Namibia - Botswana and Namibia - page 643

hotels in larger towns and some top-end lodges also offer internet access. Still, the relat-
ively high cost of accessing the internet is still a major constraint in rural areas.
If you're travelling with a notebook or hand-held computer, more and more hotels,
guesthouses and lodges are offering wi-fi connectability to their guests.
Establishments with internet access are identified in this topic with the icon, while
those with wireless have the icon.
Legal Matters
All drugs are illegal in Namibia, penalties are stiff and prisons are deeply unpleasant. So
don't think about bringing anything over the borders or buying it while you're here. The
police are also allowed to use entrapment techniques, such as posing as dealers, to catch
criminals, so don't be tempted.
Police, military and veterinary officials are generally polite, and on their best behaviour.
In your dealings with officialdom, you should always make every effort to be patient and
polite in return.
Maps
A good all-round map of the region is the Michelin map Central and South Africa (series
number 746) at a scale of 1:4,000,000, although it's not sufficiently detailed for Namibia.
For more detail you might pick up the Namibia map produced by Reise-Know-How-Ver-
lag (1:250,000) or the Freytag & Berndt map (1:200,000).
Shell Roadmap - Namibia or InfoMap Namibia are the best reference for remote routes.
InfoMap contains GPS coordinates and both companies produce maps of remote areas
such as Namibia's far northwest and the Caprivi Strip.
For the average tourist (ie if you're not planning your own remote self-drive safari),
these are too detailed. Much better is the Namibia Map endorsed by the Roads Authority
which shows major routes and lists accommodation. Even the Globetrotter Namibia map
is easy to read and quite detailed.
Also consider Namibia , Nelles Vertag (1:1,500,000), and Map Studio, which also pub-
lish a Namibia map (1:1,550,000) and a road atlas (1:500,000).
The best place to purchase maps in Namibia is at petrol stations, although you can get
your hands on more general maps at local bookshops.
In the USA, Trek Tools ( www.trektools.com ) is an excellent and exhaustive source for
maps of Namibia. A similarly extensive selection of maps is available in the UK from
Stanfords ( www.stanfords.co.uk ) .