Windhoek: What to Know Before You Go

Short answer: never schedule a long drive to Sossusvlei or Etosha on the same afternoon your international flight lands; give yourself at least one full night in Windhoek to collect your 4x4 without rushing, buy an MTC SIM card, stock up on supplies and adjust to the dry 1,655-metre highland air.

Namibian dollar (NAD), South African rand (ZAR) and cards

Namibia's currency is the Namibian dollar (NAD), which is linked one-to-one with the South African rand (ZAR). South African rand banknotes and coins are legal tender everywhere in Windhoek and across Namibia at exact parity, and shops often give change in a mix of both currencies. However, Namibian dollars are not accepted inside South Africa, so if you are flying onward to Cape Town or Johannesburg at the end of your trip, ask banks or supermarkets for rand notes during your final days. Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards work smoothly at Windhoek hotels, supermarkets, fuel stations and restaurants, though you should carry small cash notes for Oshetu Market kapana stalls, craft vendors, car guards and roadside tyre repairs.

Airport distance, SIM cards and power sockets

Keep in mind that Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) sits 45 kilometres east of the city, so factor in a 45-minute highway transfer each way. Inside the airport arrivals hall or along Independence Avenue, stop at an MTC shop (bring your passport for registration) to pick up a local prepaid SIM card, which provides the widest coverage across Namibia's desert highways. Namibia uses the large three-round-pin Type D / Type M plug (identical to South Africa); pick up a couple of inexpensive plug adaptors at any Windhoek supermarket on your first afternoon.

Walking and evening habits

Central Windhoek around Christuskirche, the museums and the Namibia Craft Centre is pleasant to walk during daylight hours; keep cameras and jewellery discreet, use registered radio taxis or app cabs (such as LEFA) after dark, and compare bases in where to stay in Windhoek.