advisors.  

You can view all the hotels featured on Namibian Discovery by going to the tour page or speaking to our travel advisors, but the tour includes a variety of hotels and game lodges. 

We travel by coach on our tours here. You might want to bear in mind that lots of roads in Namibia aren’t tar sealed, so they can be quite bumpy.

The best month to visit Namibia is July or August, as you can enjoy the drier weather of the country’s ‘winter’ months as well as enjoying some of the best animal sightings in the national parks. The months from May to September make up the dry season in Namibia, with milder temperatures and lower humidity, so any time during this five-month period is a good option to pick.

The best time to visit Namibia is from May to September, during the country’s dry season. During these ‘winter’ months, you can expect milder temperatures and sun, and it’s less humid than rest of the year. If you’re visiting Namibia on safari, July and August are particularly good times to see animals around the water holes. Expect cooler temperatures on a safari in the early mornings and evenings. April and October have slightly more mixed weather but fewer crowds, with some major festivals taking place in April. If you’re hoping to see young animals being born, the majority of births are during January and February but be aware that the malaria risk is higher during the wetter months.

Yes, from 1 April 2025 UK citizens need a visa to visit Namibia, with a new visa on arrival scheme. You can choose to apply online for an e-visa before you travel or apply for the visa on arrival at a Port of Entry for Namibia, including the airport, with the cost the same for either option (currently 1,600 Namibian dollars). Your passport must have at least six months remaining from the date you arrive until it expires, as well as at least three blank pages. Requirements can change, though – for the most up-to-date information on visas, please use the quick-check tool on our visa requirements page.

The biggest tourist attraction in Namibia is the dramatic landscape of Sossusvlei, with its burnt orange dunes, leafless trees and stark scenery. One of the most visited and most photographed places in the country, it’s an unmissable part of Namibia holidays. The country is also well-known for its wildlife, especially in Etosha National Park, as well as for its German colonial architecture in Swakopmund and Windhoek. In the south, Namibia is also home to Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world.

 Namibia is generally a safe country, especially compared to some neighbouring African nations, but you should always take sensible precautions, especially in Windhoek. Keep valuables out of sight, and do not change or withdraw large sums of money in busy public areas. There have also been cases of credit card skimming (where your card information is copied during a transaction) so ensure your card stays in sights when paying. You should also avoid hailing taxis from the street, and do not enter townships at night unless you are with someone with local knowledge. If you are self-driving around Namibia, always keep car doors locked and windows shut, keep valuables out of sight, and do not leave your vehicle unattended at fuel stops. If you’re joining a guided Namibia tour, your tour leader can advise of any specific risks.

The Namibian dollar has been the official currency since 1993, with one dollar divided into 100 cents. Coins come in 5, 10 and 50 cents and 1 and 5 dollars, with notes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 dollars. South African Rand are also accepted across Namibia with an exchange rate of 1:1, although you’re likely to get change in Namibian dollars. Cards are also very widely accepted, particularly Visa and Mastercard, especially in cities and major tourist destinations. However, it's a good idea to have some cash for smaller purchases or in case of issues with card machines during your Namibia holidays. 

Lightweight, loose-fitting, breathable clothing is the best option for Namibia holidays as the country gets very hot, even during the coolest months. You’ll want to be able to cover up to protect yourself from the sun and against insect bites but without overheating. Neutral-coloured clothing is also recommended for safaris in Namibia – khaki, beige and shades of green are ideal, although other muted colours will also work. Avoid too much white, which will quickly get dusty, while shades of blue can attract tsetse flies though. If you’re visiting during the dry season, it can get very cool in the early mornings and evenings, especially on game drives, so bring additional layers, as well as a day pack and comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots if you’re exploring in the desert. A lightweight waterproof jacket is useful outside the driest months too. You’re unlikely to need much formal clothing, although a slightly smarter outfit is nice for evenings if you want to dress up. A hat and sunglasses, as well as high factor SPF are essential, along with high-strength insect repellent. A reusable water bottle is also a good plan to stay hydrated in the hot, dry climate, as is a headtorch for navigating safari lodges after dark. Consider packing a portable power bank to keep devices charged, as well as spare batteries and memory cards for your camera, plus a zoom lens and binoculars. Bear in mind that you may have a weight restriction of 15kg for any internal flights, so be prepared to pack light if so. For more tips, check out our packing guide.

As well as the vaccinations recommended for life in the UK, you’re advised to ensure you’re vaccinated against diphtheria,  Hepatitis A and tetanus. If you are arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, or have spent 12 hours in transit through the airport of such a country, you are required to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate. There is a risk of malaria throughout the year in the north and north-eastern regions of Namibia, particularly from November to June. This includes Etosha National Park, although the risk is more limited during the driest months. There is low or no risk of malaria elsewhere in Namibia including Windhoek and the Skeleton Coast.

Namibia is home to some of Africa’s best-known wildlife, including the Big Five, with lions at Etosha National Park, as well as leopard, both black and white rhino, elephant and Cape Buffalo (a sub-species of the African buffalo). You’ll have to visit the Caprivi Strip in Namibia’s north-east to see the latter, but there are elephants in Damaraland and on the Skeleton Coast, while more than 35% of Africa’s black rhino population live in Kaokoland and Damaraland, and alongside white rhinos in Etosha. There are also a string of antelope, including oryx, kudu, springbok, plus zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, spotted hyena and cheetah. Sightings of aardvark are rare, but Namibia is a good place to try. At the coast, look out for Cape Fur seals and African penguins too.

You’ll find a unique mix of foods on menus in Namibia, with influences from Germany as well as Namibia’s indigenous tribes, whose staples are sorghum or pearl millet made into a type of porridge. Look out for kapana, a popular grilled snack, with strips of red meat cooked then dipped into a spicy tomato sauce, as well as ‘fat cakes’, deep-fried balls of dough which are much tastier than their name suggests. You’re likely to see plenty of game meat, especially on safari, while there’s also fish and seafood galore at the coast, including kingklip. If you’re familiar with German food, you’ll spot some classics such as schnitzel and the thick noodles known as spätzle, along with local variations like boerewors sausage and potjies, a stew cooked over coal. To finish, you’ll find plenty of creamy cakes, especially in Windhoek and Swakopmund, along with exotic fruits, such as marula, used to make the liqueur Amarula. Namibia’s German legacy means there’s some excellent beer and lager too.

Absolutely. The two destinations are around 435 miles apart, so it’s best to break the journey at somewhere like Swakopmund on the way but our Namibia tour, Namibian Discovery, includes both these highlights of a holiday in the country. 

Namibia’s celebrations are mainly a mix of traditional occasions which have been marked by the country’s inhabitants for centuries, and occasions with a Germanic heritage. The first major event of the year is celebrated by all, with festivals across the country on March 21 for Independence Day. Another of Namibia’s most important festivals takes place between the end of March and early April, during the marula fruit harvest, which is used to make a traditional drink, omagongo. The Oshituthi Shomagongo sees eight communities gathering together to harvest the fruit and make this marula-based drink, crafting baskets, pots and cups using traditional methods as part of the celebrations. Recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, it’s marked primarily in the north of Namibia. In late April, the Windhoek Carnival takes place for a week, with Germanic celebrations which are similar to Oktoberfest. If you visit between June and August, there are various other festivals celebrated by different tribes across the country, with dance, songs and traditional stories told, along with Hereros Day on August 26, featuring parades of warriors which commemorate battles against the Germans and the Khoi-khoi people.

There are plenty of activities to tempt you outdoors in Namibia, starting with the country’s great safaris in the various national parks and reserves, particularly Etosha National Park. But there are more ways to get active in the Namib desert and Sossusvlei with its giant dunes, including sand-boarding. Hikers can also find some day hikes in the rugged desert landscapes as well as some private reserves. The full hike through Fish River Canyon takes five days and is not for the faint-hearted but you can also explore this dramatic landscape with shorter trails as part of your Namibia holidays.

Tipping is voluntary in Namibia, although a small tip for great service can make a big difference to the people you encounter. In restaurants, it’s customary to leave 10% and it’s always best to have small denomination notes in Namibian dollars (or South African Rand). Otherwise, many places will have a general staff tip box to leave money at the end of your stay, especially in safari lodges, to ensure money is shared between the staff members you see and those working behind the scenes. Tour guides and drivers will appreciate a small tip (we include recommended amounts for tour managers, drivers and guides in our useful information packs, which you’ll receive after booking). Remember that porterage is included in our Namibia tours, so there’s no need to tip for bags.