Namibia Transport

Air
The national airline is Air Namibia, which offers a number of national flights throughout the country as well as limited flights to other destinations within Africa.

Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek can be found 42kms from the city. It is a small airport with limited facilities, although you will find restaurants, bars, a snack bar, duty-free shopping opportunities, a post office, bureaux de change and car hire facilities.

The journey time from the airport into Windhoek is approximately 30 minutes, with shuttle buses and taxis available. If you would rather hire a car and drive yourself, you will find that the route is well-signposted and roads to the city are well-maintained.

There are parking facilities at the airport, although it is advisable to book a space in advance.

Rail
TransNamib StarLine runs a train from Upington in South Africa to Windhoek and back again. However, this service is not recommended as it is renowned for being very slow and there are no onward trains from Upington to other destinations in South Africa.

Bus
Intercape Mainliner runs a fairly comfortable overnight service from Cape Town to Windhoek four times a week. It is also possible to catch a bus from Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa via Upington. You can also catch a bus service from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe to Windhoek.

Car
A tarmac road runs from Cape Town to Upington and into Namibia. The Trans-Kalahari Highway links Walvis Bay and Windhoek with Gaborone, Botswana and Gauteng. The Trans-Caprivi Highway runs from Zimbabwe via Botswana and onto the Caprivi Strip.

Sea
There is a deep-water harbour at Walvis Bay. There is also a small port at Luderitz Bay.

Air
Flying is the quickest, most convenient and often the most economical way to travel around the country. Air Namibia offers services from Windhoek's airport to every major city in the country. A number of local charter companies can arrange flights and tours by light aircraft.

Rail
Rail travel in Namibia is not geared to tourism. The rail network is extremely limited and services are often incredibly slow and unreliable. The main routes include: Windhoek to Keetmanshoop and Upington in South Africa; Walvis Bay to Swakopmund and Tsumeb; Windhoek to Tsumeb and Luderitz to Keetmanshoop.

First and second-class carriages are available and light refreshments are offered on limited services. There are overnight trains available which offer sleeping compartments.

There are two luxury train services: the Desert Express runs between Swakopmund and Windhoek and the Northern Desert Express is a luxury service to Etosha National Park. The former is a 19-hour journey, which includes several stops, allowing travellers to watch lions feeding and see the Namib Desert. A three-course dinner and overnight accommodation are included in the ticket price.

Bus
The Intercape Mainliner luxury coach service offers routes from Walvis Bay to Livingstone in Zambia and from Windhoek to South Africa via Springbok or Upington. There is a local bus service in Windhoek, but not in any other town.

Car
Traffic drives on the left and main roads are generally well-maintained. Away from the main highways however, surfaces are gravel or dirt and can prove to be impassable during the rainy season. Although traffic is very light, people and animals sometimes walk in the road and driving after dark can be particularly dangerous. The minimum age for driving is 23 years and the national speed limit is 60 to 80kph in built up areas, 80 to 90kph on gravel roads and 120kph on tarmac roads. An International Driving Permit is required for those wishing to drive while on holiday here.

Taxi
Taxis are available in all Namibian towns and offer a fairly cheap and convenient way of getting around.