So you’re planning a vacation in Namibia? With wild animals grazing right beside the road and tribal people that invite you into their villages to witness their honored traditions, a trip to Namibia is truly an experience of a lifetime!

Follow our complete packing guide for Namibia so you’re prepared for anything and everything you may encounter along your trip.

Namibia Travel Basics

Travel Packing Basics

• You are free to wear whatever you choose while vacationing in Namibia. You’ll encounter locals wearing both Western-style attire as well as traditional tribal dress.
• Everything that you bring will be covered in dust by the time you leave. Don’t bring anything that you don’t want to get dirty.
• Opportunistic crime is an occasional occurrence so leave expensive jewelry at home.
• Smash and grabs are also fairly common in Namibia so always keep your luggage locked in the back of your truck and out of sight.

Weather in Namibia

The climate in Namibia is pleasant year-round and can be visited pretty much any time of the year. The dry season is May to October and is the best time for viewing wildlife as the animals gather around the watering holes. But it is also high season so you will need to book your car and accommodations well in advance.

The wet season is between December and March so the animals will be more scattered throughout the parks which will lower your chances of spotting them easily. April and May experience very moderate temperatures with little or no rainfall and October to February can be very hot.

Regardless of the time of year that you visit, you’ll want breathable clothing for the unrelenting midday sun, clothing that will cover you from the mosquitoes that come out around sunset, and clothes that you don’t mind getting filthy.

Visa and Passport Requirements for Namibia

Visitors from the United States, South Africa, Australia, Germany, Canada, Japan, and the UK qualify for a 90-day visa on arrival. Check your visa requirements here.

A Perfect Packing List for Namibia

Luggage

Osprey Packs Transporter 65 Expedition Duffel

The durable Osprey Packs Transporter is weather-protected with overlapping rain flaps. So you don’t have to worry about all of your clothes getting covered in dust or that all the bumping around on the gravel roads will damage your bag in any way.

Plus it has backpack straps and a shoulder strap so you can carry it like a duffel or a backpack. And with a wide, u-shaped main compartment, it’s easy to find what you’re looking for.

Check out all of our favorite travel bags here!

Backpack for Photography Gear

You’ll need to carry a few essentials on your back while cruising around looking for wild animals – your camera, binoculars, and a water bottle. You’ll want a bag that can easily fit everything you need without weighing you down. This backpack by GOgroove has a tripod holder and moveable compartments to keep your camera gear organized. Plus the straps are padded so it’ll be comfortable to wear all day.

Namibia Road Trip Accessories

Guide books and Maps

It’s a good idea to purchase a SIM card from MTC for all of your data needs during your trip. Data is incredibly inexpensive (about $4 USD for 1 GB) and easy to purchase in most grocery stores. But while MTC has the best coverage of all of the service providers, you’ll often be without service in more remote areas. So it’s a good idea to bring a travel guide and several maps along, just in case.

Here are a few of our favorite Namibia travel guides:

And don’t forget to read about our favorite places in Namibia!

Car Charger

Keeping all of your electronics charged while camping and road-tripping can be incredibly challenging. While most campgrounds offer electricity at each site you don’t necessarily want to leave your phone or camera battery charging outside all night. And surprisingly we couldn’t find a car charger in any stores anywhere in Namibia! So be sure to pick up one of these Anker dual chargers before your trip.

And don’t forget to read all of our tips for renting a car in Namibia!

South Africa / Namibia Travel Adapter

If you’re coming from the United States, you won’t be able to charge your electronics without a converter. And most regular travel adapters don’t have an option that will work for Namibia and South Africa. Be sure to pick up a converter that is specific for this region prior to setting off.

Power Bank

You’ll likely be using Google maps on your phone constantly throughout the day to find your way around. And nothing drains your battery as quickly as your GPS. Make sure your phone stays charged all day with this power bank by Anker. It has three charging ports and can charge most phones over six times!

Headlamp

While many campgrounds offer some overhead lighting, you’ll still want to have a headlamp for setting up and taking down your tent, cooking after sunset, and finding your way to the toilet in the middle of the night. We love our Petzel headlamps but any headlamp should do the trick.

Luci Lights

We love taking Luci Lights on camping trips because they are super lightweight, pack down small, and are solar powered so they’re easy to charge on the dash while you’re driving. Hang them around your campsite or in your tent to keep you illuminated after the sun goes down. 

Entertainment for the Road

• Don’t forget to download offline maps of the regions you’ll be visiting in Namibia!
• Download a few of our favorite podcasts to keep up with the news and to keep you entertained during your long drives through Namibia’s expansive landscapes.
• Or get a subscription to Amazon Audible for access to a huge selection of audiobooks.

Photography Equipment for Namibia

Binoculars

You’ll be able to spot plenty of antelope near the road in Etosha National Park. But many of the more elusive animals can be difficult to spot without the help of binoculars. This set by Gosky has 10X power magnification and even includes a smartphone mount so you can snap photos of your findings.

Zoom Camera

You’ll want to bring a DSLR camera to Namibia that has a good zoom lens for taking wildlife photos.

If you’re just getting started with photography and want a nice entry-level DSLR camera, the Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera is a great choice. It’s relatively inexpensive and lightweight. You’ll get some amazing photos and videos during your trip to Namibia!

As you’ll be taking pictures of animals using a zoom lens you should also invest in a lightweight travel tripod to minimize camera shake ensuring you get sharp images. You can check out our entire travel photography packing list here!

Window Tripod

You aren’t actually supposed to get out of your car while doing a self-drive safari in Etosha National Park so the best way to steady your hand is to invest in a window tripod mount for your car (in addition to a regular travel tripod). Plus it will connect easily to your Nikon camera!

Toiletries

Namibia has plenty of toiletries for sale in grocery stores across the country. So don’t fret if you forget to pack something. Here are the health and beauty products that you’ll likely need during your Namibian road trip:

• Sunscreen (very important!)
• Biodegradable baby wipes
• Face wash wipes
• Bug spray
• Face and body lotion
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Body wash
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss
• Feminine hygiene products
• Deodorant
• Make-up
• Any medications
• Hairbrush and hair ties
• Travel hairdryer (Read about our favorite travel hairdryers)

A Quick-Drying Travel Towel

All of the campsites that we recommend in Namibia have shower facilities and you’ll absolutely love taking a shower at the end of the day to cool down and de-dust yourself. Invest in a compact and quick-drying towel for drying off and also for lounging by the pool!

Shoes and Clothing to Pack for Namibia

Finding laundry facilities in Namibia is quite challenging. Some campsites have drying lines so that you can wash your clothes in the sink and leave them out to dry. But it’s rare that you’ll spend enough time in one spot to allow your clothes to dry completely. Better to pack enough so that you can wait until you get home to do laundry.

Here’s a brief list of things you should consider bringing:

• Comfortable shorts that don’t cut into your waist for long days spent sitting in the car
• Loose, cotton t-shirts and tank tops to keep you cool in the intense heat (these cute tees are super comfortable and come in several color options)
• Long pants to protect from mosquitoes during sunset (we like these Prana stretch pants for men and these North Face Aphrodite capris for women)
• A sweater for evenings when the temperature drops
• Swimsuit for days spent lounging by the campground pool
• One pair of underwear per day
• One pair of socks per day
• Comfortable bras
• Workout clothes and shoes if you have plans to do any hiking
• Pajamas
• Close-toed shoes that are good for hiking (we love Merrell and Salomon brands!)
• Flip flops

And if you REALLY want to dress the part, invest in this amazing get-up:

Just kidding, definitely don’t do that.

Accessories

Scarf

It is very dusty in Namibia so you may want to have a scarf on hand to protect your nose and mouth. This is especially useful on safaris where the trucks are completely open or while riding quad bikes through the sand dunes.

Sun Hat

Namibia can be quite hot, especially in the south, and the sun is incredibly intense. Bring a hat to protect you from the rays. Be sure to pick up one that is foldable and/or crushable so it won’t get ruined in your luggage. These two will hold up well no matter how hard you are on them:

Sunglasses

Speaking of sun protection, don’t forget to pack your sunglasses! Pick a polarized pair with UV protection to keep your eyes shielded from the rays. Don’t forget a sturdy case to keep them safe in your carry-on.

Don’t Forget to Bring

• Your passport!
• To call your credit card company and release your card for use in Namibia
• Better yet, sign up for a credit card with no international transaction fees!
• A backup credit card in case you have any issues with your primary
• Upgrade to an international cell plan during the month that you’ll be gone

Things to Leave at Home

• Anything that you don’t want to get incredibly dusty and/or broken from being tossed around in the back of the truck
• Expensive jewelry

Expect to have a sweaty, dusty, and exhilarating time exploring the spectacular country of Namibia!

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