Discover Namibia - Camping

Experience desert dunes, coastal wilderness and wonderful game-viewing in Africa’s most underrated destination

The scenic beauty of Namibia is only matched by the diversity. Deep canyons, towering dunes, otherworldly rock formations and vast salt pans merge seamlessly in an endlessly shifting landscape. The sky seems particularly big here with spectacular sunsets and, at night, billions of twinkling stars overhead. This is the backdrop for healthy wildlife populations, which congregate around the watering holes of Etosha and a mix of communities from traditional tribes to the descendants of German colonialists.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips which improve life for the people and places we visit, and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• The use of a local guide means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural and social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally-owned accommodation and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise.
• Clients can further support the local economy by buying beer brewed in the area or – if you’re feeling brave- trying a regional specialty like Mowpane worms.
• We visit Swakopmund, which is a small German colonial resort town with quaint cake shops and coffee houses and a centre for adrenaline activities. This is a great chance to support locally-owned businesses and learn about Namibian culture on an optional township tour.
• There are plenty of craft markets in Swakopmund, as well as on route to Etosha, selling wooden carvings, jewellery and material Herero dolls. We encourage clients to purchase souvenirs from local craftsmen to sustain their work.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
• By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for re-usable bottles.
• During wildlife safaris and game drives we behave responsibly with any wildlife we may come into contact with and this is reinforced by our staff and by an environmental code of conduct which is posted in every vehicle we use.
• Twenty-five percent of all park entrance fees paid is reinvested by the MET (Ministry of Environmental and Tourism) through the Game Products Trust Fund into essential infrastructure and services related to tourism in Namibia’s parks. So, by running our game drives in Etosha National Park, we are contributing to local community initiatives and helping to fund the protection of the wide range of species which live there.
• On this trip we also visit the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre. This centre was set up to assist with the long-term conservation of Namibia’s large carnivores through research, education and rehabilitation. We will meet the centre's resident cheetahs (cheetahs are the most endangered big cat in Africa, but Namibia has the world’s largest free roaming population) and learn about the conservation efforts taking place.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
• We use smaller, locally-run accommodation and campsites, versus big hotel chains which have a bigger impact on the surrounding environments.
• All of the accommodation we stay at uses locally-sourced produce and supplies which have not been transported long distances.
• Vegetarian options are available at all of the accommodation and restaurants that we use.
• Energy saving bulbs and water conservation signs are common in our permanent accommodations, whilst camping is a great way to reduce environmental impact in itself.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Extra steps you could take to minimise your impact when travelling.

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own re-usable water bottle on this trip. Tap water is safe to drink and the vehicle has a water tank that we can use while on the road. If you prefer the taste of bottled water, it is possible to purchase and re-fill from 5l bottles throughout the itinerary.
• If while packing you find a spare bit of space in your bag please be sure to check out our partner ‘Pack for a Purpose’ to identify items that are needed locally by schools and medical clinics. Your Tour Leader can assist with donating the items -  http://www.packforapurpose.org

Visa

Namibia

Travellers from the UK, US and some EU states normally do not need a visa to enter Namibia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/namibia
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/namibia
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/namibia/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Namibia.html

If you are transiting through South Africa and are a non-UK passport holder you may require a transit visa. Please check before travelling. Please note that if flying via South Africa you will probably have to pass immigration there.

Passports: Ensure you have at least one full blank page in your passport (but we recommend three) and that it is valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Namibia. Before leaving the immigration desk in the airport arrivals hall, check the duration of your stay has been noted correctly – we recommend adding a week to your duration in case of Covid-19 related issues.

Travelling with children: In addition to valid passports, parents travelling with children (under 18) should at all times carry the original or certified copy of the unabridged birth certificate (listing the child’s and both parents’ details). Adults travelling with children where they are not the biological or legal guardians of those children, should be in possession of an affidavit statement from the child’s parents giving consent for their travel. If a child is travelling with only one parent, the other parent should give consent for travel in the form of an affidavit.

Vaccination

Namibia

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, rabies and tuberculosis. Malaria prophylaxis is essential, seek advice from your doctor about which malaria tablets to take. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you're arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm all requirements and recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, four lunches and five dinners included.

For each meal not included, allow approximately 225 Namibian dollars (US$15) per person. Some meals are in restaurants, while others will be prepared by the tour leader and assistants. Camp meals are cooked over the campfire. They are wholesome and plentiful, but do not expect cordon bleu cuisine; please note, it is not always easy to get fresh meat.

Below is what you can typically expect from the included meals:

• Breakfasts: Cereals, coffee, yoghurt, muesli, fresh fruit or the occasional fried breakfast
• Lunches: Cheese, cold meats, pasta, salads, bread or rolls
• Dinners: Potjie (stew), braai (barbecue) or stir fries

Vegetarians are well catered for on this trip though sometimes options might be more limited.

Weather

• June to August: Clear and warm during the day, but temperatures can near freezing point at night.
• September to May: Considerably warmer; October to March is the hottest, reaching the high 30Cs (around 100F). However, it is always a dry heat and the temperature drops at night. The wet season is between November and February, but this is not a bad time to go as the desert blooms after rainfall, there is plenty of birdlife to see and it never rains for very long.

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been rated Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

Transport is in a specially modified safari truck with 10 to 12 seats for clients. There is plenty of legroom and packing space plus a reference library, fridge and/or icebox. Smaller groups may be in a Toyota Hilux/Land Cruiser. By keeping the group size small, we maximise the exposure to the great African wilderness.

Eighty percent of Namibian roads are good gravel roads. However, road conditions are dependent on maintenance, so can be poor on occasions. This can have an impact on journey times and comfort, and can be punishing on the vehicles. Drive times on this trip are moderate and we will normally arrive at our destination in the afternoon. The total distance covered is about 1,740mi (2,800km). Drive times below are approximations and do vary according to road conditions and the number of stops. We will rarely exceed six hours’ driving in one day.

All activities are of a moderate difficulty, such as climbing Dune 45 and visiting the White Lady rock painting at Brandberg. The walks on the Waterberg Plateau are classified as moderate to strenuous, as it can get a bit steep and rocky.

There are some days where we will have to get up before sunrise, but this will allow us to get the most from our activities (for example, the game drives in Etosha where we are more likely to see wildlife in the early mornings before it gets too hot).

As this is a fully supported camping trip, all cooking and camp chores are done for you. We will be camping everywhere, except in Swakopmund and Windhoek, in the well-equipped campsites common to Namibia. Due to the limited accommodation within Etosha National Park, it may be necessary to sleep outside the park on some or all the nights we are there. This will not impact on the number of game drives we have within the park.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.