Namibia to reopen for international tourism from 01 September 2020! [update]

update (15 September 2020): PCR Tests: The laboratory costs (NAD550pp - NAD850pp) must be paid by the traveller. Remaining costs are paid by the Namibian Government.

 

update (09 September 2020): Namibia: Travellers have to inform the Embassy before entering the country! [read more]

 

update (08 September 2020): Namibia to stop enforcing mandatory quarantine for tourists! We'll keep you posted! [read more]

update (07 September 2020): German budget carrier Eurowings, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, has announced the return to Namibia. [read more]

update (01 September 2020): The flag carrier of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Airlines, is set to return to Namibia. Effective... [read more]

update (01 September 2020): As of today, no international airlines are offering flights to Namibia.

update (27 August 2020): To retrieve the implementation protocols for Namibia's International Tourism Revival Initiative and more information, including the "Health Questionnaire for Travellers", click here.

update (25 August 2020): The full implementation protocols have been released. These are the most important requirements for travellers intending to visit Namibia after 01 September 2020. (also see the requirements listed below > "pertinent requirements")

• Tourists must complete and epidemiological questioniaire to be submitted with the full travel itinerary to health staff on the gound at Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek. The form can be obtained from the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB).
• All international passengers arriving into Namibia must undergo temperature screening.
• Symptomatic travellers with body temperatures equal or above 38°C will be tested for Covid-19 at the airport. In addition to this temperature level, if a traveller is coughing, has shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, sore throat and headache - they will be isolated in specific facilities by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) until their results are ready.
• A traveller who provides on arrival a valid and negative PCR result in compliance with entry requirement will be allowed to proceed to the certified facility of booking for seven day seclusion.
• All travellers who entered Namibia will be tested for Covid-19 on day five of seclusion at the first tourist facility of their stay. Test results will be provided by day seven after which tourist will be allowed to continue with itinerary if results are negative. If the result is positive, the tourist will be taken to an isolation facility. Testing will be conducted by health service providers at the tourist's place of stay.
• Tourist may undertake and enjoy all tourist products and activities offered at their place of stay and may not leave the premise until after the seventh day.
• Travellers entering Namibia should be aware of possible health risks posed by Covid-19 and should comply with any additional screening measures put in place at respective places of visit.
• Breach of the seven-day seclusion protocols is a punishable offence in accordance with the laid down regulation of Namibia's State of Emergency.
• To safeguard tourist's health and timely action in the event of Covid-19 detection, it is mandatory that tourists must acquire a local mobile number and be reachable at all times while in Namibia.
• A traveller whose result of test after seven days comes out positive will be moved to Government isolation facilities for treatment at own cost and be managed according to the National Case Management Guidelines.
• All travellers must adhere to the existing visa requirements applicable to their countries.
• Travellers from visa-exempted countries can stay up to a maximum of 90 days in Namibia. Travellers overstaying their visa or permit can be arrested, detained and fined before being deported.
• Travellers can also apply the visas at Namibian Embassies/High Commissions around the world.
• Passport should be valid for minimum of 6 month from the date of visa application

Namibia's Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, has announced the implementation protocols for the country's international tourism revival initiative. The initiative, which targets leisure travellers, will come into effect on 01 September 2020. It will be reviewed bi-weekly and amended if neccessary as implementation proceeds. The full implementation protocols are still to be released, but the Minister announced a few of the "pertinent requirements" during his announcement:

• Entry to Namibia will only be allowed via Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek, which will reopen for international flights on 01 September 2020
• All travellers must present a negative PCR test result, not older than 72 hours before boarding the plane to be allowed to enter Namibia.
• All travellers will be required to stay for seven days at their first tourist facility of booking, which must be duly registered with the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) and certified by Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS). The tourists must proceed directly to their first accommodation from the airport. No overnight or stopovers are permitted.
• All tourism establishments must observe the general health and sqfety protocols as stipulated by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS).
• Detailed Covid-19 protocols for all operations in the tourism sector have been put in place by the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB). All tourism and hospitality establishments, facilities and enterprises must prior to receiving guests obtain a health certification license/permit in compliance with the provision of the protocols for the international tourism revival initiative. Further information and application forms are available from the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB).

Namibia to reopen for international tourism from 03 August 2020! [update]

update (25 August 2020): According to news reports, Namibia will reopen for international tourism from 01 September 2020. Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek will also resume operations on 01 September 2020. We'll keep you posted!

update (13 August 2020): According to the adjusted measures implemented by the Government of Namibia to combat the coronavirus, Namibia's points of entry and cross border movement of persons remains closed. The Ministerial Coordinating Committee will convene as a matter of urgency to consider the implementation modalities for the recently approved Tourism Revival Initiative and operating modalities.

update (12 August 2020): According to Namibian newspaper "New Era" (online edition) Namibia only reopens for international tourism once the National Task Team has finalized the modalities  related to the targeted international tourism revival initiative. This is expected to happen this week. We'll keep you posted!

update (04 August 2020): The Namibia Tourism Board has released a new video titled "Namibia will be ready for you". Enjoy!

According to the latest statement on Namibia's Covid-19 national response by President Dr. Hage G. Geingob, the country's "targeted international tourism revival initiative", which was supposed to start on 15 July 2020, has now been approved to commence on 03 August 2020.
As of 03 August 2020, international tourists arriving in Namibia will be required to present a 72 hour negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result. Tourists will not be subjected to a mandatory quarantine. They will however be required to remain at their first initial destination in Namibia, for a period of seven days. A test will be conducted during this period and the tourist will be permitted to proceed with their holiday on day seven, provided the test result is negative.
The details of the modalities of the revised "targeted international tourism revival initiative" are to be finalized by a National Task Team that is to be constituted by the Line Minister, comprising of sector representatives and key institutions. According to President Dr. Hage G. Geingob, continuous assessments will be conducted throughout this trial, which will inform and strengthen preparations for the imminent reopening of Namibia's Points of Entry under the final stage (17 September 2020 - end of state of emergency) of the country's five-stage strategy to exit the coronavirus lockdown.

President Dr. Hage G. Geingob also announced that the Erongo Region and the special  dispensation for the Local Authority Areas of Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Arandis will remain unchanged and is hereby extended from 04 August 2020 until midnight on 31 August 2020. The other 13 regions of Namibia will remain under stage four level of  restrictions, with the following revised measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus:

• Public gatherings are reduced from 250 to 100 persons.
• The sale of alcohol is to remain on a takeaway basis and for consumption in private  dwellings, shebeens and bars. For restaurants and hotels, on-site consumption of alcohol is permitted, as per the current arrangements under stage four.
• Contact sports will be permitted, but no spectators allowed. Unregistered sports activities that draw crowds must be discouraged in the communities.
• The public must strictly adhere to the regulations and gealth & hygiene protocols,  which are our first line of defense. 
  Members of the public must:
• Wear a mask at all times in public spaces
• Maintain social distancing
• Avoid crowded public gatherings
• Avoid unnecessary travel to and from different parts of the country.
• The face-to-face mode of instruction is suspended for Early Childhood Devel-opment, preprimary and Grades 1 to 9, across the country from 04 August 2020, for  28 days. Grades 10, 11 and 12 will be permitted to continue with face-to-face  instruction.    

These revised measures under stage four come into effect from midnight on 03 August 2020 to midnight on 17 September 2020.