About Accommodation in Namibia

The attraction of Namibia isn’t limited to any one particular country. In fact, unless you are a travel journalist, you’d be pushed to visit all the most touristic Namibian destinations in a lifetime. The diversity of this vast country seems infinite but you can rest assured that wherever you choose to lay your head you will also find a diverse range of accommodation in Namibia to suit your mood, and your pocket.

Although you’ll find the allure of the great outdoors irresistible during your travels to Namibia, you’ve got to stay somewhere when you visit. Find out about your options for accommodation in Namibia.

The official watchdog of accommodation in Namibia is the Namibian Tourism Board and they recognize 9 official accommodation categories. However, these are by no means cast in stone.

Whatever your travel plans and preferences, you’ll find something to suit your style in this popular and welcoming destination. The official accommodation designations are:

Bed and Breakfast

The vast majority of bed and breakfast establishments are owner-run and usually offer a more personalized experience than a hotel does. Most B&Bs offer between 3 and 8 rooms and breakfast is always included. Depending on your price range this could be a quick continental meal, a buffet-spread with many options, a cooked meal or even a la carte choices. You’ll find a huge choice when it comes to B&B’s in Namibia. Some may be pet friendly, some have special facilities for children, many are located in leafy city suburbs, while others occur in isolated wilderness spots.

Guest Farms

Guest Farms are becoming a popular option for those wanting to escape from it all during their trip. These family-run places have a relaxed, informal vibe with a few activities and adventures available right on your doorstep.

The accommodation consists of an old farm house or manor house that has been converted into guest bedrooms. Meals are usually negotiable, although most offer breakfast as the standard with the option to enjoy lunch and dinner elsewhere or in-house.

Guest Houses

Guest houses offer a similar experience to guest farms, except they are located in or close to cities in Namibia. They are a less expensive option than hotels but provide many similar facilities with an added personal touch.

Most guesthouses are located at the private residence of the owner and consist of an extension to their own dwellings. This ensures that you enjoy highly personalized attention and hospitality. Breakfast is usually included in the deal with the option to enjoy lunch and dinner during your travels.

Some guesthouses have the added luxury of a shuttle service, laundry, pool or wellness spa on the premises. Rooms are often individually furnished with extra little touches.

Hotel Pensions

A pension is basically a boutique hotel and they occur across a wide range of price points. Pensions are smaller than mainstream hotels offering a more personalized stay, and out of town locations.

Three meals per day are the norm although you won’t have a choice of restaurants or many other facilities to choose from. Most pensions offer the option of half board too which excludes lunch.

Some of the facilities you can expect when staying at a hotel pension include a swimming pool, Wi-Fi, business facilities, a bar, a laundry, secure parking and a tourist information desk.

Hotels

Hotels in Namibia are rated from 1 star to 5 stars and offer corresponding facilities and service. Many of the major hotel chains have branches in Windhoek while even small towns feature a local hotel with a bar and restaurant.

Smaller hotels usually offer an intimate family-run experience, while the larger establishments boast all the bells and whistles, amenities and services. Naturally, the more luxury you want, the more you are going to pay. You’ll find many of the smaller options offer excellent experiences at lower rates.

Lodges

Usually, lodges occur on the outskirts of Namibia’s cities and towns. There are two main types of lodges in Namibia –

• One building featuring all the rooms and facilities
• A central dining area with freestanding accommodation

Lodges are becoming increasingly popular among tourists and have increased their offerings correspondingly. You can find lodges offering tented accommodation, tree houses, chalets, caves and huts.

Many lodges have evolved an eco-friendly approach allowing you to immerse yourself in the Namibian countryside. You’ll find country lodges, bush lodges, safari lodges and game lodges scattered throughout Namibia, each offering their own unique blend of meals, rooms and activities.

Rest Camps

Rest camps are usually found along main thoroughfares and are very varied. Many offer only simple overnight accommodation while others are designed for longer stays with restaurants, swimming pools and guided activities on site.

Typically, rest camps offer low budget accommodation with clean, comfortable rooms featuring only the necessities. They are often owner-run and may provide more than one accommodation option including rooms, free-standing huts and camping.

Travel lodges are similar to rest camps except they occur in more built-up areas.

Self-Catering Establishments

The defining characteristic of self-catering accommodation is that they have fully-equipped kitchens for the exclusive use of guests. The sky’s the limit when it comes to the choice of self-catering accommodation available in Namibia.

Houses, studio apartments, chalets and huts are all available with a self-catering option. They are a cost-effective choice offering you the freedom to explore the country at your leisure. Some establishments offer the option to add meals onto the price of your accommodation if there is a restaurant on site.

Permanent Tented Camps

Tented camps are a common phenomenon in Namibia, particularly in and around game reserves. These allow you to immerse yourself more fully in the wilderness experience without foregoing too many luxuries.

Tented camps offer many of the perks of lodges, except under canvas, and are available in varying degrees of luxury to suit your pocket. Usually communal kitchens and sculleries are provided as well as ablution blocks, although some permanent tents have private kitchens and bathrooms.

Tented Lodges

Tented lodges are the fully-inclusive version of tented camps with luxurious lodges, full-board and daily excursion such as game drives.

Camping in Namibia

Camping, caravanning and overlanding are popular ways for the truly adventurous to explore Namibia. Often, there are campsites available as an extra facility at rest camps, lodges and self-catering premises.

Camp sites may be grassed or sand, and electrified or rustic. Ablutions and kitchen facilities are usually shared but there are more luxurious camp sites with private kitchens and bathrooms included.

Community camp sites are an excellent way to support the local folk of Namibia and experience the unique friendly hospitality that these local tribesmen have to offer.

Find Out More

Get in touch to discuss your needs pertaining to accommodation in Namibia. We are happy to assist and advise you on the perfect stay while visiting this vast African country.

Disclaimer
Please Note: The details shared herein were correct at the time of publishing. However, with time some of this information may change. We recommend confirming information with suppliers prior to making final travel arrangements. If you do happen to find an issue with any information we’ve shared here, please feel free to contact us so that we can make the relevant changes.