CITIES TO SEE:

• Windhoek -- Namibia's capital and largest city.
• Keetmanshoop -- Small town on the rail lines and highway, jumping off point for treks in the Fish River Canyon.
• Lüderitz -- Colonial-era German coastal town.
• Ondangwa and Oshakati -- Twin towns in the heart of Owamboland, northern Namibia.
• Swakopmund -- Coastal town, a mecca for Namibians on holiday.
• Tsumeb -- Mining town east of Etosha.
• Tsumkwe -- rural desert town surrounded by San (Bushmen) villages.
• Walvis Bay -- Desert sports.
• Warmquelle

GETTING AROUND:

BY ROAD:
Despite the vast distances in Namibia, most people get around by land, and not air. Namibia's roads are very good, with primary routes paved, and secondary routes of well-graded gravel. An all-wheel drive vehicle is not necessary except on tertiary roads and the Skeleton Coast. Driving at night is very dangerous because there is a lot of wildlife on the roads. Traffic drives on the left. It is quite easy to get around using combies (shared or long-distance taxis). 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). Drivers are not in the habit of overcharging foreigners.

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

BY RAIL:
The national railway company of Namibia, TransNamib, operates trains (and buses) to destinations all over Namibia and also into South Africa via their StarLine passenger service. Some routes available are

  Windhoek-Otjiwarongo-Tsumeb
  Windhoek-Gobabis
  Windhoek-Swakopmund-Walvis Bay
  Windhoek-Keetmanshoop-Upington (South Africa)
  Walvis Bay-Swakopmund-Tsumeb

Passengers are not accommodated on dedicated trains in Namibia, apart from the luxury Desert Expres tourist train . The StarLine scheduled service described above conveys passengers via special coaches hooked on the back of freight trains. These passenger coaches offer comfortable airline-style seating with air-conditioning and (sometimes) video entertainment. Vending machines provide refreshments on long journeys.

For StarLine reservations :
  Phone             +264 61 298 2032       

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.

For Desert Express reservations :
  Phone             +264 61 298 2600       


CURRENCY:
The currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD) which is pegged 1:1 to the South African Rand (ZAR). Either can be used in Namibia; change will usually be given in Namibian Dollars. Bank Windhoek in downtown Windhoek (and probably other branches throughout the country) will change NAD to ZAR without any charge or paperwork hassles. Since any bank or currency exchange outside Namibia (including in South Africa) will charge a service fee or change at a highly unfavorable rate (NAD may only trade at 7:10 when changed into Rand in South Africa), it is advisable to make use of the Bank Windhoek service before leaving the country. It is also advisable to 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, just in case.

STAY SAFE:
Namibia is a peaceful country and is not involved in any wars. With the end of the Angolan civil war in May 2002, the violence that spilled over into north-eastern Namibia is no longer an issue. Namibia has relatively high crime rate. See the warning for ATMs above, in the Buy section. For men it is not prudent to walk or ride taxis alone in Windhoek or Oshakati after midnight. For women, it is not prudent after 9pm. Pickpockets can be a problem. All these warnings should be taken in context, because the threat is not as serious as it might sound. If you are alert and take some common sense precautions then you will have no problems. Travellers should have no problem visiting the townships, though it's advisable not to visit the townships alone unless you're familiar with the area. If you have been travelling in Southern Africa for a few months, you probably know what you're doing. Namibia has a serious problem with driving under the influence of alcohol. The problem is aggravated because most people don't consider it a problem. When driving/walking on weekend evenings, be extra alert. The HIV infection rate in Namibia is about 25%. Do not have unprotected sex!