Namibia

Petty crime

Petty crime is common and includes:

• pickpocketing
• bag-snatching
• theft from motor vehicles

Criminals use distraction techniques, such as offering assistance, to steal money and valuables.

Car break-ins are common, especially in major urban centres such as:

• Windhoek
• Swakopmund
• Walvis Bay

Violent crime

Violent crime against foreigners includes muggings and robberies. Windhoek and Swakopmund are hotspots.

Tourists have been robbed after stopping for hitchhikers or to help people.

Crime increases at night.

To protect yourself from crime:

• avoid walking alone in large towns, particularly at night
• keep car windows up and doors locked, even when moving
• don't leave valuables in your car
• don't pick up strangers
• be alert at ATMs

HIV/AIDS is common in Namibia. If you're a victim of violent crime, including sexual assault, seek immediate medical assistance.

Taxi safety

Taxi drivers have robbed travellers.

Risks are highest with unmarked taxis and those hailed on the street.

Use taxis with the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association logo or organised through your hotel or a taxi company.

Don't hail unmarked taxis on the street.

Credit card fraud

Credit card skimming has been reported.

Don't let your credit card out of your sight.

Check your statements often for fraudulent payments.

Demonstrations and protests

Public protests and demonstrations can turn violent.

To protect yourself during periods of unrest:

• monitor the news for planned or possible unrest
• avoid affected areas
• follow the advice of local authorities

More information:

• Demonstrations and civil unrest

Terrorism is a threat worldwide.

More information:

• Terrorism

Transport and tour operators don't always follow recommended safety or maintenance standards.

If you plan to do an adventure activity:

• check if your travel insurance policy covers it
• check operators' credentials and safety equipment before booking
• use reputable, registered tour operators
• ask about and insist on minimum safety requirements
• always use available safety gear, such as life jackets or seatbelts

If proper safety equipment isn't available, use another provider.

Climate and natural disasters

Flooding may occur in the rainy season from November to April.

Roads can become blocked.

To protect yourself if a natural disaster or severe weather occurs:

• secure your passport in a safe, waterproof location
• monitor local media and other sources
• consider moving to higher ground
• follow the advice of local authorities
• keep in contact with friends and family

More information:

• Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System

If you are travelling at this time notwithstanding the Australian Government's travel ban for all Australians, you need to make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance for the whole time you'll be away, and confirm what your policy covers in terms of health and travel disruptions. Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation: the Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.

Some Namibian medical and emergency facilities don't recognise all travel insurance policies. Ask your insurer if their product is recognised in Namibia before you buy it.

Carry a copy of the policy and your insurer's emergency phone number.

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

• have a basic health check-up
• ask if your travel plans may affect your health
• plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

More information:

• General health advice
• International travel and health

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Namibia. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.

Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:

• what the medication is
• how much you'll take
• that it's for personal use

More information:

• Medication

COVID-19

Local authorities have confirmed COVID-19 is in Namibia.

More information:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Department of Health)
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak (WHO)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Smartraveller)

HIV/AIDS

The rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Namibia is very high.

Take precautions if you engage in activities that expose you to a risk of infection.

Insect-borne diseases

If you're travelling from a country where yellow fever is widespread, you'll need a valid yellow fever certificate to enter Namibia. This does not apply to a child aged under 9 months. If you can't show proof of vaccination, authorities may not let you enter Namibia. You can't get vaccinated on arrival.

Malaria is common in northern Namibia.

Other insect-borne diseases include:

• filariasis
• leishmaniasis

To protect yourself from disease:

• make sure your accommodation is insect-proof
• use insect repellent
• wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing
• consider taking medicine to prevent malaria

Seek medical advice if you have a fever, muscle pain, rash or severe headache.

Other health risks

Waterborne, foodborne, parasitic and other infectious diseases are common. These include:

• typhoid
• hepatitis
• meningitis
• tuberculosis
• rabies

Serious outbreaks sometimes occur.

To protect yourself from illness:

• drink boiled water or bottled water with sealed lids
• avoid ice cubes
• avoid raw and undercooked food, such as salads
• don't swim in fresh water
• always check with local authorities before swimming in waters
• avoid contact with dogs and other mammals

If you're bitten or scratched by an animal, seek medical help straight away.

Get medical advice if you have a fever or diarrhoea.

Medical facilities

Medical facilities are limited outside major urban centres.

Private hospitals in major urban centres are better equipped.

You'll need to pay cash before doctors and hospitals will treat you. Your insurer may be able to repay you later if you're covered.

If you become seriously ill or injured, you'll need to be evacuated to South Africa or another place with better facilities. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

If you're detained or arrested, Namibian authorities may not contact the Australian Government straight away.

Ask officials to call the Australian High Commission in South Africa, or the Australian Consulate in Windhoek.

Police resources are varied throughout Namibia.

Drugs

Penalties for drug offences are severe and include long jail sentences.

More information:

• Carrying or using drugs

Other crimes

In Namibia, it's illegal to:

• take photos of government and military sites — ask local officials if in doubt
• trade in endangered wildlife products such as ivory and rhino horn

Penalties are severe for illegal trading in diamonds and precious stones. Only buy diamonds and precious stones from licensed shops.

More information:

• Wildlife trade

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

More information:

• Staying within the law and respecting customs

Namibia doesn't recognise dual nationality.

If you're a dual citizen, this limits the consular services we can give if you're arrested or detained.

More information:

• Dual nationals

Same-sex relationships are legal in Namibia, but not widely accepted. Avoid public displays of affection.

More information:

• Advice for LGBTI travellers

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders.

Make sure you meet all entry and exit conditions. If you don't, the Australian Government can't help you.

*This advice predates COVID-19, and Namibia's lockdown and international travel ban (see Travel).

Visitor visas

Tourists can visit for up to 3 months without a visa.

For other situations, you'll need to get a visa in advance.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact a consulate-general of Namibia or the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.

Make sure the correct visa and entry period is stamped in your passport, even if you're transiting.

Check your visa before leaving the immigration counter. 

You may be detained or fined if you don't follow visa or immigration requirements.

Yellow fever vaccination

You need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Namibia if you're arriving from a country where yellow fever occurs.

More information:

• Countries with a risk of yellow fever (PDF 74KB)

Other formalities

To prevent the spread of Ebola virus disease (EVD), passengers travelling from EVD-affected countries are screened on arrival.

Travel via South Africa

All airlines are reducing capacity and cancelling flights to and from South Africa. Contact your travel provider for details. If you're travelling through South Africa, you must meet South African entry and transit requirements.

More information:

• Travel advice for South Africa

Travel with children

Children who aren't accompanied by one or both parents must carry:

• a full birth certificate that identifies their parents
• an affidavit from any absent parents giving consent for the child to travel

The affidavit must be less than 3 months old and include:

• the signatures of both parents
• full names, addresses, phone numbers and passport details of the child and both parents (as listed on the birth certificate)
• travel destinations of the parent and children
• a certified copy of any absent parent's passport.

If you don't have valid documents, authorities may deport you or stop you boarding your flight.

Check your documents meet these requirements with the nearest Namibian High Commission or Consulate.

Validity

Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

• In Australia, contact the Australian Passport Information Service.
• If you're overseas, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate.

The official currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD).

You can also use South African rand (ZAR).

Declare amounts more than NAD50,000 when you arrive and leave Namibia. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.

In major centres, credit cards are accepted and ATMs are available. This may not be the case in remote areas. Ask your bank if your ATM card will work in Namibia.

Landmines

Unexploded landmines and remnants of war are a danger in: 

• East and West Kavango
• the Zambezi regions of north-eastern Namibia
• areas bordering Angola

Use main routes in these regions.

Driving permit

To drive in Namibia, you need both:

• a valid Australian driver's licence
• a valid International Driving Permit (IDP)

You must obtain your IDP before leaving Australia.

Road travel

You're 4 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident in Namibia than in Australia.

Hazards include:

• poor local driving practices
• poor street lighting
• poorly maintained vehicles
• pedestrians, wild animals and livestock on roads

Roads between main urban centres are good, but they are usually unsealed in rural areas.

Gravel and sandy roads, flash flooding and water-damaged roads are driving hazards.

Tourists have had accidents because they were driving too fast on unfamiliar roads.

Most vehicle insurance policies only cover accidents involving other vehicles or animals.

Check your insurance policy covers you for accidents on unsealed roads and single-vehicle accidents.

To reduce your risks while driving:

• check local traffic laws and practices
• be aware of animals and pedestrians on roads
• travel with sufficient fuel, water and emergency provisions in desert areas

More information:

• Driving or riding

Motorcycles

Check with your travel insurer whether your policy covers you when using a motorbike, quad bike or similar vehicle.

Always wear a helmet.

Taxis

Use registered taxis, preferably arranged through your hotel.

To protect yourself if you need to take a taxi:

• avoid hailing taxis on the street
• don't share taxis with strangers
• always sit in the back seat

Public transport

Avoid public transport where possible.

Vehicles are often poorly maintained.

Local buses don't follow permanent routes.

Air travel

DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check Namibia's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.

More information:

• Air travel

Namibia has announced a 21-day lockdown from 27 March to 16 April, which includes a 30-day international travel ban and border closures.

If you can't or don't want to leave, follow the advice of local authorities, make arrangements for an extended stay and minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Stay in touch with family and friends so they know you're safe and well. If you need urgent consular assistance call +61 2 6261 3305.

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider
• employer
• airline

Fire and rescue services

Call 112 from a mobile.

Call 61 211 111 from a landline.

Medical emergencies

Call 112 from a mobile.

Call 61 211 111 from a landline.

Go to the nearest hospital.

Police

Call 112 from a mobile.

Call 61 211 111 from a landline.

Visit the nearest police station or a Tourist Protection Unit.

• Windhoek Main Police Station, phone: 61 209 4345
• Swakopmund, phone: 64 405 558

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Your travel insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.

Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.

Australia has an honorary consulate in Namibia. It provides limited consular and passport services.

You can also get full consular and passport help from the Australian High Commission in South Africa.

Australian Consulate, Windhoek

56 Chalcedoon Street
PO Box 86491, Eros
Windhoek, Namibia
Phone: (+264) 61 300 194
Mobile: (+264) 81 283 4629
Fax: (+264) 88 640 002
Email: australian.consulate.namibia@gmail.com

Australian High Commission, Pretoria

292 Orient Street
Pretoria
Republic of South Africa
Phone: +27 0 12 423 6000
Fax: +27 0 12 342 8442
Email: pretoria.info@dfat.gov.au
Website: southafrica.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: Australian High Commission in South Africa
Twitter: @AuHCSouthAfrica

Check the High Commission website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia