Namibia
Republic of Namibia
Southern Africa · NAM
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Namibia
Namibia is one of Africa's best self-drive countries for travelers who want desert scale, strange geology, and long scenic stretches that are as important as the individual stops. First visits are usually strongest as Windhoek plus Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, and Etosha, with anything beyond that treated as a deliberate extension.
Popular For
Things To See
- Sossusvlei
- Etosha National Park
- Swakopmund
- Skeleton Coast
- Damaraland
- Fish River Canyon
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Driving days are often longer than they look on the map, so the route needs fewer bases than many first drafts assume.
- Namibia works especially well for travelers comfortable with quiet roads, lodge stops, and scenery-led days.
- If you add both the deep south and the Caprivi, the trip quickly turns into a much bigger commitment.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Namibia.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Namibia Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Namibia.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Windhoek
- Population
- 3,022,401
- Area
- 825,615 km²
- Region
- Southern Africa
Languages
- Afrikaans
- German
- English
- Herero
- Khoekhoe
- Kwangali
- Lozi
- Ndonga
- Tswana
Currency
Namibian dollar ($)
NAD
South African rand (R)
ZAR
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
37.8
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 37.8
- Restaurants
- 29.6
- Rent
- 14.2
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Windhoek (22.57°S, 17.08°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
15/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 4/100
- Lived safety
- 38/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.665
Medium human development
- 5-year change
- +0.023
- 10-year change
- +0.049
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 1.011
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.448
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.611
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (2)
- 🌿
Namib Sand Sea
Inscribed 2013
- 🏛️
Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes
Inscribed 2007
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 39.9%
- Forest cover
- 7.8%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 15
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 33
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
33/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
75/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Updated to include a risk indicator for health and updates to crime. Exercise increased caution in Namibia due to crime and health risks. Country Summary: Potentially violent crimes, such as home invasions, break-ins, muggings, and “smash and grabs” from vehicles stopped at intersections, parked near common tourist areas, or located in shopping mall parking lots are increasingly common. Crimes of opportunity, primarily the theft of money, cell phones, and personal property, are common. Namibia is sparsely-populated and many visitors travel to remote areas far from emergency services and medical facilities. Health facilities are limited and may not have adequate supplies of basic medications, especially outside of large cities. Read the Country Information Page for additional information on travel to Namibia. If you decide to travel to Namibia: Avoid walking alone, especially after dark. Do not display large amounts of cash or other valuables. Keep car doors locked and windows shut at all times. Be cautious of people appearing to request assistance by the side of the road. Use ATMs located in well-lit public places or inside a bank or other business and be cautious of anyone offering assistance in using the ATM. Always carry a copy of your U.S. passport and Namibian visa or entry stamp (if applicable). Keep original documents in a secure location. While travel medical insurance is recommended for all travelers, local medical facilities are likely to require full payment in cash at the time of service and may otherwise deny care. Travelers to Namibia should have medical evacuation insurance. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter. Review the Country Security Report for Namibia. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data