Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PRACTICALITIES
Newspapers
There are a decent number of commercial newspapers, of which the
Namibian
and the
Windhoek
Advertiser
are probably the best. The
Windhoek Observer
, published on Saturday, is also good. The two main
German-language newspapers are
Allgemeine Zeitung
and
Namibia Nachrichten
.
Radio
The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) operates a dozen or so radio stations in nine languages.
The two main stations in Windhoek are Radio Energy (100FM) and Radio Kudu (103.5FM); the best pop station
is Radio Wave, at 96.7FM in Windhoek.
TV
The NBC broadcasts government-vetted TV programs in English and Afrikaans. News is broadcast at 10pm
nightly. Most top-end hotels and lodges with televisions provide access to satellite-supported DSTV, which broad-
casts NBC and a cocktail of cable channels.
Weights & Measures
Metric system.
Electricity
Electrical plugs are three round pins (like South Africa).
GUEST FARMS
Farmstays are a peculiarly Namibian phenomenon, where tourists can spend the night on
one of the country's huge private farms. They give an intriguing insight into the rural
white lifestyle although, as with B&Bs, the level of hospitality and the standard of rooms
and facilities can vary enormously . The emphasis is on personal service and quaint rural
luxury, and bedding down on a huge rural estate in the middle of the bush can be a
uniquely Namibian experience.
As an added bonus, many of these farms have designated blocks of land as wildlife re-
serves, and offer excellent wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities. With that
said, many also serve as hunting reserves, so bear this in mind when booking if you don't
relish the thought of trading trophy stories over dinner.
For all farmstays, advance bookings are essential.
HOSTELS
In Windhoek, Swakopmund, Lüderitz and other places, you'll find private backpacker
hostels, which provide inexpensive dorm accommodation, shared ablutions and cooking
facilities. Most offer a very agreeable atmosphere, and they are extremely popular with
budget travellers. On average, you can expect to pay around N$90 per person per night.
Some also offer private doubles, which cost around N$220 to N$350.
