Namibia

Namibia was inhabited by San people until about 1,000 years ago. If you have the rare opportunity to talk to a San (most do not speak English), do not call them Bushmen, that's considered derogatory. Due to the Bantu migration, Ovambo people and Ovaherero people moved into northern and central Namibia. In the South the Damara people established themselves; it is unclear where they came from. About 200 years ago the Oorlam people moved in from the South. Then the Oorlam and the Herero clashed.

Namibia was colonized by Germany in the late 19th century. Colonial control was established by private interests before the German Reich itself got involved as Bismarck was rather skeptical of colonial endeavors. German business and colonial interests, among them Adolf Lüderitz, tried to co-opt local rulers into their schemes and to that end signed treaties of varying honesty and even-handedness. One treaty famously mentioned a strip of land from the coast several "miles" inland to be handed over to the colonizers. What the treaty failed to mention was that the British miles of roughly 1.6 km wasn't what the Germans meant - they insisted upon much larger "Prussian miles" that were obscure even then and entirely unknown to the locals.

Conflict broke out, but the colonizers had the better weapons and backing from Berlin so the locals stood no chance. By 1884 "Deutsch Südwestafrika" had officially become a colony and unlike Germany's other colonies, it did attract significant settlement from the mother country, soon leading to serious debates in the Reichstag about the "problem" of "mixed" descendants of settlers and locals. Another problem were local uprisings and when the Herero rose up in 1904 the Germans under general Lothar von Trotha responded with an amount of genocidal cruelty that shocked even contemporary advocates of colonialism. Von Trotha issued an order to shoot down unarmed civilians including women and children and had them driven into the desert. Low estimates put the death toll at 40,000 but numbers as high as 70,000 have been put forth for this first genocide perpetrated by Germany. Both descendants of von Trotha and the German government have since asked for forgiveness but no formal restitution was ever paid. At the start of World War I, only 30 years after they arrived, much of Namibia (then called South West Africa) was in German possession.

During World War I, Africa also became a front but by 1915 Namibia had fallen to the Entente. It was administered by South Africa under a League of Nations mandate after World War I, and as if it were a province of South Africa after World War II. The South-West African People's Organization (SWAPO) launched a guerrilla war for independence in 1966 and gained independence in 1990. Namibia is in many ways quite similar to South Africa. Since it was ruled under the apartheid system, Namibia also has many of the problems resulting from that system.

Namibia shares many similarities with its neighbours, particularly with South Africa, and if you're used to travelling in the region, Namibia should be a seamless transition from the latter. However, there are some subtle differences. For example, in South Africa a black South African may choose to speak English rather than Afrikaans (as a political choice) whereas among Namibia's mixed-race population (who call themselves 'coloured' in Namibia and South Africa) Afrikaans is a proud part of their culture, and many people still speak German. Overlooking these differences isn't going to cause offence, but they're handy to know.

The public holidays in Namibia are:

• 1 January. New Year's Day 
• 21 March. Independence Day 
• Easter weekend. ("Good Friday", "Easter Saturday", "Easter Sunday" and "Easter Monday"): a four day long weekend in March or April set according to the Western Christian dates. 
• 1 May. Workers Day 
• 4 May. Cassinga Day 
• 25 May. Africa Day 
• 26 August. Heroes' Day 
• 10 December. Human Rights Day 
• 25 December. Christmas Day 
• 26 December. Day of Goodwill (Family Day) 

If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, many businesses will give the previous, or the following, day off, and be closed.

• Visit Namibia website

Tourists may enter Namibia for up to 90 days.

Foreign nationals from the following countries/territories will get a visa on arrival without prior application: Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Cuba, Denmark, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Citizens not from the above countries need to apply for a visa from the Namibian consulate in their country of origin or the Ministry of Home Affairs, Private Bag 13200, Windhoek, ☏ +264 61 292-9111, fax: +264 61 22-3817. 

To apply for a visa from a Namibian embassy or consulate, you will need a visa application form (this is one from the Namibian High Comission in London), a document confirming your address in Namibia (such as a hotel booking), a passport with three blank pages and a colour passport photo.

If you require a visa to enter Namibia, you might be able to apply for one at a British embassy, high commission, or consulate in the country where you legally reside if there is no Namibian diplomatic post. See the UK government website about applying for Commonwealth visas. British diplomatic posts charge £50 to process a Namibian visa application and an extra £70 if the authorities in Namibia require the visa application to be referred to them. The authorities in Namibia can also decide to charge an additional fee if they correspond with you directly.

All visitors require a passport valid for at least 6 months after date of entry into Namibia.

You need a return or onward air or bus ticket when you fly to Namibia; if you don't have one the airline will not take you there. You can book a Intercape bus ticket online. Intercape have buses from Namibia to South Africa and Zambia.

They will not let you in if you don't have an address where you are going, so be sure to have one.

Always verify the dates stamped into your passport, because there have been cases where corrupt officers stamp wrong dates to fine people for overstaying when they leave, and these fines are huge.

Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH ^IATA), located 45 minutes east of Windhoek, is the main entry point for air traffic. Since the demise of Air Namibia in 2021, connections have been limited. The only flight from Europe is carried out by Eurowings Discover from Frankfurt. Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines offer connections through Doha and Addis Ababa respectively. South African Airways and Airlink operate flights to and from South Africa, TAAG Angola Airlines operates flights to Luanda.

There are 9 commonly used border posts with neighbouring countries:

• Oshikango (Santa Clara), ☏ +264 65 26-4615, fax: +264 65 26-4616. 
• Ruacana, ☏ +264 65 27-0290, fax: +264 65 27-0010. 

• Buitepos (Mamuno), ☏ +264 62 56-0404, fax: +264 62 56-0418. On the Trans-Kalahari-Highway, connecting the B6 and A2 between Gobabis and Ghanzi 
• Mhembo (Shakawe), ☏ +264 66 25-9900, fax: +264 66 25-9902. 

• Araimsvlei (Naroegas), ☏ +264 63 28-0057, fax: +264 63 28-0058. Connecting the B3 and N14 between Karasburg and Upington 
• Verloorsdrift (Onseepkaans), ☏ +264 63 26-9134. Connecting the C10 and R358 between Karasburg and Pofadder 
• Noordoewer (Vioolsdrift), ☏ +264 63 29-7122, fax: +264 63 29-7021. Connecting the B1 and N7 between Keetmanshoop and Springbok 
• Oranjemund (Alexander Bay), ☏ +264 63 23-2756, fax: +264 63 23-3483. 

• Wenela (Sesheke), ☏ +264 66 25-3430, fax: +264 66 25-2293. 

Each foreign-registered vehicle entering Namibia should pay a CBC or entry fee and obtain the corresponding permit and tax invoice at a Road Fund Administration (RFA) office at Namibia's border posts. The amount to pay for a small passenger car is N$ 308. Information can be obtained from the RFA website. This charge will usually be refunded by car rental companies which utilise South-African registered vehicles to be operated in Namibia.

The most convenient international bus services into Namibia run from Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Johannesburg and Gaborone.

• Intercape Mainliner have buses from Windhoek to Victoria Falls, Capetown, and the Angola border.
• Monnakgotla travel have a bus two times a week from Windhoek Namibia to Gaborone Botswana.
• Insight Luxury Coaches have a bus two times a week from Windhoek to Livingstone Zambia. fares are from N$450. which is less than the fare with Intercape

The regular overnight train from Upington in South Africa to Windhoek, operated by TransNamib, was discontinued and remains out of operation as of July 2023.

Travellers are expected to produce identification if police, health inspectors or customs officials stop them. A current passport or drivers license will do. Namibia is very concerned about child trafficking. When travelling with children you need to carry their full birth certificate to prove they are yours. When only one parent is travelling, a consent letter from the other parent (alternatively a death certificate) is required, even if you are married or have sole custody.

There is a veterinary demarkation between northern Namibia and the rest of the country, at approximately the latitude of Etosha. Check Wikipedia for details. No meat may be taken from north of the line southwards. You will nevertheless be checked both ways, nobody knows why.

• Westair Aviation (ex Westwing), ☏ +264 61 372 300, fax: +264 61 232 402, info@westair.com.na. Offers both scheduled and charter flights throughout the country. 

The national railway company of Namibia, TransNamib, does not operate any scheduled passenger services as of July 2023.

Other rail services operating in the country are:

• Desert Express, ☏ +264 61 298-2600, fax: +264 61 298-2601. The Desert Express is a luxury tourist train that traverses Namibia regularly, taking tourists to such destinations as Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Etosha National Park. Buses are used to transport visitors from train stations to the various sights. 

Despite the vast distances in Namibia, most people get around by land, and not air. Namibia's primary routes (A and B roads) are tarred, and secondary routes (roads designated C or MR) are well-graded gravel. Many D roads are just about passable with a sedan, while F (farm) roads usually are not. An all-terrain vehicle is not necessary to reach the major tourist destinations except Kaokoland. However, if the country gets good rains—December or January, about once every 7 years—all bets are off.

Driving at night is very dangerous because there is a lot of wildlife on the roads. Traffic drives on the left. Namibian roads eat tires and chip windscreens. Always check your spare and inspect your tires often. If someone overtakes you on a gravel road, drive as far left as possible and slow down to avoid being hit by flying stones. The road edges can be soft, so take care.

Service stations can be a fair distance from each other, so it pays to get a map showing where they are located to plan your trip. If you are on the back roads of Namibia, it's always wise to stop and top-off your tank when you see a service station. Most service stations in towns accept credit cards, and many have ATMs available. However, in the countryside you might have to pay cash. A small tip for the attendant pumping your gasoline of N$3-5 is quite common - and you need to make this in cash. It is also necessary to carry food and water, in case you get stuck with a breakdown. On lesser travelled roads it can take days (!) for another vehicle to pass through.

Namibia has some of the worst road accident statistics in the world per head of population. The speed limit on tarred roads is 120 km/h but few drivers adhere to it. There is an unbelievable amount of head-on collisions due to overtaking at unsuitable spots. Self-driving tourists "score" mostly in the 'no other party involved' accident category, losing control of their cars for no apparent reason but speed. Driving on dirt roads is unlike any other driving experience that Europeans or North Americans can gain at home, and the 100 km/h speed limit does not mean you should, or even can, drive safely at that speed. This farmer overtaking you at breakneck speed knows every rock and every puddle on this road, has a better suitable car, and likely a few hundred thousand kilometers of experience on his belt.

Namibians often estimate the time to drive between places according to their own vast experience driving quickly on dirt (untarred) roads. Add a third and you will arrive alive with kidneys intact!

Before you reserve a car let the rental company send you a copy of its rental agreement. Most of them have many (and sometimes absolutely ridiculous) restrictions. Take your time to compare them according to your needs. Small damage to tires, windscreens, and the vehicle front is almost unavoidable on gravel roads. The rental company will charge you for that, or will try to sell expensive add-ons to the contract. When picking up your car, check that the spare wheel is of the same type as the regular wheels, and that the tools for changing it are complete. Consider comprehensive travel insurance from your home country that may cover all damage.

Blood alcohol limit in Namibia is 0.08.

• Drive South Africa (Car and 4X4 Hire), ☏ +27 21 423 6957, info@drivesouthafrica.co.za. Rental branches' pick-up and drop-off locations are offered in eight locations throughout the country, including Namibia’s airports and major cities. 
• Europcar Car Hire (Car Hire), ☏ +264 61-227103, info@europcar.co.za. 
• Kalahari Car Hire (Car hire Windhoek), 109 Daan Bekker Street, Windhoek, ☏ +264 61 252 690, iti07553@mweb.com.na. 
• Windhoek Car Hire (Windhoek Car hire), 124 Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo Street, Windhoek, ☏ +264 61 306 553, info@windhoekcarhire.com. 
• SANI Car Rental (formerly Thrifty), ☏ +264 61 220 738. Offers 24-hour car rental service. 
• AAA Car Hire, ☏ +264 811 246 286, fax: +264 61 244558, info@namibweb.com. Sedan, 4WD and bus rentals. 

There are two types of taxi services in Namibia: shared taxis and dedicated taxis, often called "radio taxis" or "call-a cab". The shared taxis have a license restricting their movement, either to within a town, or between a set of towns. Taxi fares of shared taxis are regulated by government and cannot be bargained on. However, taxi drivers might nevertheless overcharge tourists who do not know what the standard fares are. Radio taxis have no such restriction but charge between 5 and 10 times for the same ride.

Shared taxis are seldom roadworthy - any car in Namibia must pass the roadworthy test only upon change of ownership. It is not uncommon to see bonnets tied by steel wire, emergency spare tyres, broken screens, and the like. Drivers habitually jump red lights (in Namibia: "robots") and stop signs and will let passengers embark wherever they find them, including on highways and in the middle of an intersection. Be considerate to other drivers by not waving at a taxi where it is not safe to stop.

It is quite easy to get around towns by long-distance shared taxis. They are fast, sometimes scarily so, and they are cheap. Just ask around to find out where the taxi rank is (sometimes there are several taxi ranks, each one with departures to different areas of the country). None of these will take you to tourist destinations, though, as those are almost always away from the larger settlements. For taxis that operate within a town it is expected that you, instead of waving at them, point into the direction you wish to travel.

A lot of companies offer affordable shuttle services between most towns like Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Tsumeb, Otjiwarongo etc. These services are perfectly safe but more expensive than taxis.

• Intercape. South African giant Intercape operates a somewhat limited bus network in Namibia as well. International connections to South Africa exist. Click the link for a route map and booking (updated Dec 2023)

Several tour companies operate in Namibia. Each is unique in services offered but most operate with safety in mind.

• Okutembuka Safaris. A company that specialises in private guided day tours, multi-day tours or self-drive safaris.

Hitchhiking is uncommon in Namibia. While it is possible to get a hike from one town to another, the typical "See" and "Do" activities are out in the countryside. For whatever reason, most Namibians have never visited any of their tourism establishments, never seen a wild animal larger than a baboon, and never stayed in tourist accommodation. Only other tourists will go there, and they often have no space in their cars or no willingness to give you a lift. Even worse than to go from a town to a landmark, is going from one landmark to the next. Namibia as a whole is very much off the beaten track, very sparsely populated, and has very little traffic overall. You might stand days at Sossusvlei hitchhiking to the Naukluft. Let's hope you brought water and food. If you finally get a hike, the driver will typically ask for a contribution to his petrol expenses, so it is not even for free.

The currency of the country is the Namibian dollar, denoted by the symbol "$" or "N$" (ISO currency code: NAD). It is divided into 100 cents. Unlike elsewhere in Africa you cannot pay anything in US dollars or euro.

Coins of Namibia are issued in denominations of 5, 10 and 50 cents, N$1, N$5 and N$10. Banknotes of Namibia are issued in denominations of N$10, N$20, N$50, N$100 and N$200. There is also a N$30 note, but is worth more as a collector's piece than as a circulating piece.

Namibia, Lesotho, South Africa and Eswatini (Swaziland) form the Southern African Common Monetary Area (CMA) through which each country's currency is pegged 1:1 to the South African Rand (ZAR). The Namibian dollar and South African rand are legal tender in Namibia though change will usually be given in Namibian dollars.

Banks in Namibia will convert Namibian dollars for South African rand and vice versa without charge or paperwork. Since any bank or currency exchange outside Namibia (including other members of the Common Monetary Area) will charge a substantial service fee to change currency, it is advisable to make use of a Namibian Bank before leaving the country.

You should carry proof (for example, ATM receipts) that money you are taking out of the country is money that you brought into the country in the first place.

Current official exchange rates are available from the Namibian Central Bank

Automated teller machines are available in all towns. "Town" in Namibia is defined as "being independently governed", and not by size. Some towns thus are really small. Most villages do not feature an ATM. Be also advised that not everything on the Namibian map is a settlement. "Red drum" in Kunene Region is just that, a red drum, and "Sossusvlei" is a clay pan, not a village. And has no ATM, of course. It is best to use only teller machines that are manned by a security guard in uniform. Always be careful to make sure no one is watching you enter your PIN, and be vigilant about typical scams (e.g. machines that seem to eat your card and won't give it back after you enter the PIN).

The cross-border money transfer facilities are limited and expensive, with one of the poorest currency buying-and-selling rates, because the government does not want the money to be sent out of the country. There are only a few Western Union Money Transfer offices in Namibia.

Prices in shops are fixed, but prices in open markets or from street vendors are open to bargain.

When going on a self-drive tour, stock up on groceries while you are in Windhoek, or whenever you pass a town. Obtaining vegetables, coffee, butter, honey, even eggs, milk or bread, can be a struggle out in the countryside. The only items you'll get almost everywhere are canned food, pasta, oil and tea.

In most towns you will be approached by many locals to buy souvenirs, when this happens a 'no thanks' will usually suffice and they will leave you alone. It is common to haggle. Try to buy as much as possible from small shops instead of bigger ones—it's the best way to help the poor local population. Please do not buy high-quality ware like mobile phones or safari gear from mobile vendors. They often trade in contraband, and obtaining such goods may get you into trouble.

Typical souvenirs from Namibia are:

• Amarula: a liquor made from the nuts of the Makalani tree. There are several brands, and all major liquor shops store it. Around 150 N$ (January 2024)
• Arts and crafts are sold in all towns where tourists might come through, typically in the city centres and in designated areas at town entrances. Some are made on site like the wooden sculptures at the entrances of Okahandja, the jewellery in the centre of Opuwo, and the sheep and goat skins sold along the B1 road between Mariental and Keetmanshoop. Some are imported from other African countries: Most of the stone sculptures are Shona art and come from Zimbabwe, textiles come from South Africa, Tanzania or Kenya, wooden masks also are not Namibian. Don't worry too much about aircraft luggage if you buy a larger item, as airlines flying to Namibia will make an effort to transport it without extra charge.
• You will likely be approached to buy keychains made from makalani nuts — tiny coconuts of about 4 cm diameter with African animals carved in the brown shells. They do make nice souvenirs. Vendors will ask tourists' names and immediately start carving them in the nuts to press you to buy them. If you don't intend to buy one, you might consider not telling your name. The sellers can become pesky, especially if they appear in groups close to popular tourist destinations. 40-50 N$ (September 2023)
• Veldskoene (shoes from hides, alternatively shoes for the savannah, depending on translation): The traditional footwear of the Khoisan, still manufactured largely by hand, in South Africa and Namibia, and worn by many locals. Due to the use of antelope or seal leather they are very soft and will slowly adapt to any form of foot, buy a size smaller than usual. Depending on the make they can also be featherlight. Unfortunately they are not looking very good, but Namibians couldn't care less. The most sturdy veldskoene come with soles made from car tyres; You will not walk through them in a lifetime! This type can be bought from a semi-industrialised South African company ("Strassbergers") in all agricultural suppliers (Agra, Agrimark, Metro) but also from street vendors who have someone in the family to make them by hand. You can order veldskoene to be custom-made at the beginning of your holidays, for instance in Windhoek's Post Street Mall, and pick them up before you head home again. 500-800 N$ (January 2024)

Namibia is home to some of the most productive diamond mines in the world, and since all mines are owned by a government-de Beers partnership, prices in Namibia are generally quite lower than in the Western world, where monopolies control the prices. Most large towns in Namibia have stores that sell diamonds.

Possession of uncut diamonds is illegal in Namibia and carries lengthy jail terms. Any attempt to sell them to you is likely a rip-off, anyway.

Namibians love camping and the outdoors. Near every tourist attraction you will find several camp sites, from very simple, communally run places on sand that just have water and a dry toilet (about 100 N$ per person) to private park-like settings with lush grass, power sockets and a sink per camping spot, shade, and private WCs (about 200 N$ per person). In the national parks there are places without any amenities where you even have to bring water. These often need a 4x4 to get to, and you have to buy a permit in advance which is more expensive than staying at the best camp sites in the country. The chance to get caught without a permit is small but if they get you they will impose a 7.800 N$ fine—per person! If you spot a nice place to camp next to the road, check if there is a fence. If there's a fence then that's a farm. Farms are private properties. Don't enter a farm without notifying the farmer and asking for permission. Wild camping is allowed (but not very safe, luxurious or pleasant) on the side of the road between the banks and the farm fence, or in the areas that are neither commercial farms nor protected areas.

There are a few dormitories and hostels, but only in the older and larger towns. Neither hitchhiking nor backpacking are very common among tourists.

Every tourism establishment that thinks it offers quality will call itself a lodge. It means that besides a roof over your head there are additional offerings like a restaurant, a pool, game drives, sports activities, hunting, and more. Originally far away from urban centres, even ordinary B&Bs will have the name 'lodge' today.

1. The traditional lodges are for tourists with deep pockets. Their prices typically include all meals, a game drive, sundowner excursion with drinks, entertainment by local cultural groups, and so on. Many offer supreme privacy and luxury. These lodges, see Serra Cafema for an example, will tell their rates only upon request and charge anything between 3,000 N$ and 15,000 N$ pppn—The more inaccessible the higher the price, with the most expensive places those to which there is not even a 4x4 track, and a fly-in the only option.
2. The new lodges are those accommodation establishments that want to offer more than a bed and a breakfast. While indeed a bit more expensive than a B&B, many are worth visiting and do return value. Expect to pay between 800 N$ and 2,500 N$ pppn, activities not included. For an example, see Okambara Elephant Lodge or Erindi Old Traders' Lodge.

As a rule, if a lodge also offers a campsite, it is not ridiculously expensive. Apparently the wealthy do not like to mingle too much with dusty people pitching tents.

Prices are often quoted per-person rather than per-room. Of course you'll find a double room cheaper per person than single occupancy.

Shorts and trousers are worn by Namibians, so no one is offended if tourists dress in that style, too. Generally a dress that is overly safari-like is only appropriate if you are indeed on safari. Everywhere else it will earn you anything from mild smiles to outright laughter, not to mention that such attire screams "tourist". Black Namibians are sometimes dressed very formally, also outside working hours, while some white Namibians are the exact opposite. So on one hand you may see patrons in a shebeen donning dinner dress or black suit while on the other, managers or owners of fairly large businesses walking about with shorts and thick, knee-high socks, to prevent snakes from biting their lower legs, even in the capital where there are few snakes.

For festivities and church service everyone is dressed formally or traditionally. The traditional dresses of the women originate from the early colonial era and can look funny and out of place today. Don't laugh, culture is very important in Namibia.

Race is a common part of Namibian discourse and Namibians refer to the race of others more frequently than travellers may expect. Because of apartheid, race is an issue in many spheres of life, so it comes up a lot. In spite of this, the various races do get along well in Namibia, and it is fairly uncommon to find racial tensions flaring. Even the various past conflicts were about cattle and land, not race.

Those who are more accustomed to North American racial terminology should understand that words that are familiar to them have different meanings in Namibia and South Africa, and the rules for what terms are polite or not are different. If in doubt, call everyone 'Namibians'.

• Coloured is a term for people of mixed ancestry, those with a skin colour between white and black. Don't call a black person 'coloured' in Namibia, as it may imply a whitewashing of one's ethnic identity.
• Baster (bastard) is the term for the coloured people at Rehoboth. They are proud to be Basters, but don't call anyone else (particularly other coloureds) that way.
• Black are Namibians of solely, or mostly, African ancestry—those with darker skin, though some may have complexions similar to those of 'coloured Namibians'. It is not a derogatory term. African people in Namibia are proud to be black.
• White are the descendents of various European immigrants. Some have lived in Africa for centuries, others recently entered. While it is generally not problematic to call someone 'white', there is a certain undertone of 'You do not belong here'.
• There is now also a sizeable Chinese community in Namibia, about 2% of the population. Namibians normally refer to anyone visibly Asian as "Chinese" including Japanese, Korean, Kazakh, Vietnamese, or any of the other myriad of Asian ethnicities which are not Chinese. You may try to explain the racial differences, however, your three weeks of holidays will likely not be sufficient time to convince most Namibians to drop the habit.

Namibians have an ambivalent attitude towards gays and lesbians. Sexual intercourse between men is illegal, and there are no laws supporting LGBT rights. In the early 2000s there were a few incidents of discrimination, harassment and violence, along the statement that homosexuality is "un-African". The current situation is more like "leave them alone". The so-called Sodomy Law has never been enforced. As not many Namibians discuss sexuality with strangers, outing yourself for no apparent reason will be perceived as odd. When booking a room together it may be wise not to disclose that you are married.

On the other hand, homosexuality is really common, and in many bars you'll find same-sex couples. Showing affection in public is generally rare and happens only in bars and nightclubs when people are drunk. Everywhere else it is expected that it happens in private, even more so for same-sex couples.

Namibia's country code is 264. Each city or region has a two-digit area code. When calling long distance within Namibia, prefix the area code with a '0'. There are still a few pay phone booths around the country but they are no longer maintained. When making an international call from a phone booth, bring plenty of coins. Such calls are still expensive in Namibia, and it requires some dexterity to stuff coins in fast enough to not be cut off.

Mobile phones are very common in Namibia. There are two cell phone providers in Namibia, MTC and Telecom. Overall, MTC offers better coverage for tourists. Coverage is complete in all towns and on the major highways. On minor roads and in the countryside you won't have reception, despite both providers advertising near-complete coverage. All major tourist destinations are covered by MTC. Telecom has better coverage in villages that are not on tourist routes. If you are travelling near the borders, be aware that the foreign towers are usually stronger, and your phone will connect to these, causing additional charges.

A new SIM card costs N$10 or less and has N$5 of credit on it. Unlike in South Africa you don't need a passport to register them (January 2020) but the legislation to make this compulsory is coming soon. Bundles are available at N$30-50 and give several hundred SMSs, 100 call minutes or more, and 1-10 GiB of data. These bulk options, called "Away" for MTC and "Jiva" for Telecom, are very common and a lot cheaper than pure data packages. However, they all expire after a week.

MTC SIM cards need to be activated by phoning or texting to them. Data usage needs to be activated in an official outlet of the provider, only available in larger towns and at the airport. Recharge vouchers are available everywhere for MTC. Only few vendors stock Telecom vouchers, buy them in advance with the SIM card. When recharging, 15% tax is deducted; a N$30 voucher will give you N$26.09 credit, not N$30.

The international airport and virtually every restaurant, bar, B&B and camp site provide free Wi-Fi. However, not all of Namibia is covered by mobile towers. Far away from both major highways (A and B roads) and larger settlements, there is no reception. The tourist establishments in these remote areas have themselves no Internet access, and can thus not provide it to you. Some fill the coverage gap by providing satellite Internet, but this is by no means guaranteed.

Voice over IP is illegal in Namibia. Private persons will not be prosecuted for it, but there have been some prosecutions for people selling the service. You will not find shops offering cheap international calls, and you will not be allowed to Skype or similar from an Internet Cafe.