What to Expect
- Physical requirements This adventure is not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. You must be able to walk 1-2 miles unassisted and be comfortable participating in 2-4 hours of physical activities each day. You will need to access game-viewing vehicles by ladder without aid. We reserve the right for our Trip Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home if their limitations are impacting the group's experience.
- Climate & terrain Namibia’s climate is typical of semi-desert terrain: hot days and cool nights. During game-viewing, we’ll travel over gravel roads and bumpy, dusty terrain. We’ll walk through deep sand during our exploration of the Sossusvlei Dunes.
- Pacing 6 locations in 17 days with a 1-night stay. Early morning departures on Days 6 and 13. There are several long overland drives. We also have 5 internal flights of about 1-1.5 hours each on small five- to 14-seater planes.
- Transportation We travel via air-conditioned bus (no toilet on board) and small plane. Our eight- and twelve-seater 4x4 game-viewing vehicles have bucket seating, 200-degree viewing, and sliding windows and pop-up roof for game-viewing. They are not air-conditioned. Agility and balance are required to board and disembark these vehicles.
- Accommodations We stay for 9 nights in lodges that use generator electricity and lantern lighting at night and do not have air-conditioning.
- Cultural insight Traditionally, the Himba women wear leather thongs or small skirts; their breasts are typically exposed.
Visa Information
U.S. citizens will need a visa (or visas) for this trip. In addition, there may be other entry requirements that also need to be met. For your convenience, we’ve included a quick reference list, organized by country:
- Namibia: No visa required.
- South Africa: No visa required.
- Zimbabwe (optional Victoria Falls extension): Visa required.
- Botswana (optional tour on extension): No visa required.
Travelers who are booked on this adventure will be sent a complete Visa Packet— with instructions, applications, and a list of visa fees—approximately 100 days prior to their departure. (Because many countries limit the validity of their visa from the date it is issued, or have a specific time window for when you can apply, we do not recommend applying too early.)
If you are not a U.S. citizen, do not travel with a U.S. passport, or will be traveling independently before/after this trip, then your entry requirements may be different. Please check with the appropriate embassy or a visa servicing company. To contact our recommended visa servicing company, PVS International, call toll-free at 1-800-556-9990.
Vaccinations Information
For a detailed and up-to-date list of vaccinations that are recommended for this trip, please visit the CDC’s “Traveler’s Health” website.