Trip Inspiration

Explore Namibia

Namibia Country Information

Desert Dreamscape Land

Set in Southwest Africa Namibia is an unforgettable paradise that offers the visitor an experience unlike no other . Namibia is a land of contrasts where untamed wild and often surreal landscapes sit within reachable distance from well- developed infrastructure.. Namibia’s tourist infrastructure is some of the best to be found in Africa . From the capital of Windhoek to the impressive coastal town of Swakopmund the country’s  German influence if ever present in the architecture, food and drink and the cuture.  It’s Namibia’s natural, wild landscape outside of the cities and towns that provides the real draw from Fish River Canyon and the 2000km Namibia with the largest dunes in the world to Etosha National Park , habitat to desert elephants and mountain Zebra. The Kalahari desert is jaw-droppingly stunning.

Geography

Namibia covers 824,292 sq. km and is situated on the southwestern coast of Africa. It borders Angola and Zambia in the north, South Africa in the south and Botswana in the east.

Namibia comprises four main differing landscapes. The vast Kalahari Desert has red sands and sparse vegetation, while provinces in the north have rivers, woodland savannahs and tropical forests. There is a long coastal desert that runs the length of the country. The central plateau is home to the majority of the towns and villages.

The population is slightly more than 2.3 million, and about 90% of the population is Christian.

Politics & Security

Namibia is a relatively safe country to visit. However, it does have a high crime rate in larger cities like Windhoek.

It is recommended to safeguard your valuables and cash. Use a hotel safe if possible. Keep large amounts of money, expensive jewellery, cameras and cell phones out of sight. Don’t change large sums of money in busy public areas. Keep copies of essential documents, including passports, in a different place. Beware of pickpockets in town centres.

Culture

It is important to dress decently when in any town or village. Women will avoid unwanted attention by dressing sensibly, covering their shoulders and avoiding low, revealing tops. When staying in a National Park or Reserve, at a lodge or campsite, wearing shorts and sleeveless tops is acceptable. It is also more respectable for a man to wear trousers rather than shorts, and walking around in public without a shirt is unacceptable.

Women may find a helpful sarong; they can be thrown over whatever you wear. You can also throw a light scarf around your shoulders when in town.

Please note that photography is not permitted at airports.

Language

English is widely spoken but other languages include German, Oshiwambo, Rukwangari, Silozi, Otjiherero, Damara, Nama, Khisan and Satswana.

Weather

Namibia has a very favourable climate and annually has approximately 300 days of sunshine. Winter (approximately April to the end of August) is warm, but temperatures can fall below zero at night, so bring a warm jacket for the evenings. Temperatures in the summer (approximately from September to the end of March) can reach 35C. However, this is also the rainy season, so be prepared for rainfall.

LGBT+ Information

While Namibia’s views on LGBT travel are open, and homosexuality is not illegal, the topic has for many years been considered taboo in more conservative, rural areas. As a visitor to Namibia, your sexual preferences and identity are your private business, and generally of no interest to others. We have yet to hear of any issues raised or problems encountered as a result of a visitor’s sexuality. This reinforces our view that Namibia is friendly and welcoming to all tourists, regardless of their sexual orientation.

When To Travel

When to travel

The best time to travel to Namibia is generally between May and October, during the cooler dry season when clear skies and mild temperatures create excellent conditions for exploring the country’s deserts and national parks. Wildlife viewing is often at its best at this time as animals gather around waterholes. The wettest period usually falls between November and April, when temperatures rise and brief but heavy rains can occur.

Country Insight

Laurenne Director of Pioneer

“Namibia is, to me, one of the most extraordinary places on earth. Its vast open spaces, dramatic deserts, and diverse wildlife never fail to amaze, while the friendliness of its people makes every visit feel personal and memorable. What I love most is sharing these treasures with our guests—whether exploring the iconic dunes, tracking wildlife, or visiting local cultural and conservation projects. These experiences go beyond the scenery, offering a real understanding of Namibia’s conservation challenges and showing how sustainable tourism can benefit both communities and wildlife for generations.”

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A wonderful trip

Great PNG Island Experience

10 Day Tour of Nicaragua

Costa Rica - tailor made off the beaten track

Komodo Kayaking Holiday

5!

We had a wonderful trip to Guatemala and Belize, thank you both for organising it for us. The hotels you selected were all very comfortable and we especially loved the traditional one in Antigua. The local guides were all excellent, so knowledgeable and friendly as were our drivers. We had a slight problem at Guatamala airport as our itinerary didn’t have information about either the carrier or time of the flight to Flores but a very helpful person at check in found our booking and all was well! The itinerary you planned was really interesting and exciting. We loved the visit to the Mayan ruins, kayaking on Atatlan lake, the volcano hike where we had pizza freshly cooked at the top of the mountain and the pontoon experience turned out to be amazing. We had an unexpected waterfall descent which was great fun and the highlight of the day was seeing a jaguar at close quarters swimming across the river in front of us . Even the guide who had spent the last 13 years in the area had never seen one before! John enjoyed the zip wire experience at the lake while I was able to enjoy the nature park it was set in with its walking trails; these included some exciting hanging bridges with incredible views. There was also a butterfly house and lovely gardens. We thought that the timing of this experience would have been better if it was on the day we arrived at the lake. We arrived by 1pm and had the whole afternoon free. It was really rushed to fit in the zip wire experience the morning we left because of catching our flight. It might also be worth mentioning that the volcano climb can be done on horseback. A lot of people were making use of these to take them up the trail so it could be an option for anyone unable to tackle the hike. I’m sending you some photos in a separate email. Again many thanks for all your planning which allowed two over 80 + year olds to have another adventure!!

Apr 14, 2026 by Rosemary and John Llewellin
5!

What a wonderful kayaking trip in a beautiful group of PNG islands. The trip was expertly run by local guide Javith, his wife and excellent cook, Lisa and skilled boatman/fisherman, Levi. I experienced a perfect blend of kayaking, snorkeling and cultural experiences in these islands inhabited by the friendliest people you could imagine. This is a pristine kayaking destination with healthy coral reefs, providing a stunning snorkeling experience. I highly recommend this trip!

Apr 9, 2026 by Sue Draheim
5!

I had the most amazing time on my 10 day tour of Nicaragua. Pioneer created a perfect itinerary for me as a solo traveller, which allowed me to see all the highlights of the country and immerse myself in the culture. I visted the main cities of Leon and Granada, which involved lots of sightseeing, but I aso had the oportunity to make a piece of traditional Nicaraguan art with a local artist in Leon. I also did a home stay on Ometepe Island with a lovely Nicaraguan family, which allowed me to practise my Spanish and learn more about the local community/culture. I also stayed on the Corn Islands off the Caribean Coast of Nicaragua, which were pure paradise! Rafe and Teresa were both super helpful when orgnaising my trip and quick to respond to email queries and calls. I was disappointed at first that I wasn't on a group tour (as I was travelling alone)when I arrived in Granada, but my guides were all brilliant I didn't mind too much in the end. I found the gifts left for me in my first hotel room on the tour a nice personal touch, especially the Nicarguan rum, which went down a treat! Before I started this tour I'd been with another group on a yoga retreat in the jungle in the South Nicaraguan. I got ill there at the end of the week with a bad stomach. My tour guide when I arrived in Granada to start my trip was very helpful and went out of his way to take me to a Doctor. After the medication he prescribed I was right as rain again. Big thanks to all the team at Pioneer Expeditions for such a memorable trip!

Apr 9, 2026 by Corrie Doogan
5!

Having met Laurenne a few years ago and then planned this holiday with Rafe a year ahead for a group of six of us, we had time to look forward to it in the knowledge that we were going to enjoy our wildlife adventures, but what an under-estimation that proved to be! The sheer number and variety of bird species we found, the diversity of forests and coastal environments, the incredible scenery, and the friendliness of everyone we met – it all came together to give us an absolutely wonderful holiday. Our guide, Martin, really enhanced our travels, not only with his knowledge of the birds and his ability to find them, but also his enthusiasm for his country and other fauna and flora. He was a careful driver and very attentive of our needs, plus spot on with his ideas for extra activities, and very good company too! A huge thank you to Pioneer Expeditions and their local agents

Apr 9, 2026 by Marguerite and Mark
5!

We had the most incredible time on the 5 day Komodo Kayaking trip. Matias and the crew on the boat offered a 10/10 service, from tasty food to amazing local knowledge and all so friendly and helpful. Kayaking across beautiful ocean, snorkelling around pristine reefs with turtles, dolphins jumping infront of the boat, bats, Komodo dragons and camping on small islands - such an incredible adventure and we miss it so much! The Pioneer team were wonderful, and we couldn’t fault their organisation and guidance when planning the holiday.

Dec 19, 2025 by Megan

Trips You Can Trust

Why book with Pioneer Expeditions

Tailormade Trips

These are trips which are perfectly created, organised, and lead specifically for you. If you are considering one of our wildlife, multi-activity adventures, small group trips or family holiday adventures then we would be delighted to design a tailormade itinerary, to meet your interests, travel dates and accommodation requirements. Just get in touch!

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escorted small groups

We operate small group holidays for a maximum of 8-12 persons. As well as multi-activity trips we offer trekking trips, kayaking, rafting, wildlife, cycling and photography. These small group trips make ideal holidays for singles and couples, particularly for those wishing to visit Madagascar, the Galapagos islands, explore Borneo or kayak the Komodo Dragon islands, Indonesia.

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Specialist Adventures

We are delighted to offer a number of specialist trips, depending on your interests. We organise a number of specialist holidays such as family adventure holidays that can be designed to meet the requirements for children of certain ages. We also design unique and interesting luxury holidays and honeymoon trips as well trips for celebrating special events and anniversaries.

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Practical Information

For your African Adventure

Visas

British nationals, and those traveling from the USA, do not need a visa to enter Namibia for stays of up to 90 days. A visa is issued upon arrival – at no charge.  This does not need to be organised before you go.  Please ensure you have a full valid passport, with at least 6 months before expiry after the end of your trip.

For a full list of the countries that have visa exemption agreements check the Namibia High Commission website: http://www.namibiahc.org.uk/  On arrival check that your immigration stamp is correctly dated as this will be checked on departure to ensure you have not exceeded the 90 days.

If you’re transiting through a South African airport with children you will need to provide additional documentation. For more information on the documents required check the South African Home Affairs website: http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/civic-services/traveling-with-children

Please note, if your flights transit the USA, you will also need to complete the online ‘ESTA’ Form -“electronic system for travel authorization”. https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Currency

The Namibian Dollar (NAD) and the South African Rand are the currency. They are interchangeable, and both are used freely in Namibia.

You can buy South African Rand in the UK but not the Namibian Dollar. It is possible to obtain currency when you are in Namibia. Some hotels and lodges will accept US dollars in addition to Namibian Dollars (NAD) and the South African Rand.

Credit cards can be used in some Namibian cash machines, but the charges for withdrawing cash can be expensive. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in the majority of lodges and larger restaurants.

For your convenience we have partnered up with a currency exchange company that offer  you next day delivery on any currency orders.  Please note not all currencies are available.   Order details along with any terms and conditions can be found at https://ttngtravel.money/pioneerexpeditions

Insurance

Adequate travel insurance is mandatory for everyone who participates in a Pioneer Expedition; this will need to cover you for emergency medical evacuation.  The sooner you book your insurance, the sooner you are covered if you have to cancel your trip due to personal or family illness.

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