Namibia is considered to be among the fairly expensive destinations on the African continent and in this article we are going to analyze the different factors that affect the overall cost of a safari in the country.
Top 5 Factors affecting the cost of a safari to Namibia
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The cost of accommodation
When we talked about traveling to Namibia for a safari, the most expensive aspect is accommodation as the country offers two (2) main options and that is either camping (the budget option) or the lavish facilities. The accommodation prices vary depending on the tourism seasonality, for instance in the off-peak tourism season which is also regarded as the low season (from December to March), you can get good budget accommodation for as low as $100 per night, however when the peak season comes in from June to October when the country is in its peak tourist season the number of tourists on safari in Namibia is high which causes a high demand on accommodation that results into the rates at times doubling. So basing on your Safari budget choose carefully the place to stay
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Cost of transport in and around Namibia
The most convenient way to get around the country while on holiday in Namibia is using private means so you can either hire a car or book a tour agent to handle all your travels. Although most travel agents emphasize that you need a 4WD vehicle to get around the country, I don’t agree with them as even a well maintained small car won’t only get you around but also help you save on transport costs. Below is a brief summary of how much you may spend on a rented car in Namibia.
| Cost per Car | ||||
| Expense | Small Car | Medium Car | Large SUV | |
| 1. | Cost of renting per day | $35 | $53 | $75 |
| 2. | Cost on insurance per day | $8 | $8 | $8 |
| 3. | Cost of petrol per day | $20 | $25 | $35 |
Please note that the more days you hire a vehicle you are likely to enjoy a special discount.
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Cost of meals on a Namibia safari
Meals are another aspect that will affect the cost of your Safari. On road meals in restaurants are fairly cheaper and may cost on average $10 to $12 for an average meal however while staying at the lodges in the national parks such as Etosha national park, you will not have options for eating elsewhere but rather incur the already established prices for meals. Breakfast may range from at least $10 to more, then lunch from $20 to more while dinner may range from $30 to more all depending on the type of accommodation (whether budget or luxury) that you will be staying at.
It is also important to remember that while on a road trip you should pack as many snacks as possible such as potato crisps and fruits in addition to enough bottled drinking water
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Cost of Park entrance & activities you engage in
when on Safari in Namibia there are different activities that you will engage in as per your itinerary and these are priced differently and you should also keep in mind that entrance to the different national parks is admitted at a given park entrance fee.
Below is a table showing some of the park entrance fees as well as cost of safari activities in Namibia
| Cost per day | ||||
| Expense | Adult Namibians | SADC | Adult Foreigners | |
| 1. | Park entrance fee to Etosha National Park, Namib-Naukluft park, Ai-Ais Game Park, Waterberg Plateau Park, Skeleton cost
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N$30 | N$60 | N$80 |
| 2. | entrance fee to Sossusvlei | USD $7 | ||
| 3. | Entrance fee to Kolmanskop ghost town including a photography permit | USD $17 | ||
| 4. | Seal watching your at Walvis Bay | USD $55
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| Vehicle entrance fee to parks | ||||
| 4. | Small 10 or less seats | N$10
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| 11-25 seats vehicles | N$40
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| 26-50 seats vehicle | N$300
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| more than 51 seats | N$500
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Please note that children below the age of sixteen (16) years do not pay any money to access the different national parks in the country
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Additional Costs
While planning for a Safari in Namibia there are a number of additional costs that are inevitable that you will incur and these include:
Travel Insurance: every person visiting the country is highly recommended to obtain a good travel insurance that also covers the various activities that you will be engaging in through your stay. before zeroing down to which insurance you choose please take time and carefully understand what each insurance cover entails and preferably get one that offers medical and emergency evacuation. World Nomads is one of the highly recommended insurance worth using while visiting Africa.
Cost of a local SIM card: definitely while in Namibia you will want to keep in touch with the people back home so you are highly advised to purchase a local SIM cards and this costs about 50 US dollars. Fortunately there is good internet connection in most of the country so you can also purchase an internet bundle of about 2.5 US dollars and keep active on all your social media.
Best time to visit Namibia
Namibia can best be visited during the dry season which runs from the month of July to October when the country is experiencing average temperatures of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit (70°F) with very minimal rainfall. this time of the year is regarded as the peak Safari season and it offers the best wildlife view in the different national parks particularly in Etosha as the vegetation is thin and wildlife can easily be spotted.
Where to go | Top destinations in Namibia
Etosha National Park: is located in the northern part of Namibia and it’s among the largest conservation areas on the African continent. It is dominated by a large salt pan and offers very dramatic views of the different African wildlife among which are giraffes, Black rhinos, elephants, cheetahs, hyenas, zebras and lions among many others. The park can be visited during the dry season from the month of May to October. Don’t miss out on the variety of accommodation ranging from the budget, mid-range to exclusively luxury facilities.
The Namib Dessert and Sossusvlei sand dunes: The Namib Dessert is one of Africa’s most renowned deserts and within it you will get a chance to visit the huge red sand dunes as well as the popular Sossusvlei found in the southern part of the desert with the deadvlei, huge salt pan and it is surrounded by towering red dunes of sand. With some standing at a height of 300 meter these sand dunes form beautiful centerpieces across the dessert and are worth exploring. You may be lucky and see some of the desert wildlife but also enjoy the amazing accommodation located here.
Skeleton coast: the beaches of the well-known skeleton coast National Park are spotted with several shipwrecks and it’s after this that this far away shoreline found in the northern part of the country was named. This area is popular for its large number of seal colonies that attract numerous predators such as jackals and hyenas to prey on them. The encompassing areas are also a much-loved grazing area for different herbivores living within this national Park. This is an ideal destination especially for holidaymakers looking forward to enjoying an off-the-beaten-truck Safari experience with utmost isolation and serenity
Damaraland: this inland area is comprised of several mountains with flooded River beds and Rocky plains. The area is worth exploring with very unique scenery and beauty during the day time, while the night offers as a breathtaking a glowing sky littered twinkling stars. The area is home to numerous geological findings and Bushman art with a rich variety of wildlife worth viewing such as the black rhinos, various types of antelopes and desert elephants. Don’t miss out on the amazing accommodation found in this area
Swakopmund: this destination is a popular stop over as well as stock-up site and its rich with different German colonial architecture well blended with an African touch. it is in this area that’s the Atlantic ocean meets the great Namibi Desert and tours into the desert begin here
