With a little over 2.5 million inhabitants, Namibia is very sparsely populated - particularly when one considers that Namibia is approximately twice as large as Germany. Its capital, Windhoek, sits 1,600 m high in the so-called Khomas Highland plateau area and is home to 400,000 inhabitants. Namibia is best explored in a light aircraft, as distances can be immense. Self-drive travel is also possible, but requires a little more time. Namibia's most famous highlights are the Namib Desert, the high dunes around Sossusvlei, the coastal town of Swakopmund, the Etosha National Park with its rich wildlife, the Fish River Canyon in the south, the Skeleton Coast, and Damaraland with its rare desert elephant and famous rock art at Twyfelfontein.

There are inexpensive ways to travel in Namibia, such as booking a rental vehicle with roof-top tent and staying at campsites. However, if you expect a bit more luxury and want to benefit from the know-how of the local guides, there are some very convincing products in Namibia, all of which you will find with us. The prices in Namibia peak in July and August which coincides with the busiest period. If you want to benefit from lower prices and less traffic, travel in the low season from November to April / May. Safaris in Etosha National Park are less rewarding during this time, but all other areas are just as good if not better. And remember, every year is different and a lot depends on the annual rainfall.

The flights in Namibia are relatively expensive, because flights easily take one hour or more. The advantages of a fly-in safari are the comfortable way of travel, the unique bird's eye view and the easy access even to the very remote camps in the far north.

Namibia can be visited all year round and is almost always sunny. Rain can fall from November to March, usually in the form of heavy storms, injecting life back into dry riverbeds. Temperatures are comfortable from April to June; the highlands and Namib Desert can be very cold at night from July to September. The south and coastal regions usually see less rain falling for shorter periods. Tropical conditions are prevalent in the north (Kunene, Caprivi) with more rain, which begins in October and can continue until April. The summer months can see temperatures rise as high as 40°C, and even higher in the Namib Desert.

Both Swiss and EU citizens require a passport which is valid at least 6 months beyond the date of your departure from Namibia, and must contain at least two blank pages. No visa is required for Namibia. Exact details must be clarified before arriving.

Namibia is accessed via Johannesburg with an effective flight time of 12 hours with a stopover in Johannesburg. There are no direct flights to Windhoek from Zurich. An alternative route goes via Frankfurt with Eurowings / Lufthansa, which can be combined with Swiss Airlines flights. Time difference is 1 hour maximum, depending on European summer/winter time.

There is a restriction of 20 kg per person when flying in light aircraft. Do not bring hard suitcases, but only soft sports bags. The weight limit also includes hand luggage, camera equipment, laptop, etc.

The north of Namibia, including the eastern part of Etosha and the whole Caprivi Strip, is malaria region and prophylaxis must be considered. Please seek advice from your doctor. Make sure that you are adequately insured, particularly for a medical evacuation from a remote area and repatriation. All necessary medication must be brought from home. Do not rely on getting the required medication in Nambia. All medication must be kept in your hand luggage.

The national currency is called the Namibian Dollar. 1 Namibian Dollar is also equivalent to 1 South Africa Rand. The Rand is an equally accepted form of currency. Major credit cards are accepted, but please make sure that your PIN code works, as transactions via the automated teller machines (ATM) are faster and much more reliable. Most lodges accept credit cards. Tips to guides and camp staff can be given in cash in Dollars, Rand or Namibian Dollars, or by credit card. The local staff can't change any other currency into local currency due to bank restrictions. Please note that your dollar bills should not be older than 2010 as the local banks do not accept older dollar bills.

There is no specific clothes that you need to bring on a safari. Comfortable, casual clothes are your best choice. For the game drives, all colours are allowed. For walking safaris, only brown, green or beige tones are recommended. For the period from May to August, bring warm clothes, including hats and gloves. As for footwear, we recommend comfortable, open sandals and a pair of sturdy shoes. Hiking boots are not necessary unless you have planned extensive walks.

English is the official language, followed by numerous dialects, including German. Mobile connection is usually good, unless you are far away from urban centres. However, most camps provide Internet / Wifi access nowadays.

Food at the lodges is of good quality. We recommend you to drink only bottled drinking water. Only bottled mineral water and filtered ice are available at the lodges.

The power supply is 220 - 230 volts. Adapters for all countries are present at all good lodges. Computers, cameras and iPods can then be recharged. The power supply is available 24 hrs a day at most lodges. The plugs have three large round prongs (South African version). When buying an adapter, make sure that the Swiss three-pronged plugs also fit.

Clothes can be washed at almost all lodges. Please note that clothes are washed by hand and then sun dried at most lodges. Due to cultural differences, guests must wash their own underwear. Do not take too many clothes, instead make use of the laundry service wherever possible.

Traffic in Namibia drives on the left-hand side. The most important roads are asphalted, the rest are gravel and quite bumpy. Dust is a constant companion. Most places can be accessed by a normal vehicle, except for the rearmost park areas in Sossusvlei and the north of Namibia. Dry riverbeds can suddenly fill with water during the rainy season; a 4x4 is definitely a more sensible option during this time - and it looks good too!

April - 1st Sunday in September: -1 hour
September and October partly no time difference
Last Sunday in October - March: +1 hour