Everyday practical information for Namibia

Time

• Namibia is on UTC+2 all year. It stopped changing the clocks in 2017, so the offset from Europe shifts when Europe changes and Namibia does not.

Power

• 220 to 240 V, and the socket is a large round three pin. Namibia uses type D and type M, the South African pattern. A UK or European plug will not fit, and a generic travel adapter often will not either.
• Buy the adapter before you go or in Windhoek, not at a lodge in the desert.

Distances run the day

• Infrastructure outside the towns is thin. Fuel stations, hotels and restaurants are sparse, so the day is planned around where the next fuel is, not the next sight.
• Gravel is 80% of the network and 80 km/h is the sensible ceiling on it. A 300 km leg is a half-day, not three hours.
• Take water, food, fuel and an emergency kit on anything remote, and tell someone where you are going.

Seasons

• The dry season runs April to October, the rainy season November to March. Unpaved roads can become impassable in the rains.
• Veld fires are common in the dry season, and drought is severe and recurring.

The everyday rhythm

• Banks: about 09:00 to 15:30 on weekdays, 09:00 to 11:00 on Saturday.
• Driving is on the left, and roadblocks and mobile police checkpoints are routine. Be prepared to show ID and be polite.
• Dress conservatively and behave discreetly, particularly outside Windhoek and Swakopmund.
• Use water sparingly. It is a scarce commodity here and both the Tourism Board and the authorities say so.