Namibia Travel Forum

Hi,

I'm thinking of taking a wee stopover in Namibia on my way to regular travel to Luanda, so I was wondering if anybody had experience of the Town Hopper Shuttle bus or the Starline Train which run between Windhoek & Swakopmund.

all feedback gratefully received, thanks
Duncan

I'm headed to a wedding in Iipopo and they suggested we stay in Ondangwa but all I can find there are large hotel-type places. I'd like a smaller, more exclusive lodge. Any ideas? I thought about heading to Oshakati and staying there which is about 30 minutes from Ondangwa. Any nice places there? Thanks!

hi there,

I am planing my holiday in November08 to Namibia. Can anybody tell me pls how will be the weather in Nov.? is it raining time or is it only depends on where I am going , either south or north area?

thanks for all answers,
s.

I know that using cellphones in Namibia is difficult in some locations, but when I was there in 2005, I noticed that in about every village people do use cellphones,.

So I wonder if I could use mine. It's a simple model - a Nokia 6080. This model is also sold in Namibia, as I saw on the Nokia-site, so it would seem to me that I could use my phone ... or am I seeing things to simple?

Thanks for any information!

Hi all,

I've asked this question a number of times and I've received wildly different answers (For example: one person said 3 hours from Sossusvlei to Swakopmund and another said all day). I'm hoping that someone here will help me with a definitive answer.

I will be doing a long driving trip from South Africa through Namibia and Botswana and I'm hoping that someone can give me an estimate of how long it will take to travel each leg in a 2WD sedan. (I know - some of you suggest a 4x4, but I don't intend to do any off-road driving). A comment on the road conditions (gravel versus paved) would also be helpful.

Here are the trips:

1. Cape Town - Springbok, SA
2. Springbok, SA - Fish River Canyon
3. Fish River Canyon - Sossusvlei
4. Sossusvlei - Swakopmund
5. Swakopmund - Cape Cross (and back)
6. Swakopmund - Otjiwarongo
7. Otjiwarona - Okaukeujo (Etosha)
8. Okaukeujo - Windhoek
9. Windhoek - Ghanzi, BW
10. Ghanzi - Maun
11. Maun (via Nata) to Kasane

I'm starting to get very excited (and a little bit worried) about all of this driving, but I think it'll be well worthwhile!

I am planning a Safari trip to South Africa but wish to go a Malaria free area convenient to Johannesburg and some research has indicated that the Waterberg area may be a good choice.

I would like to hear from anyone who has had a Safari in this area, I am concerned to establish if the area is actually malaria free and if the wildlife is good in the area and if there are particular issues in going to the area.

Also what is the best way to get from Johannesburg airport to the Waterberg area.

Thanks

Hi all,

I'm planning to do a self-drive trip from Cape Town to Victoria Falls in June and I have most of it worked out. However, I'm still on the fence about the first eight days of the trip. Below are two itineraries between Cape Town and Windhoek: Can you tell me which one would be preferable? (I don't mind driving, so the longer drive in itinerary #1 isn't a major issue to me.) Itinerary #2 costs about US$300 more (the car is only slightly cheaper; the CPT-WDH flight is about $175 per person.)

Itinerary #1

Day 1: Arrive Cape Town 11AM. Table Mountain
Day 2: Robben Island, V&A Waterfront
Day 3: Daytrippers Tour to Cape Point
Day 4: Wandering around Cape Town
Day 5: Drive to Springbok, SA
Day 6: Drive to Fish River Canyon
Day 7: Fish River Canyon
Day 8: Drive to Sossusvlei

Itinerary #2

Days 1-4 as above.
Day 5-6: More Cape Town wandering (maybe a Great White breaching tour and/or a visit to the townships?)
Day 7: Fly to Windhoek
Day 8: Drive to Sossusvlei

Any information would be useful!
Thanks!

Hi everybody.
We are 6 experienced travellers and have been already visited Africa. This time we are going to cross the Namib desert (end of March-beginning of April), but it's difficult to find contacts of companies where we could hire camels for 7-day travel (horses are possible too, but less desirable). We are searching for NOT a travel agency with its own tours, but exactly the company that gives a possibility to hire camels.
Could you give any contacts? It is rather urgent.
Thank you very much in advance!!!

Hello to all -

I am going to Namibia in April for 15 days. My itinerary includes visiting Windhoek, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Twyfelfontein and Etosha and from there go on to Victoria Falls. Is that reasonable or am I trying to overdo it? How many days should I plan for each place? Is April good time for seeing animals in Etosha?

I am also trying to find a way to fly back from Victoria Falls to Windhoek, but all tickets I can find are outrageously expensive. Any tips on how to get back to Windhoek without going completely broke?

Thanks in advance and happy travels!
Travelchili

What is the crime rate in Namibia/Windhoek? What is the rate of burglary from cars? What is the rate of car theft in Namibia/Windhoek?

Hi,
Could anyone tell me if its possible to drive (4'4 of course!) from the Ugab river near Brandberg West mine to Mowani Mountain camp?

I'm travelling in early March08 and realise that should there be off road tracks - its going to be weather/rain permitting. How usable are these tracks and approx how long would it take?

In addition I grew up on Brandberg mine as a small boy in the mid to late 70's -(father/mother - Mike and Joan Botha) and have many happy memories of this place - anyone around??

cheers, Andrew

Hi,
Can someone please describe the climate in Namibia in the beginning of February. I have read so many travel tips, but they are still quite general and sometimes contradicting. How hot does it really get, how much does it really rain? I mean, is it OK to travel to Namibia at that time and take some 2 weeks roundtrip with a car?

Thank you in advance for any comments.

What is the best way to have a cell phone in Namibia? Can I rent one at the airport? Can I buy a SIM card for my own GSM unlocked phone?
Thank you.

Hi there,

I'm hoping to spend nine or ten days in Namibia this June and wanted some advice on how to proceed. We'll fly into Windhoek from Cape Town and then hire a car. I'd like to spend a bit of time in Windhoek, Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei and Etosha National Park. I understand that this is a very strenuous itinerary for a short trip, but I *love* driving and I prefer a vacation where I'm always moving.

Here's a possible itinerary. Comments would be greatly appreciated.

Day 1: Arrive in Windhoek at midday
Day 2: Windhoek
Day 3: Drive to Fish River Canyon (how long?)
Day 4: Fish River Canyon
Day 5: Drive to Sossusvlei (how long?)
Day 6: Sossuvlei, drive to Swakopmund (how long?)
Day 7: Swakopmund
Day 8: Drive to Etosha Park (how long?)
Day 9: Etosha Park
Day 10: Return to Windhoek

(Another possibility would be to drive from Cape Town, which would make it easier to see Fish River Canyon and Sossusvlei before we arrive in Windhoek.)

After this, I plan to take a 10-day overland tour to Victoria Falls, via Botswana. Any comments on a good way to do this (tour group? self drive?) would be greatly appreciated!

We are wanting to visit Namibia from the 2-14 August and are thinking that self-drive would be dangerous.We know nothing of the area.We are thinking about going with a backpackers tour with a small group to see primarily the landscapes and animals. Can anyone give us some info about what we can expect regarding prices, availability of lodging, dangers and maybe recommend a tour or area to visit? Thanks, Dres

Has some body experienced of the route linking directly Puros to Epupa, without driving via Opuwo, taking direct north route via Otjitanda to Okangwati.
This off'road route start at 17 47 East 12 57 South waypoint on Google earth.
Do you think we can take it with 2 4WD vehicles.
Many thanks for your answer, because i am looking forward for one year...

many thanks
Franck

Hello,

Can you please provide me with the address of Ernie's restaurant/hotel in Gobabis Namibia.

Thanks in advance,
Juckie

Can anyone help me find a bus/shuttle service from Manu (or Ghanzi) in Botswana to Windhoek? Audi Camp no longer provide this service. Flights are already full too. Current plan is to travel on a Thursday in October. Many thanks

A friend and I are coming out to Namibia on 14th Sept for a few weeks - 4 days ahead of the rest of the party. We'd like to do a 2/3/4 day trek, either self supported or visiting campsites / whatever. All of the treks we've found tend to me for groups of 3 people or more, which puts us in a bit of a quandry - anyone got any suggestions ?

Whe are a group of 10 people that whould like to come to Walvisbaai, or a place in Namibie where we can go riding with our quad bikes. Whe like informal accomadation.Where gan we go?

hi there!
anybody has knowledge of bus transportation from windhoek airport to city of windhoek?
i hope taxi is not the only way.
thanks
nikos

Hello!

Me and my girlfriend are planning to have a 3 week trip to Nambia in October this year. We want to travel around by rental car: Windhoek - Waterberg - Etosha - Swakopmund - Sossusvlei (- Lüderitz (?) ) - Windhoek.

Itīs the first time, that we are in Namibia, therefore we do have some questions:

a) Is the trip too long for 3weeks? Above we spottet only the mains spots we want to go. In between we want to stop, but donīt know whatīs most interesting?

b)We are not quite sure regarding the rental car. Is a 4x4 jeep (Nissan, Toyota etc) required / recommended? Can you recommend a rental-car-company for Namibia

Would be perfect, if somebody could share his/her Namibia experience with us?

Thx in advance

Julia & Carsten

Hello,

I am planning to come to Namibia in September and to stay for a minimum of 3 months. Does anyone have any advice for finding cheap accomodation for my stay? My base will be in Windhoek but I intend to travel around the country during my stay. I would also be grateful if anyone has any advice about working for an NGO with a view to doing anything computer related, from programming to teaching etc.

Many thanks in advance

Vince Clark

Hi ill be in Namibia this Christmas and i would like to get a permit to shoot the wrecks in skeleton coast. Where would i get that from and how much would it be?
Also is there somehwere i can stay for quite cheap so i dont go all the way back to Swakompmund? (sp?)

thanks

Hello there,

I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for a self-drive trip to Namibia. We are considering hiring a car, but only one of us will be driving. Does the itinerary below sound plausible and are there any hotels/lodges we shouldn't miss along the way? I was also wondering whether anybody has stayed at Okonjima (AfriCat) and can recommend it. Or would two nights at the Waterberg Plateau be a better option?

day 1: Leave Amsterdam
day 2: Arrive Windhoek
day 3: Sossusvlei
day 4: Sossusvlei
day 5: Swakopmund
day 6: Swakopmund
day 7: Damaraland
day 8: Damaraland
day 9: Etosha
day 10: Etosha
day 11: Etosha
day 12: Etosha
day 13: Okonjima
day 14: Okonjima
day 15: Windhoek
day 16: Leave for Amsterdam

I would be very grateful for any advice.
Thanks very much!

Spreeuw

I'm coming to Namibia in October and would love to visit the Africat Foundation. Is there a local bus there or would I have to get a taxi/driver to take me there and if so how much would a return trip cost?(I plan to stay overnight).

Any advice would be great!

Shirley

hi,

we have some extra days in Windhoek before we go to they airport. Are there any good tour that take a day or half a day. visiting culture of Windhoek, or guided tours that show an alternative Windhoek, or any in these lines of interest

thank you

Is anybody in a position to advise me what lines are cheaper from Europe to Namibia, if any make the connections.

Hi Folks.
Aiming to be in Namibia in August and trying to take in a 3 day hike in the dunes. Does anyone know of transport from Windhoek airport or city to sesriem or sossusvlei - or will we need to hire a car?
I assume there must be something, but does it take days with loads of changes?
Louise.

Hi,
I would just like to know how many "active" VT members live in Namibia and where?

Thanks
Samuel

PS: No, i am not looking for cheap accomodation, but are going there for a 4 weeks holiday in April :)