И снова Намибия!

[Victor C]

Надо у Андрея знамя попросить.
Мини Астрофест на Тропике Козерога – это круто!

[Б.Б.]

Удачи!

[Тот самый Кеплер]

Знакомимся с информацией


Dear Andrey

With only a few more days before you arrive in Namibia, we've compiled some additional travel tips so you know what to expect. A couple of important items which were already mentioned in our initial pre-departure email have been repeated.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Police / all emergencies - 10111
(for cell phones you will need to dial the area code before this number - 061 10111 for Windhoek, 067 10111 for most of northern Namibia, 063 10111 for most of southern Namibia, 064 10111 for central coastal region)

Windhoek City Police - (061) 302302
Tend to be more efficient than the standard police if involved in an incident in Windhoek.

Ambulance
International SOS Medical Emergency Services - 081 707 or (061) 230505
EMED Rescue 24 - 081 924 or (061) 2999924

Cell phone users can dial 112 which connects you to the cell phone companies' call centre who will then direct you to the appropriate emergency service.

Vehicle Breakdown
Call your rental company.

The Cardboard Box Travel Shop
Office Hours: (061) 256580 / 2 / 3
Emergency Number: 081 4052442
(If for some reason the emergency number is not reachable and it is definitely an emergency, you can call 081 2445756)

CURRENCY & BANKING

    It is adviseable to have some local currency before you arrive in Namibia. As stated in the first pre-departure email, South African Rand can be purchased at most forex outlets.
    Credit cards are accepted at most supermarkets, restaurants and accommodation establishments in urban Namibia (mainly Visa and Mastercard) but outlets in rural areas are more likely to only accept cash payment. American Express is not widely accepted.
    Credit cards can NOT be used to buy petrol.
    Banks can exchange travellers cheques into N$ but this will attract commission. Only a few establishments accept travellers cheques, so its best to cash some travellers cheques whenever you find a bank. Larger Namibian hotels will exchange money but rates are generally not favourable.
    Banks are open from 09.00-15.30 on weekdays and from 09.00-11.00 on Saturdays.

INSURANCE

This is a reminder that we strongly recommend that travellers to Namibia take out comprehensive travel insurance covering delays, cancellations, lost luggage, medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation. Many tour companies require you to furnish proof of insurance coverage before you will be allowed to embark on a tour.

There are a wide range of travel insurance providers but many of our clients have found the policies supplied by World Nomads & Worldwide Travel Insurance offer excellent coverage. if you are renting a car we encourage you to consider purchasing rental specific insurance for instance excess reimbursement insurance.

PROBLEMS WHILE TRAVELLING

Although we pride ourselves on planning hassle free trips we are well aware that occasionally things do not go according to plan. If you do experience any problems while in travelling please contact us and we will do our utmost to remedy the situation.

TIMES

April until 1st Sunday of the month
Sunrise: 07.00
Sunset: 18.50
April after 1st Sunday of the month
Sunrise: 06.00 - 06.10
Sunset: 17.50 - 17.30

National Parks:
Open at sunrise
Close at sunset
NB You must arrive before sunset if you have a booking at a national park resort.

Time Zone:
+2 UTC/GMT until 1st Sunday of April
+1 UTC/GMT after 1st Sunday of April

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

March / April - Good Friday, Easter Sunday & Easter Monday

CLIMATE

April is the end of the rainy season and the average rainfall is much less than in February and March. Game viewing is still not at its best due to larger amounts of surface water. Daytime temperatures are starting to cool off, evenings are cooler but still pleasant. Due to the effects of the Atlantic Ocean, the coast has more stable temperatures (in the low 20s) and very little chance of rain.

Expected max temp: 25-30C
Expected min temp: 12-15C

WORKING HOURS

    Normal office hours are 08.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00, with an hour lunch break.
    Shops open on Saturday mornings (08.00-13.00) but are closed on Saturday afternoons. Larger supermarkets generally remain open until 19.00 on weekdays and are open all day on Saturdays and Sundays.
    Most petrol stations offer 24 hour service.

SAFETY

Theft is not a major problem in Namibia, but in a country with very high unemployment rates and a great deal of financial inequality, tourists often make easy targets. However by following some simple precautions and being aware of your surroundings you should be able to minimise your chances of being a victim.

    Be careful in urban areas and do not leave anything visible in an unattended vehicle.
    Pick pocketing occurs in the towns and cities but if you do not carry large day packs or camera bags with you and are aware of other people around you, the risk is minimised.
    Muggings, when they occur, do not normally include violence. Do not resist if someone points a knife at you (unless you have that black belt in karate).
    Although still rare, card fraud and cloning has been reported over the last few years. Take the normal precautions.
    Trust local advice and don't be afraid to ask people at your accommodation establishment. However it is worth remembering that southern Africans can be a little paranoid when it comes to crime and love to regale visitors with horror stories.

HEALTH

On the whole Namibia is a very healthy country and it is unlikely you will have any health issues while travelling here. However it is always worth taking precautions, so here is some information which may help.

    Malaria effects the north of Namibia and prophylaxis should be taken particularly during the summer months (raining season). The rest of the Namibia poses practically no risk at all. Your doctor should advise you on the best prophylaxis for the area of travel and your personal requirements.
    Major private hospitals are of a good standard with clean and safe facilities. This really only includes Windhoek and Swakopmund.
    Check out MD Travel Health for further details.

WATER

    Tap water is normally drinkable but in larger towns and cities such as Windhoek, it is recycled so can taste quite chlorinated.
    Most lodges and guest farms in rural areas use bore hole water which is clean and good to drink (often better than bottled water). That said many people prefer to drink bottled water which is obtainable at supermarkets around the country.
    Namibia is a desert and water is precious. Please use water sparingly - take short shower and turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.

ELECTRICITY

    We use 220 volt electricity.
    Mains sockets have three round-pin holes but a lot of appliances use the smaller 2-pin plugs which require an adaptor (readily available from shops). US-made appliances may need a transformer.
    Urban areas have a constant supply of electricity but more rural areas tend to run off generators &/or solar panels. This will often mean that power is restricted. In these cases it is not practical to use some appliances such as hairdryers as they trip the system.

TIPPING

To be brutally honest the service you will receive in much of Namibia leaves a fair deal to be desired, often falling below internationally accepted standards. Generally poor service is a result of poor training and also a complete misunderstanding of what is actually expected (imagine trying to be a waiter if you have never actually eaten in a restaurant). Having said this, there are certain standard practices:

    10% tip is customary in restaurants. If the waiter has smiled and been helpful this should readily be increased.
    Tipping in bars is uncommon but appreciated.
    Porters and anyone who packs & carries your bags at a supermarket should be rewarded with a good fistful of loose change (N$3-10).
    In Windhoek and a few other towns, car guards are available who will look after your vehicle - it's worth the investment. Give them around N$5 per hour but not less than N$2.

CELL PHONE

Namibia has a GSM 900-cell phone network which covers most cities, towns and major roads. For peace of mind have your phone activated to roam in Namibia, rent a local phone or if you have an unlocked phone the cheapest option is to buy a local SIM card. Check out MTC's rough guide to cell phone coverage in Namibia - we also have a list of companies with cell roaming agreements with Namibia
Mobile phone users may call 112 in an emergency and you will be connected to the appropriate service.
PARK ENTRANCE FEES

Both day visitors & those staying at accommodation within national parks are required to pay a daily entrance fee. This is payable at the park office and your receipt will be checked at the gate prior to leaving the park.

Park entrance fees can be found by visiting this link although fees have been known to change without prior notice - so this should only be used as a guideline (although it should also be noted that changes occur very seldom - and entrance fees often remain constant for several years).

GAME DRIVING

The chances are that at some point during your time in Namibia you are goin gto go on a game drive. To discover how to maximise your sightings have a look at out game driving guide
VAT & VAT REFUNDS

Most items and services attract 15% VAT, visitors to Namibia can reclaim VAT on any goods which the export from the country (VAT can not be reclaimed on services such as hotels or rental cars OR on goods which are consumed within Namibia). VAT refunds can be done at Hosea Kutako International Airport (Windhoek), Ariamsvlei border post and Noordoewer border post.

To qualify for a VAT refund, the goods and the valid tax invoices must be shown to a customs official and an official of the VAT refund administration. For this reason it is not a good idea to pack or wrap items on which you intend to claim back VAT - as they will need to be unpacked / unwrapped to be shown to the relevant officials

    VAT refunds are only made if the amount of refundable VAT is more than N$ 250
    Inland Revenue decides on the value of cheques that may be issued before departure. If the VAT refund is more than that amount the cheque will be posted.
    Original tax invoices must be presented.

DRIVING

Namibia's roads will take you to areas of breathtaking beauty and splendour. However, they are also notoriously dangerous, usually because travellers are unfamiliar with the road conditions. Lots of tourists are seriously injured each year because they lose control of their vehicle.

We do not intend to give you driving lessons. Instead we will detail some of the issues you should be aware of, and rely on you to be sensible.

    The combination of gravel and excessive speed is nearly always the reason tourists have accidents. This is often because a lot of our gravel roads are in very good condition and therefore it is easy to exceed a sensible speed. However, if you miscalculate a corner or an animal runs out, it is incredibly easy to lose control and roll your vehicle.
    The speed limit is 120 km/h on tarred roads and 80 km/h on gravel. However, especially on less maintained gravel roads, it is often advisable to keep below the limit.
    We drive on the left. A number of people have not remembered this fact after collecting their vehicle from the airport and after a long, tiring flight!
    Do not drive in the dark. It is much more likely that animals will wander across the road at night. Also it is more difficult to read the road conditions.
    On gravel it is better to stay in the tracks created by other traffic. If you need to cross out of these tracks it is advisable to slow down as they tend to create a 'railroad' effect.
    In wet conditions be extra careful and keep a good distance from other vehicles. Most Namibians are not used to driving in the rain and if it has been dry for any length of time, the first rains make tarred roads very slippery.
    Many people think that the road north of Swakopmund (C34) is tarred but in fact it is a salt road. This is fine if the weather is sunny and dry but if there is moisture in the air, it can be slippery.
    Please do not leave valuables on display in your vehicle, especially if you are in towns. At petrol stations it is advisable that someone stays with the vehicle or make sure it is locked.
    As distances between towns are considerable make sure that you don’t run out of petrol and drinking water.
    Please do not throw burning cigarette butts out of the car window due to the risk of bush fires.
    Please do not drive off-road unless on a clearly marked track - Namibia has a very delicate eco-system and off-road driving can be very harmful to this fragile environment.
    Drivers must be in possession of a valid driving license at all times.
    It is a legal requirement to wear a seat belt.
    It is illegal to use cellular phones whilst driving.
    Roadblocks are part of driving in Namibia, especially during the holiday periods. The officers in charge tend to respond better if addressed in a friendly and polite manner.
    If you are fined for infringing any driving regulations, you will be issued with a fine that has to be paid at a local police station. Namibia does not have spot fines.

Cross Border Requirements

Unfortunately it is hard to make this 100% accurate as none of the embassies / road authorities will provide information to verify what they require. Below is therefore only a guideline.

    The car needs to have a country sticker indicating where it is registered. For most vehicles going from Namibia into neighboring countries this will mean having a 'NAM' sticker. Some people have been turned away at border posts if this is not displayed so it's important to make sure the vehilce has one.
    Private vehicles need to have the vehicle registeration papers. For rental vehicles you need to have a letter of authorisation from the rental company that includes the vehicle registration number and engine number.
    Make sure you check border post operating times as some are not 24hrs.

Different countries have different border charges. Below is a guide to these based on the information available to us. Also included are a few other tips for each country.

South Africa
- No costs

Botswana
- 'Wheel' Tax payable on all vehicles passing through Botswana.
- Third party insurance
- No fresh meat, fish or dairy products may cross the Botswana border without a permit. There are regular veterinary check points to make sure that this is not contravened.
- No firewood may be taken across the border in either direction.
- Botswana issues spot fines and these need to be paid in Pula. There are often speed traps along the main routes.

Zambia
- Third party insurance
- Carbon Emission Tax
Once you have obtained these, you should receive a Customs Importation Permit which should be valid for up to 30 days. Check that the number of days you require is covered otherwise you can incur heavy penalties.
- Road Toll Fee (payable in US$ only)
- Council Levy. This is minimal and taken at the Katima Mulilo border post and the one at Kazungula.

Zimbabwe
- Road Access
- Carbon Tax
- Third party insurance
Few rental companies allow their vehicles into Zimbabwe due to issues with getting insurance coverage.

FINALLY

We will be sending you a feedback form five days after your last booking. This is a valuable source of information for us and we hope that you will spare a few moments of your time to let us know how your trip went, the highlights and if applicable, where improvements might be made.

In the meantime, we hope you have a wonderful trip to Namibia.

regards
The Cardboard Box Team

[Alexander]

Ну что, товарищи, доброго пути вам, удачи и успеха! Возьмите от Африки по максимуму.

[Тот самый Кеплер]

Саша, спасибо! 

[Opossum]

желаю отмстить за хмурь майданакскую! В этот раз должно быть много-много неба!

[Юрий Торопин]

"заправлены в планшеты космические карты"...

...так вот что они, оказывается,
имели в виду 50 лет назад,
когда о планшетниках ещё и не было слышно

[Garmisch]

"заправлены в планшеты космические карты"...

Точно  Всем удачи, чистого неба и потрясающих фотографий ! Будем ждать отчета о поездке

[Тот самый Кеплер]

Ну, в общем, мы поехали 

[Андрей Остапенко]

Тотальной удачи!!

[Б.Б.]

Присоеденяюсь к пожеланиям!

[VFP]

И чтоб все астрожелезо отработало без сбоев!

[Lancelot]

Удачной поездки! Увидеть тень от Млечного Пути!
Ну и кучу астрофоток, естественно

[Тот самый Кеплер]

Привет из Намибии!

[Тот самый Кеплер]

Кеплер и НЛО (фата моргана, то бишь мираж)

[Тот самый Кеплер]

Лева

[Garmisch]

С приездом в астрономический рай ! Как долетели ? Уже наблюдаете ?

[Тот самый Кеплер]

Долетели хорошо, в Этоше полный улет.
Настраиваемся. Лакируем.

[Garmisch]

Всем большой привет и удачи !

[Юрий Торопин]

Oryx, символ Намибии, немного расслабился

тут же ему "объяснили", что он немного "не прав"

как думаете, он (см. ниже) схватил его за задницу - или нет?


Nikon D7000 + 200/f2 + x2 extender, Etosha safary park, Namibia