Your best source of information will be the people that you meet. Meanwhile, if you're just starting to get to grips with the country, then begin at the Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) reservations office, on the corner of John Meinert and Moltke streets; tel: 061 236975–8; fax: 061 224900; email: reservations@
mweb.com.na or nwr@mweb.com.na; web: www.namibiawildliferesorts.com. This is where you book accommodation in the national parks, and get (limited) information about them. It is open Mon–Fri 08.00–17.00, but you can also book by fax, email or phone. Credit cards are accepted. To book a campsite, you need to pay a deposit of 10%, with the balance payable on arrival at the site. Alternatively, you can take a chance and turn up at campsites – if there's space, you can pay direct.

Continue on down Independence Avenue. On your left is the main Namib i Tourism Board (tel/fax: 061 2842360/2842364; email: tourism@mweb.com.na; web: www.tourism.com.na; open Mon–Fri, 08.00–17.00), where you can pick up a free map and accommodation guide. Further on there are several private travel agents, with varying quantities of useful information and help.

For information on Windhoek itself, and the surrounding area, or to find a guide to take you off the beaten track, check out the excellent tourist information bureau for the city in the centre of Post Street Mall (PO Box 59; tel: 061 290 2092/2058; fax: 061 290 2203/2546; email: maj@windhoekcc.org.na; web: www.windhoekcc.org). The office is open Mon–Fri, 07.30–16.30.

There is a comprehensive listing of Windhoek's travel agents in the current Accommodation Guide for Tourists, available free at airports and Namib i offices. In the most recent edition there were 42 tour operators listed, but it is unlikely to be comprehensive, with old ones ceasing to trade and new ones starting up with alarming regularity.

Most arrangements are best made as far in advance as possible. Unless you are travelling independently and camping everywhere, this usually means booking with a good specialist operator before you leave. This will also give you added consumer protection, and recourse from home if things go wrong. However, if you are in Windhoek, and need to arrange something on the spot, then try to get a personal recommendation of a good local company. Failing that, try one of the following general agents:

African Extravaganza
corner of Rossini and John Meinert St, PO Box 22028, Windhoek; tel: 061 263082/3/6; fax: 061 215356; email: afex@afex.com.na; web:www.natron.net/afex

Ondese Travel & Safaris
PO Box 6196, Windhoek; tel: 061 220876; fax; 061 239700
Namib Travel Shop/Wilderness Safaris PO Box 6850, Windhoek; tel: 061 274500; fax: 061 239455; email: info@nts.com.na; web: www.wilderness-safaris.com

Namibia Safari Centre
PO Box 20498, Windhoek; tel: 061 251212; fax: 061 251212
Sand Rose PO Box 40263, Windhoek; tel: 061 245255; fax: 061 245454; email: sandrose@sandrose.com.na; web: www.sandrose.com.na

Sense of Africa
PO Box 2058, Prosperita, Windhoek; tel: 061 275300; fax: 061 263417; email: Lleach@sense-of-africa.com.na; web: www.sense-of-africa.com

Tourist Junction
40 Fidel Castro (Peter Müller) St, Windhoek; tel: 061 231246; fax: 061 231703; email: info.ritztours@galileosa.co.za

For budget options, which for two or three people may work out no more expensive than self-drive, the following are recommended:

Cardboard Box Travel Shop
15 Johann Albrecht St; PO Box 5142, Windhoek; tel: 061 256580; fax: 061 256581; email: namibia@bigfoot.com; web: www.namibia.addr.com/travel

Chameleon Safaris
22 Wagner St, Windhoek West, PO Box 6107, Windhoek; tel: 061 247668; email: chamnam@chameleon.com.na or info@chameleon.com.na; web: www.chameleonsafaris.com. Small-group adventure camping safaris, from 3 to 18 days, with weekly departures.

Crazy Kudu
POBox 99031, Windhoek; tel: 061 222636; fax: 061 255074; email: namibia.safaris@crazykudu.com; web: www.crazykudu.com

Wild Dog
PO Box 26188, Windhoek; tel: 061 257642; fax: 061 240802; email: info@wilddog-safaris.com; web: www.wilddog-safaris.com