Medical emergencies in Namibia

Due to its dry climate, Namibia is generally a safe country when it comes to health issues. Windhoek has good medical facilities, although you will probably only spend a few days in the city and the rest of your trip in more remote areas: most of Namibia is rural and sparsely populated and big towns with hospitals are few and far between. If you have minor health problem then you’ll need to travel to the nearest clinic or hospital, which may be several hours drive away. For a serious medical emergency you’ll need to be medically evacuated to Windhoek for treatment.

Private hospitals may insist on a cash or credit card payment before starting treatment, and it’s likely that you will need to pay upfront and then claim back from your travel insurance.

Namibia has a very dry climate so it’s easy to get dehydrated. Make sure to drink plenty of water (tap water is safe to drink in most places in Namibia). The sun is particularly strong so always wear high factor SPF, a hat and protective clothing and avoid the midday rays.

Packing list for Namibia

Since many places that you may end up visiting in Namibia are remote, it’s best to bring along any medication you might need, as well as a comprehensive first aid kit that includes antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antidiarrheal medication, antibacterial ointment, antimalarial tablets, rehydration electrolyte sachets, insect spray and repellent, water purification tablets and bandages. For driving and hiking navigation, it’s a good idea when you have Wi-Fi to download offline…

Travelling in Namibia

Namibia is a huge country without many public transport options, so hiring a car is by far the best way of getting around. Namibia’s roads, both tarred and gravel, are in good condition and are well maintained, making it easy to do a self-drive holiday. It’s a good idea to have both a GPS (or offline map on your smartphone) as well as a paper map for navigating. You don’t need to hire a 4x4 to drive around Namibia – 2WD sedan cars are able to drive on the gravel roads – but…

Vaccinations for Namibia

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for people visiting Namibia from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission. It’s recommended that you get vaccinations for cholera, typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and B, and diphtheria. The rabies vaccination is recommended if you’re going to be staying in remote areas where you may not have medical access for an emergency vaccination, if you’re going for a particularly long trip, or if you’re going to have a higher risk…