Documents

Currently all visitors require a passport which is valid for at least six months after they are due to leave, and an onward ticket of some sort. In practice, the second requirement is rarely even considered if you look neat, respectable and fairly affluent.

Currently, if you are a national of one of the following countries, you do not need a visa to enter Namibia: Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mozambique, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia and the CIS, Scandinavian countries, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, UK, USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

That said, it is always best to check with your local Namibian embassy or high commission before you travel. If you have difficulties in your home country, contact the Ministry of Home Affairs in Windhoek on the corner of Independence Av and Kasino St (P Bag 13200, Windhoek; tel: 061 292 9111).

The maximum tourist visa is 90 days, but this can be easily extended by application in Windhoek. You will then probably be required to show proof of the 'means to leave', like an onward air ticket, a credit card, or sufficient funds of your own. The current cost of a tourist or business visa is N$138.

Namibian embassies and high commissions

Namibia's diplomatic representatives overseas include:

Angola
Rua Dos Coqueiros, PO Box 953, Luanda; tel: (244) 2 395483; fax: (244) 2 339234; email: embnam@netangola.com

Belgium
Av de Tervuren 454, B1150 Bruxelles; tel: (32) 2 771 1410; fax: (32) 2 771 9689; email: nam.emb@brutele.be

Botswana
PO Box 987, 2nd Floor, Debswana House, Gaborone; tel: (267) 390 2181; fax: (267) 390 2248; email: nbc.gabs@info.bw

France
80 Av Foch, 17 Square de l'Avenue Foch, Paris 75016; tel: (33) 1 4417 3265; fax: (33) 1 4417 3273; email: namparis@club-internet.fr

Germany
5 Wichmannstrasse, 10787 Berlin; tel: (49) 30 254 0950; fax: (49) 30 254 09555

Russia
2nd Kazachy Lane, House No 7, Moscow; tel: (7) 95 230 3275; fax: (7) 95 230 2274; email: namibemb@online.ru

South Africa
PO Box 29806, Sunnyside 0132, 702 Church St, Arcadia, Pretoria; tel: (27) 12 483 9100; fax: (27) 12 344 2998; email: secretary@namibia.org.za

Sweden
Luntmakargatan 86–88, PO Box 26042, 111 22 Stockholm; tel: (46) 8 612 7788; fax: (46) 8 612 6655

UK
6 Chandos St, London W1N 0LQ; tel: (44) 20 7636 6244; fax: (44) 20 7637 5694; email: namibia-highcomm@btconnect.com

USA
1605 New Hampshire Av NW, Washington DC 20009; tel: (1) 202 986 0540; fax: (1) 202 986 0443; email: embnamibia@aol.com

Zambia
30A Mutende Rd, PO Box 30577, Woodlands, Lusaka; tel: (260) 1 260407/8; fax: (260) 1 263858; email: namibia@coppernet.zm

Zimbabwe
31A Lincoln Rd, Avondale, Harare; tel: (263) 4 885841; fax: (263) 4 885800; email: namhighcom@primenet.co.zw

Imports and exports

Being a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) means that there are few restrictions between Namibia and either Botswana or South Africa. If you wish to export animal products, including skins or legally culled ivory, make sure you obtain a certificate confirming the origin of every item bought. Remember: even with such a certificate, the international CITES convention prohibits the movement of some things across international borders. Do consider the ethics of buying any animal products that might be covered by CITES.