Archive for the ‘Namibia’ Category

Namibia Visa Requirements

Visas to Namibia; Complete guide to visa application to Namibia, Who Requires A Visa to Namibia, Attachments Required, Time Required For Visa Processing – Visa Issuing Authorities in Namibia
Just like other sovereign nations, a Visa is a mandatory requirement for anyone travelling to Namibia, including children. One should ensure its possession before planning to enter Namibia unless exempted. Visitors from other countries are advised to check current applicable visa fee/visa extension fees with their local embassies in their respective countries or contact the issuing authorities in Namibia before their visit.
Visa Application Requirements
– Correctly filled-out application form
– Two (2) recent passport size photos
– Passport valid for 6 months with at least two blank pages
– Fee, payable by cash, postal order or banker’s draft (cheques are not accepted)
– Visa processing period is between 2 and 3 working days (Monday – Friday)
Note: All visitors to Namibia must be in possession of return tickets (or funds in lieu) and sufficient funds to support themselves. The granting of a visa is not a guarantee of entry.
Passport holders of the following countries DO NOT need visas when travelling to Namibia
Angola, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Moldova, Mozambique Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, Uzbekistan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Namibian nationals are exempted from Visa Requirements when visiting the following countries.
Angola, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, Malawi, Mauritius, Ukraine, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Seychelles, South Africa, Singapore, Spain, Swaziland, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
VISA TYPES
Tourist Visa
– Original, signed passport valid for 6 months beyond stay, with at least one blank visa page available for visa stamp(s)
– Two (2) visa application forms per applicant properly completed and signed. Signature must be original on each application and match the signature in the passport. Inappropriately filled-out forms may delay the processing of your visa.
– Two (2) recent 2 x 2 passport type photographs, in colour, front view and with a white background.
– Proof of sufficient funds
– Computer generated flight itinerary from the airline or a travel agency or copy of airline ticket.
– Onward/return ticket or confirmed itinerary
Business Visa
– Original, signed passport valid for 6 months beyond stay, with at least one blank visa page available for visa stamp(s)
– Two (2) visa application forms per applicant properly completed and signed. Signature must be original on each application and match the signature in the passport. Inappropriately filled-out forms may delay the processing of your visa.
– Two (2) recent 2 x 2 passport type photographs, in colour, front view and with a white background.
– Proof of sufficient funds
– Computer generated flight itinerary from the airline or a travel agency or copy of airline ticket.
– Onward/return ticket or confirmed itinerary
– A letter of invitation from host party in Namibia explaining the relationship to the applicant and the purpose of travel. The letter must state the duration of stay, place of stay, and contact details.
– Letter from employer or sponsor, on company letterhead, introducing the applicant, indicating the applicant’s employment status with the company also stating the purpose of visit. The business letter must also indicate who will be financially responsible for the applicant.
Note: Nationals that are exempted from a Visa requirement do not require a Business Visa.
Transit Visa
– Original, signed passport valid for 6 months beyond stay, and with at least one blank visa page available for stamp(s)
– Proof of departure by an onward airline ticket.
– Valid onward destination visas (if applicable).
– Applicants must hold a visa or a permit for permanent or temporary residence for final destination.
For visa processing in Namibia contact the following address;
1. Namibia Consulate
21st Floor, 22 Triangle House
Riebeeck Street, Cape Town
Phone: 021 419 2810
Fax: 021 418 1472
Email: info@namibiaconsulate.co.za
Website: www.namibia.org.za
2. Ministry of Home Affairs & Immigration, Windhoek
Cohen Building, Kasino Street
Private Bag 13200, Windhoek
Phone: 292 2111
Processing Period
2 – 3 working days
Monday- Friday
09:30hrs to 16:30hrs
Closed: 13:00hrs to 14:00hrs
For all Visas 09:15hrs – 15:00 hrs
Closed on Namibian Public Holidays
Important Notices
– Traveller intending to pass through immigration, a visa may be required of them. Please liaise with your embassy for any other requirements and updates. This will make the process of applying for a visa a lot simpler.

Cheap Hotels in Namibia

Top hotel accommodation available in Namibia. Travel Hotels in Namibia and Namibia Luxury Hotels provide excellent stay; Hotel Reviews and Reservation in Namibia; Exclusive deals on a wide range of accommodation throughout Namibia
Namibia
is a hospitable country to various tourists from across the globe and holds fascination for tourists who would like to experience a desert life or just simply laze around on the beach or even simply just enjoy the amazing wildlife. Namibia literally puts almost everything at the tourists’ disposal to ensure they enjoy their vacations to the fullest. Namibia hotels Offer lodging options to suit every taste that will please the most demanding of guests. The personalized attention and warm hospitality in the hotels in Namibia very typical of the Namibians will ensure an African holiday that any visitor will live to remember. Most of the hotels in the country boast fabulous locations, wide range of state-of-the-art amenities and innovative measures of hospitality offering exclusive services. They are plenty and in world class categories of luxury and budget. There are plenty of cheap Namibia hotels for those tourists traveling on a budget and there is also an excellent selection of luxurious Namibia hotels.

Top Hotels in Namibia

Sossusvlei Namibia

Geology of Sossusvlei Dunes; Excursion Tours to the Highest Sand Dunes in the World; Namibia safari, Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp – Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, Accommodation Options in Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei
is a salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes, located in the southern part of the Namib Desert, in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Sossusvlei is one of the highest sand dunes in the world rising as high as 570m above sea level and stretch to a great expanse of the mighty Namib Desert to almost 500sq km. Sossusvlei, literally interprets ‘a gathering place of water’, and actually its a clay pan which holds rain water to form a lake. This pan retains water for a long time due to the high clay content which makes it a rare tourist sight.
What makes the area even more extraordinary are the colour compositions and enormous dunes. The presence of iron oxides in the sand coupled with innumerable particles of garnet gives the dune its brilliant hue. The shades vary according to the age of the dunes, and the older the dune the brighter the sand’s colour.

Sossusvlei Namibia
The dunes are often referred to as star dunes because of their crescent shape. Best seen from the air, Sossusvlei offers one of Namibia’s top tourist destinations. The multiple merging crests meet at the highest point resultant of multi-directional winds that blow the sand back and forth. The monumental red sand and the glorious display of diverse shades, colours, and depressions create a spectacular sight for photographers. The dunes display vibrant colours of orange, maroon, and pink, and the Tsaris Mountains show blue and deep purples. The dunes surrounding the vlei are some 350m high when measuring from the base up; having a reputation as some of the highest in the world.

Sossusvlei Dunes
Formation

This circular-shaped depression filled with water in the heart of the Namib Desert has an exciting history of formation. It has been said that the residue or sand from the Orange River were drifted towards Africa’s western coast and deposited into the mighty Atlantic Ocean. The powerful ocean currents of pushed the material towards the north and deposited them back on to the land. By this constant re-deposition, dunes began forming on the coast and the inter-play of the coast winds shifted them further inland. The sand deposited on the windward side makes the dune flat, while the leeward side is considerably steeper. However, the patterns on the dune vary according to the direction and speed of the wind and these dunes have taken a million years to be developed. The Sossusvlei today is ever changing and evolving.
Sossusvlei Tourist Activities
Game Viewing
– Sossusvlei is home to ostrich, springbok and Oryx which roam the area.
Self-Drive Excursions
– Sossusvlei is one spectacular place for self-drive excursion tours with 4WD vehicles in Namibia.
Photographic Safaris
– Sossusvlei is lined by exotic, brightly coloured dunes. The monumental red sand and the magnificent display of several shades, depressions and colours, fading and Deeping, throughout the day create amazing patterns for photographers.

SOSSUSVLEI ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge
Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge is a luxury desert wilderness safari lodge situated in the NamibRand Nature Reserve, which makes part of the Namib Desert. It boasts an impressive architectural design with glass-fronted villas for tourists to enjoy the stunning views of the dunes. Guests at the lodges enjoying views of the silvery grass as it moves like velvet against a backdrop of red sand dunes, green & black mountains with a myriad of colours and intriguing rock formations.
Accommodation rates range from NAD 3350 – NAD 5995 (No single supplements)
Activities:
Game drives
– Game drives occur in the cool of morning and evening; the resident naturalist will take you in four-wheel drive open vehicles to explore the open grass plains, fossilised sand dunes and orange sand dune belts of the NamibRand Nature Reserve.
Guided walks
– These are available or you may explore on your own along marked walking trails. You may also choose to go on guided 4×4 excursions to Sesriem Canyon or the famous Sossusvlei pans, resting place of the Tsauchab River.
Hot-air ballooning
– From the height of a hot-air balloon ride, the view of the orange dunes and seas of dune grass is unparalleled. This bird’s-eye view of the desert is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hot-air ballooning over the Namib is an optional extra. More exciting optional extras are a guided 4×4 excursion to spectacular Sossusvlei, site of the highest sand dunes on earth.
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Sossusvlei Lodge

The majestic 45 twin tents Sossusvlei Lodge is situated at Sesriem immediately on the right of the national park entrance. When built it caused quite a stir: a large luxury lodge so close to the rest camp and park. However, now it is accepted as part of the scenery, into which it blends surprisingly well. Its construction is an innovative mix of materials and colours: concrete, ironwork, canvas and leather; reds, apricots, greens and whites. The ‘tents’ are highly structured, permanent constructions and each has an en-suite bathroom constructed as part of the solid base to support the canvas walls of the bedrooms. The interior is luxurious, with adjoining large single beds, bedside desks, comfy chairs, lamps, etc – so banish any thoughts of camping when you read of ‘tents’ here. Multi-activity expeditions include at Sossusvlei Lodge include four-wheel drives into the desert, horse treks and mountain biking. Important to note is that Sossusvlei Lodge is not cheap, but is very comfortable and perfect for early starts into the Sossusvlei area.
For Enquiries
: Email: sossusvl@iafrica.com.na; Website: www.sossusvleilodge.com
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Namib Desert
Lodge
The Namib Desert Lodge nestles at the foot of the ‘fossilised’ dunes of the protomorphic Namib about 60km north of Sesriem which is the gateway to Sossusvlei. The lodge’s setting provides an authentic view of Sossusvlei as well as ideal starts for the best excursions to the highest dunes in the world.
Namib Desert Lodge features 50 rooms en-suite, a restaurant and a swimming pool. The main block and the chalets are spread along the foot of the ‘fossilized’ dunes of the ancient Namib. The restaurant and the bar particular create impressive views of the fossilized dunes and two swimming pools, await the guests. A wide range of tourist activities are offered to guests staying at the Lodge that can be booked at The most prominent being Dune Drives to explore the fossilised dunes. Walking Trails are also arranged.
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Kulala Wilderness Camp

Travelers, who fancy adventure and desire to have some precious moments worth remembering for a lifetime, see Kulala Wilderness Camp as the best choice. Kulala Camp is nestled in the heart of the Namib Desert on a 37,000-hectare private reserve near Sossusvlei. The camp is about 4km from the main Kulala Lodge, with a separate entrance and access road. It is built at the foot of a mountain facing west with great sunset views. On the edge of the oldest desert in the world, this is not a game rich area, however, whatever game is seen, is interesting and dramatised by the contrast between the desert and animals like springbok, Oryx and ostrich who manage to survive in these harsh conditions. Activities include sand dune excursions, early morning ballooning, guided walks and scenic nature drives.
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Kulala
Desert Lodge
Kulala Desert Lodge lies in the heart of the Namib Desert spanning over 46,000 acres of the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve, bordering the Namib Naukluft National Park. Kulala Desert Lodge is owned and operated by Wilderness Safaris. It offers magnificent views of the famous red dunes of Sossusvlei as well as spectacular mountain scenery and vast open plains. Kulala Desert Lodge has 15 thatched and canvas “kulalas” with en-suite bathrooms and verandas. The thatch roofed main lodge built in an African desert style offers perfect for relaxation, adventure and luxury living, caters to conventional sense of a relaxed vacation to the more adventurous and luxurious taste.
Each room is built on a wooden platform to catch the cooling breezes and has a deck on the flat rooftop where bedrolls are placed for guests who wish to sleep under the myriad stars that Namibia’s clear skies portray. Available activities for guests include Nature drives, Walking trails, Balloon safaris, Horse riding safari and Scenic sundowner tours
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Bird Watching Namibia Safaris

The best Birding Hotspots in Namibia, Birding Holidays in Namibia, Bird Watching Tour – Namibia Bird watching Safaris, Bird Watching Holidays, Etosha National Park Birds, Birding Holidays in Namibia, bird watching tours, Birds in Namibia
Despite being a predominantly desert country, Namibia is also great value for bird watchers. Going for bird watching tour packages in this Southern Africa country gets travelers going around and visiting various areas looking for birds. Just like other top birding destinations in Africa, Namibia is a great appealing safari destination that has always attracted bird watchers and photographers from all around the world. The country has attained a new status as another hub for both professional and armature birders looking for a place to challenge their birding skills. Most Namibia bird watching tours can be quite an adventurous. What birders need to prioritize is choosing the best bird watching vacation packages that offer a more ideal opportunity to visit more bird spots.

NAMIBIA BIRDING HOTSPOTS

Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife parks and it home to over 380 bird species. On a simple bird trail, an ardent birder could easily see up to different 200 species. The Park is even more spectacular during the wet season. The many birds to spot on any bird trail here include the Secretary bird, Stark’s Lark, Black-winged Pratincole, Monteiro’s Hornbill, Kori Bustard, Ludwig’s Bustard, Burchell’s Sandgrouse, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Bennett’s Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse,  Meves’s Starling, Chestnut Weaver, Pygmy Falcon and Red-necked Falcon. Others to spot are Chestnut-banded Plover, Caspian Plover, Blue Crane, Bradfield’s Hornbill, Bare-cheeked Babbler, Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Black-faced Babbler, Southern Pied Babbler, Carp’s Tit, Crimson-breasted Shrike and Sociable Weaver.
Several Kalahari-associated species are more prevalent in the far west of the park such as the Marico Flycatcher, Barred Wren-Warbler, Southern Pied Babbler, Scaly-feathered Finch and Violet-eared Waxbill.
Ardent birders can observe the Violet Wood-Hoopoe more common in company of the Green Wood-Hoopoe.
Walvis Bay

The Walvis Bay lagoon is a natural harbour and coastal wetland along Namibia’s coast. It has three significant wetlands that act as superb stopover for migratory birds into the country. It supports major populations of migratory waders including the Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Ruff, Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Little Stint, Greenshank, etc. Other unusual species but regularly spotted here are Black-tailed Godwit, Terek Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope. The more rare vagrants such as Broad-billed Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper are also resident on the harbour. There are also an impressive number of sea birds along the shores such as the Sooty Shearwater, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Subantarctic Skua and Parasitic Jaeger.
Swakopmund

The desert town of Swakopmund is a submerged region in Namibia. Travellers who are also simply curious to bird watching will enjoy birding here as the area is a stopover for several migratory birds. The area boasts a long list of seabirds that include the African Black Oystercatcher, Kelp Gull, Turnstone and a motley crew of Swift, Sandwich, Arctic and Black Terns.
Mamili
National Park
Gazetted on 1 March 1990, Mamili National Park holds the distinction of being Namibia’s largest wet wonderland. Its verdant vegetation serves a great magnet for water birds with significant numbers of ducks, rails and weavers. Other species found here include Slaty Egret with its distinctive green eyes, the African Open-Bill, Black Herons, White-Fronted, Little and Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eaters. During drier periods, the Denham’s and kori bustard, as well as black-bellied bustard and ostriches are drawn to the area’s grassland. A serious birder to the Park is also guaranteed sight of the Green-Capped Eremomela, Grey Cisticola, Crested Barbet, African Golden Oriole, African Little Sparrowhawk, African Emerald Cuckoo, Trumpeter Hornbill, African Goshawk, White-Browed and Red-Capped Robin-Chats. The area presents a perfect bird-watching spot.
Impalila
Island
Impalila Island is found at the extreme East of the Caprivi Strip bounded by the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers; and a natural channel known as the Kasai. Some of the common birds found here include White-backed Night-Heron, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Red-headed Quelea, Pel’s Fishing-Owl, African Finfoot, Half-collared Kingfisher and White-crowned Lapwing. Others are the African Pygmy-Goose, Southern Brown-throated Weaver, Swamp Nightjar, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Little Bittern, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, Bat Hawk, Meyer’s Parrot, Thrush Nightingale, Olive Woodpecker, Green-backed Honeybird, Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah and Hartlaub’s Babbler. Birding on the Island is best between November and April when the hundreds of migrant birds arrive.
Waterberg
Plateau Park
The Waterberg is a spectacular sandstone massive spelling in the central region of the country about 70 km from the town of Otjiwarongo. Special bird varieties in the Park include the Waterberg include Rockrunner, Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, Rüppell’s Parrot, Rufous-bellied Tit, Violet Wood-Hoopoe and Bradfield’s Hornbill, Orange River Francolin, and Tinkling Cisticola. This is also the only area within Namibia that acts as a breeding ground for the rare Booted Eagle and Cape Vulture.
Katima Mulilo

Katima Mulilo is a small town in the Caprivi Strip nestled on the banks of the river Zambezi. Its lush riverine vegetation offers perfect habitants for several tropical birds including the rare Pel’s Fishing-Owl, White-Backed Night-Heron, Rufous-Bellied Heron, Osprey and Western-Banded Snake-Eagle. Other varieties to spot are African Golden Oriole, African Golden Oriole, Tropical Boubou, White-Breasted Cuckoo shrike and White-Browed Coucal.
Also find:
Bird watching in Botswana | Bird watching in Malawi | Bird watching in Mozambique | Bird watching in Namibia | Bird watching in Rwanda | Bird watching in Seychelles | Bird watching in South Africa | Bird watching in Tanzania | Bird watching in Zambia | Bird watching in Zimbabwe

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