Broadly safe for most visitors, with only routine travel precautions needed. Public health and infrastructure are well developed.
Regional breakdown
Most visitors pass through Windhoek, the capital, before heading to Etosha National Park, Swakopmund on the coast, or the dunes of Sossusvlei. Crime risk is highest in urban areas. The official advisories both flag Windhoek for muggings, home invasions, and 'smash and grab' thefts from vehicles at traffic lights. Katutura township on the edge of Windhoek is named in advisories as a higher-risk area, especially after dark. Swakopmund and Walvis Bay on the Atlantic coast see fewer violent incidents, but petty theft from parked cars is common. Travellers driving the long gravel roads between Etosha, Damaraland, and the Caprivi Strip should plan fuel and water stops carefully. Distances are huge and mobile coverage drops out fast. The Caprivi (Zambezi) region in the far northeast borders Angola, Zambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. It is generally calm, but cross-border crime and wildlife encounters happen. Self-drivers in remote areas like Kaokoland and the Skeleton Coast should travel with a second vehicle where possible and tell someone their route.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance last updated its Namibia guidance on 10 December 2025. The change covered dual nationals returning to the UK on the entry requirements page. The official advisory guidance does not warn against travel to any part of Namibia right now. The official advisory guidance keeps Namibia at Level 2, 'Exercise Increased Caution', last reissued on 23 December 2024. The reasons are crime and limited medical facilities. The official advisory guidance singles out home invasions, break-ins, muggings, and vehicle smash-and-grabs as growing concerns. It also notes that health facilities outside the main cities may not stock basic medications, and recommends medical evacuation insurance. Neither government has ordered any departures or imposed staff movement limits.
What travellers should know
Driving is the main way to see Namibia, and road risk is the issue most travellers underestimate. Gravel roads are fast and loose, and rollovers in 4x4 hire vehicles are common. Drive below the posted limit, avoid night driving outside towns, and watch for animals on rural roads. Carry spare tyres, water, and a paper map as backup. Crime in Windhoek tends to be opportunistic. Keep bags out of sight in the car, lock doors at traffic lights, and avoid walking after dark. Use registered taxis or ride apps from your hotel. Healthcare is good in private hospitals in Windhoek and Swakopmund but thin elsewhere, so medical evacuation cover is worth budgeting for. Malaria risk exists in the north and northeast, including Etosha's eastern edge and the Caprivi, mostly in the wet season from November to April. Check vaccinations and antimalarials with a travel clinic before flying.