Namibia travel

Cius

Cius

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So I am planning on taking a trip through Namibia in June/July. Just had a few questions for the people that may know:

1. MTN roaming for data seems exorbitant so I want to get a local source of internet. There is one Namib provider with good coverage so I figured I would just get a SIM accross the border but seems like there are no shops for MTB near the SA border. You have to wait till just about Windhoek before you can buy one. Any other options people have found?

2. Is it worth getting dollars before you go or is it fine just using your SA card and Rands? Main holiday will be in Windhoek and Swakopmund with two overnight stops in Keetmanshoop.

3. Can you take eggs over the border? I see Chicken itself is banned but its less clear on Eggs. Found an older 2021 article saying it was banned due to a bird flu thing back then but its been a long time and I could not find any hard evidence one way or the other.
 
Cius said:
So I am planning on taking a trip through Namibia in June/July. Just had a few questions for the people that may know:

1. MTN roaming for data seems exorbitant so I want to get a local source of internet. There is one Namib provider with good coverage so I figured I would just get a SIM accross the border but seems like there are no shops for MTB near the SA border. You have to wait till just about Windhoek before you can buy one. Any other options people have found?

2. Is it worth getting dollars before you go or is it fine just using your SA card and Rands? Main holiday will be in Windhoek and Swakopmund with two overnight stops in Keetmanshoop.

3. Can you take eggs over the border? I see Chicken itself is banned but its less clear on Eggs. Found an older 2021 article saying it was banned due to a bird flu thing back then but its been a long time and I could not find any hard evidence one way or the other.
Click to expand...
2. Rands works perfectly fine and is accepted. Our last trip to fish river we didn't get any local currency.

Can't really advise on the rest.
 
Cius said:
So I am planning on taking a trip through Namibia in June/July. Just had a few questions for the people that may know:

1. MTN roaming for data seems exorbitant so I want to get a local source of internet. There is one Namib provider with good coverage so I figured I would just get a SIM accross the border but seems like there are no shops for MTB near the SA border. You have to wait till just about Windhoek before you can buy one. Any other options people have found?

2. Is it worth getting dollars before you go or is it fine just using your SA card and Rands? Main holiday will be in Windhoek and Swakopmund with two overnight stops in Keetmanshoop.

3. Can you take eggs over the border? I see Chicken itself is banned but its less clear on Eggs. Found an older 2021 article saying it was banned due to a bird flu thing back then but its been a long time and I could not find any hard evidence one way or the other.
Click to expand...

1. Which border crossing though? At Noordoewer/Vioolsdrift there is a Shell that sells SIM cards, that's all you really need
2. Nope, you can use SA Rands. Remember to swap any Nam $ to ZAR before coming back though
3. Not sure about the eggs, why don't you just buy there? Meat is also generally cheaper there than here

One thing I can advise is if you're taking a road trip to make sure you stock up on some veggies, caught us off guard as a lot of the small shops will sell meat but not fresh produce
 
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They've implemented something similar to RICA. You can buy an MTC SIM card anywhere, but you'll need to activate it at MTC. You'll so need an affidavit from the police listing your address if you're a tourist.
 
If you want to find out things about the border post and what you can take through, I recommend phoning them, don't take chances or listen to word of mouth.
Sometimes laws.rules change, so best to get it from border guys, they were friendly last time I called them when we went on honeymoon to Namibia.
 
I haven’t been there since 2012, but used Randy’s everywhere. Cards also work.

One thing I would suggest is to read up on how to drive on dirt roads if you haven’t before.
And what to do if you get stuck somewhere.
 
prod said:
1. Which border crossing though? At Noordoewer/Vioolsdrift there is a Shell that sells SIM cards, that's all you really need
2. Nope, you can use SA Rands. Remember to swap any Nam $ to ZAR before coming back though
3. Not sure about the eggs, why don't you just buy there? Meat is also generally cheaper there than here

One thing I can advise is if you're taking a road trip to make sure you stock up on some veggies, caught us off guard as a lot of the small shops will sell meat but not fresh produce
Click to expand...
We where coming from Agrabies and wanting to stop at Fish River so unless we drive much further the border post we where aiming for is Onseepkans/Vellorsdrift. I wonder if there is not something similar there?
 
Cius said:
We where coming from Agrabies and wanting to stop at Fish River so unless we drive much further the border post we where aiming for is Onseepkans/Vellorsdrift. I wonder if there is not something similar there?
Click to expand...

Not sure, but it could help to ask your questions on the 4x4 forum, you'll probably receive better info there. If what @Arthur Morgan say is true then it might be more complicated, I was there in 2021 last and you could still just effortlessly buy a SIM card anywhere.
 
1. Download an app called Airalo you can buy a virtual Namibian SIM card via that and load Data, used it in Europe and worked very well.

2. ZAR accepted everywhere as you purchase you will get NAM$ back, make sure you use it all or swop before leaving no demand for it in RSA so pointless keeping it.

3. Not sure on Eggs but there are Spar’s just over the Orange River border. Stock most goods, fresh fruit and veg can be a problem as truck only delivers once a week.

Fill up with fuel whenever you can especially on back roads, rural roads (the B1 is fine) basically dont let range drop below 200 / 300km
 
Cius said:
2. Is it worth getting dollars before you go or is it fine just using your SA card and Rands? Main holiday will be in Windhoek and Swakopmund with two overnight stops in Keetmanshoop.
Click to expand...

Just be wary that using a foreign (Non Namibian) card to draw money or pay carries a surcharge. It was R60 at Bank Windhoek ATMs and POS card readers in 2017. I carry cash now.
 
Cius said:
So I am planning on taking a trip through Namibia in June/July. Just had a few questions for the people that may know:

1. MTN roaming for data seems exorbitant so I want to get a local source of internet. There is one Namib provider with good coverage so I figured I would just get a SIM accross the border but seems like there are no shops for MTB near the SA border. You have to wait till just about Windhoek before you can buy one. Any other options people have found?

2. Is it worth getting dollars before you go or is it fine just using your SA card and Rands? Main holiday will be in Windhoek and Swakopmund with two overnight stops in Keetmanshoop.

3. Can you take eggs over the border? I see Chicken itself is banned but its less clear on Eggs. Found an older 2021 article saying it was banned due to a bird flu thing back then but its been a long time and I could not find any hard evidence one way or the other.
Click to expand...
You can buy an MTC SIM card anywhere, even at the gas station right at the borders. They will even RICA it for you, if you really want too.

2. you can use Rands

3. we have eggs here, no need to bring your own.
 
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