Namibia: Travellers have to inform the Embassy before entering the country! [update]

update (28 September 2020): The Embassy of the Republic of Namibia in Germany has announced that it is NO LONGER required for tourists to inform Diplomatic Missions 14 days in advance of their intention to travel to Namibia. This is according to Namibia's Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation.

Travellers planning to visit Namibia have to inform the relevant Namibian diplomatic representative in the country of intended departure of the intention to enter Namibia. This is according to the "Government Gazette No. 7320 of 29 August 2020, regulation 12 (4)". According to post on Facebook by the Embassy of the Republic of Namibia in Germany travellers have to provide the following two weeks (!) before entering Namibia:

• Scanned passport copy
• Scanned copy of flight ticket
• Reason for intended travel (Namibian national, resident, tourist)
• Address of current location
• Address in Namibia
• Contact details (Mobile-/ Whatsapp number, e-mail address)
• Booking confirmation of quarantine arrangement/ first destination at a NTB-registered establishment  

Namibia's International Tourism Revival Initiative: Namibia stops enforcing mandatory quarantine for tourists!

Namibia's Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, has announced ammendments to the country's International Tourism Revival Initiative (TRI) protocols. Since the TRI protocols got implemented, Namibia has failed to record a single tourist arrival. This, as well as the fact that other countries in the region have opened up their borders with fewer restictions, has led the Government of Namibia to amend the TRI protocols in order to keep the country's tourism industry competetive. The TRI protocols are amended as follows:

1. Upon arrval at Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek, tourists proceed to the pre-booked destination and engage in the planned daily tourist activities at the facility for the numer of days the tourist is staying there.
2. If tourists intend to spend less than five days at the pre-booked facility, tourists can proceed to the next destination. However, on day five, tourists must be available for a PCR test ("swabbing") whereever they are.
3. Tourists must be reachable on day seven to receive the results of the PCR test ("swabbing").
4. If the result is negative, tourists are released from any surveillance. If the result is positive, tourists will be taken to the isolation facilities identified by Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services and treated at their own cost and according to national case management guidelines.

Namibia: Ethiopian Airlines to resume flights between Addis Ababa <> Windhoek!

The flag carrier of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Airlines, is set to return to Namibia. Effective 11 September 2020, the airline will operate four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays between Bole International Airport (ADD) in Addis Ababa and Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek. Ethiopian Airlines' return to Namibia is part of the country's "Tourism Revival Initiative", which comes into effect today (01 September 2020). The airline is the first international airline to resume operations to Namibia.

Air Namibia's flight operations remain suspended! [update]

update (16 September 2020): Air Namibia's domestic, regional and international services are still suspended.

Namibia's flag carrier, Air Namibia, has extended the suspension of domestic flights due to the travel restrictions, which prohibit exit and entry into the restricted City of Windhoek, Okahandja and Rehoboth Local Authority Areas. The suspension has been extended till such time when local travel will be allowed again. Additionally, the suspension of regional and international flights has been extended until further notice, depending on market demand and reopening of international borders of countries where the airline operates to. The airline has confirmed that it will continue to participate in Namibia's Tourism Revival Initiative. As an essential service provider Air Namibia remains available to offer charter flights worldwide.

online flight booking on TravelComments.com >>

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).