Getting to Namibia by Land or Sea

By Land

Borders

Namibia shares borders with four countries: South Africa (1,005 km), Angola (1,427 km), Botswana (1,544 km), and Zambia (244 km).

By just a few hundred metres, Namibia could have also shared a border with Zimbabwe in its northeast, where Zambia and Botswana already meet this country. In that case, this point would have been the world's only "international quadripoint".

From Neighbouring Countries

There are around thirty border crossings with neighbouring countries, about ten of which are the most commonly used. It is advisable to use only the main and "official" border posts. For example, crossing the border with Angola anywhere (not always well-marked, it’s true) can lead to serious problems, including fines and even prison. Similarly, the Oranjemund region in the far southwest, on the South African border, is diamond-rich. Access is highly regulated, as is crossing the border between the two countries in this area. Note also that not all border posts are open 24/7; many close around 17:00 and reopen at 07:00 the next day.

Public Transport

For international public transport, several (comfortable) bus routes exist. Direct services to/from Cape Town (South Africa) or Victoria Falls (Zambia/Zimbabwe) to Namibia are operated by Intercape, which is well-established across much of Southern Africa. For a Cape Town-Windhoek trip, expect around twenty hours of travel for 50 €. Alternatively, a more budget-friendly option is to take a series of local buses or shared taxis to cross between countries, such as when travelling to Angola or Botswana.

As for trains, there are no longer any international passenger rail services; the line connecting South Africa (Upington) to Namibia has been discontinued.

By Sea

Ferries

There are no ferry routes between Namibia and other countries.

Cargo

Lüderitz and especially Walvis Bay are Namibia’s two main commercial ports. These are the points of entry if you hope to arrive by cargo ship.

Cruises

The region is not a major cruise destination, so opportunities are quite rare. However, a few cruises travel between Europe and Cape Town, South Africa. They follow the African coastline, usually with a stop in Namibia, specifically at Walvis Bay.