What to pack for Namibia?
The centre of Namibia is hot and dry, whilst it's cooler on the west coast, towards Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. There are two seasons in Namibia and the contents of your suitcase will depend largely on:
- a dry season from May to September, with temperatures varying from 20 to 25°C in the day, with cooler (even cold) nights (temperatures at night can drop to below zero)
- a hot and humid season from October to April, with temperatures ranging from 30 to 40°C and rain from January to March.
We strongly advise you to take both light outfits for hot days and a warm outfit for the cool nights. Good walking shoes are necessary to protect you from the sand and rocky paths, in particular the sand on your trip to Sesriem and its dunes, which can be burning hot.
Sunglasses are also strongly recommended so that you can fully benefit from the sights all around you. Not forgetting your camera, with 50mm and 200m lenses to observe the animals easily. If you're counting on going camping with your vehicle, you should plan some time to go shopping at Windhoek and/or Swakopmund, which are the main, well-stocked places.
For a successful trip to Namibia, consider these practical tips when packing your suitcase:
- An international driving licence or your national licence translated by the British Embassy
- An isothermal flask
- A cooling spray and wipes
- A headlamp or a torch
- A sleeping bag for nights spent camping
- A travel notebook and a pen to write down your thoughts
- A camera and/or a video camera
- A hat for walks and hikes
- A first-aid kit
- Sunglasses
- Total sunblock cream to protect yourself against the sun
- Hiking shoes and socks to go with them
- A warm outfit for cool nights: fleece and windcheater
- Thin and light outfits, ideally in cotton, for hot days
- Your prescription if you're travelling with a lot of medication
