Whether it’s your first big trip, or you’re a seasoned traveler – you should always remember to pack those key essential items for every excursion.
Our first tip is to consider packing your items into a soft travel bag with no wheels. This will allow your bag to fit into small spaces. You will maximize your options, and not have to worry about your bag fitting in somewhere when you are traveling around.
Next we get into the usual packing items – sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, moisturizing lotion, sunblock and lip balm. These are important to help protect yourself from the sun. Namibia is hot and dry. We all love a good tan, but make sure you are taking care of yourself. You don’t want to get so burnt on your first couple days that your trip is ruined.
If you’re visiting during the dry season, keep in mind that this is also Africa’s winter. You will want lightweight clothes during the day, and long sleeved pants and shirts during the evening. The average evening temperatures can dip below 10 degrees Celsius, and if you’re riding around on a safari, you’ll want those warmer layers with you – not to mention the bugs! (Oh yeah, don’t forget to pack or buy bug repellent!)
Speaking of layers, you’ll want a smaller, lightweight day sack. This way, you have something to carry everything but don’t have to cart around all your luggage. Bring closed toe shoes, and a pair of sandals. We don’t know about you, but trekking through the dessert in a nice pair of shoes isn’t our cup of tea – so leave those behind.
The dry season is also known for it’s stargazing. If that’s something you’re interested in – pack some binoculars. The amateur stargazer wouldn’t know it, but Namibia is known worldwide for some of the most stellar night sky views. This is because of the low population density and almost no light pollution. With that said, you should also grab a flashlight. It’ll come in handy when you’re venturing under the twinkling stars.
You’ll want to remember those typical electronic items – a conversion plug, and a travel power strip are a must. If you’re carting around a decent amount of electronics that need charging every night, that power strip will come in handy, giving you the extra outlets you so desperately need. As for a local sim card, buy a prepaid sim card from a MTC store (the biggest network provider in Namibia), and recharge using Aweh. This means that you will load credit to your prepaid sim card, and then SMS the code #awehgig# to 134. This will provide you with ample call time, data and text messages. Aweh is only valid for a week, so be sure to recharge before your week is over, and just follow the process again once you receive the notification message.
If you’re going on a road trip and driving yourself – you may want to consider packing a GPS to make navigating easier, especially if it’s a solo trip. Either way, make sure you pack a traditional road map too! We’ve all been there when our electronics fail, make sure you have a backup plan.
If you are road tripping through Namibia, you’ll want to have enough cash on you to fill up your 4×4. Many filling stations don’t accept credit card payments, and not every station has an ATM. Make sure you have cash on hand right from the get-go or you could end up in a sticky situation.
A couple last things to note are ziplock bags for snacks, dirty clothes, or anything else, a couple large garbage bags to wrap your suitcase in – there is a lot of dust in Namibia and this is a good way to keep it out of your belonglings! Pick up a cheap watch to keep on time, and that you don’t necessarily care about. Wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and PLENTY of water are all a must. Again, the desert is dusty, hot, and very dry.
Once you’ve got your bag packed, your luxury chalet at Kupferquelle will be waiting for you to enjoy all Namibia has to offer. Visit https://www.kupferquelle.com/ to book your stay!