Safety in Namibia

The general picture: Namibia counts as one of the calmest countries on the continent for independent travel. People are broadly friendly and street crime in tourist areas stays low.

Town risks: In busy parts of Windhoek petty theft and bag snatching happen to distracted visitors. Never leave bags or electronics visible in a parked car even for a minute, because it invites a smashed window.

Wild animals: In the national parks getting out of your vehicle outside designated areas is absolutely forbidden. Predators hide expertly in the grass, and elephants can turn very aggressive if startled.

Health: Drink bottled water, though tap water in the major towns is considered reasonably clean. Desert sun is merciless, so factor 50+ sunscreen and a hat become your closest friends.

Roads: Most serious incidents come from carrying too much speed on gravel. Dust from oncoming vehicles kills visibility, and any sharp correction on a loose surface tends to end in a rollover.

Isolation: In desert regions the phone signal can vanish for hundreds of kilometres, leaving you entirely on your own. Always tell someone your route, carry five litres of water per person in the car, and check your own government's travel advisory before you go.

Namibia is one of southern Africa's calmest countries for independent travel. There is little deception, but one line of expenditure ruins trips regularly.

Car hire and gravel. Namibia's main subject. Ninety percent of the country's roads are gravel, and punctures, shattered windscreens and suspension damage happen constantly. Basic insurance usually excludes them. Take full cover including tyres and glass, check for two spare wheels and a jack, and confirm whether crossing into neighbouring countries is permitted.

Windhoek. Petty theft in the centre and at the Post Street Mall market. The level is far below South Africa's.

"Guides" at the sights. They offer to take you to Sossusvlei or the seals at a verbally quoted price. Agree in advance.

Souvenirs. Wood and stone carvings on the road to Sossusvlei — haggling is compulsory. Ivory and horn items must not be bought at all.

Fuel. Filling stations exist only in towns, hundreds of kilometres apart. Many take cash only.

Gravel roads are a legal and a physical subject at once. The gravel limit is 80 km/h, and that is not over-caution: at 100 the car loses grip on the first ridge of sand. 4x4 rollovers are the commonest cause of tourist deaths in Namibia. Speed and sharp steering on gravel are incompatible.

Driving on the left.

Wildlife. Exporting ivory, rhino horn, hides and shells is prohibited and the offence is serious. In national parks, leaving the vehicle outside designated areas is prohibited.

Drones. Permission is required, and they are prohibited outright in national parks.

Restricted areas. The Sperrgebiet diamond zone in the south is closed and entering without a permit is a criminal offence. Parts of the Skeleton Coast also require permission.

Camping. Wild overnights outside campsites are formally not permitted on private land, and Namibia is largely divided into farms.

Drugs. The law is strict.

Malaria. Present in the north — Etosha, the Caprivi (Zambezi), Kunene and along the Angolan border, seasonally from November to June. The south, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Lüderitz are malaria-free. A doctor selects prophylaxis for your specific route.

Vaccinations. None mandatory; a yellow fever certificate is required from arrivals out of endemic countries.

Water. Windhoek's tap water is safe — the city is known for reclaiming wastewater into drinking water and has done so well for half a century. Inland, carry your own.

Dehydration and heat are a real danger. The Namib is desert, above 40°C in summer, and the air is so dry you do not notice sweating. The rule: three litres per person per day minimum, plus a reserve in the car. At Sossusvlei, climb Big Daddy at dawn, not in the day.

Distances. Hundreds of kilometres between settlements with no coverage. A breakdown in the desert is a serious situation. Carry water and fuel, and tell someone your route.

Healthcare. Windhoek and Swakopmund have good private clinics. The rest of the country has none, and evacuation is by air only. Insurance with air evacuation is essential.

Emergency numbers: 10111 police, 2032276 for the Windhoek ambulance.

Namibia performs noticeably better than most of its neighbours on the Corruption Perceptions Index, and violent crime is significantly lower than in South Africa.

Police. Correct, and English is official. Reports are taken and certificates for insurers issued.

Windhoek. The one city where urban caution is needed: no walking at night, no valuables in view, nothing left in the car. Katutura and the area around the station are not places a tourist needs in the evening.

Outside the capital the country is very calm: theft at farms and campsites is rare, and help on the road is the norm.

Traffic police. There are highway posts checking documents and speed. Bribes are not taken from tourists.

What actually matters. You will almost certainly not be robbed in Namibia. The main risks are gravel roads, the desert and distance. Planning a route with reserves of water, fuel and time matters more here than any personal safety advice.

Emergency number is 10111.