This southern African country affords the opportunity to experience a great variety of classic African landscapes- dunes, deserts, mountains and plains, as well see classic African wildlife in the national parks and private reserves.
The following information provides some broad and general guidelines about health risks and recommendations for travel to Namibia.
This should not be taken as a substitute for a personal consultation with one of our travel health doctors, whose advice will be specific for you and your trip and may include other issues not mentioned here.
Six to eight weeks out from departure is a good time to have a travel health consultation. You may need blood tests to check immunity to diseases or need a course of vaccines like rabies for example, and this gives you plenty of time to get everything completed. If you are travelling sooner however it's not too late for an appointment, simply make one as soon as you can.
Mosquito avoidance is essential for travel to Namibia, with insects transmitting everything from African Tick Bite Fever to malaria. Medication options for malaria will be discussed during your consultation.
Travellers diarrhoea, giardia and dysentery are just some of the illnesses caused by contaminated food and water. Tap water is best avoided.
Travellers should be up to date for routine childhood vaccines such as tetanus, measles and hepatitis B. Any of the following vaccines may also be recommended – hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies, influenza. Decisions regarding which are most appropriate depend on duration and nature of travel, itinerary, age, underlying medical conditions and past vaccination.
Hepatitis A is usually recommended for travel to Namibia.
Read MoreA food and water borne disease, typhoid vaccination is also often recommended.
Malaria occurs mainly in the northern half of the country from November through to June, however is year round in the far north near the border with Angola. Most cases are falciparum malaria, the most serious form. Mosquito avoidance is essential. Preventative medication should be discussed with one of our doctors. Different options are available. We have malaria maps and knowledge to help guide this decision making process. Any fever after travel to malaria risk areas requires assessment and an urgent blood test to exclude malaria, whether or not preventive medication has been taken.
Read MoreThis occurs mainly from November through to April. Take measures to avoid tick bites by wearing long sleeves and trousers (tucked into socks) when walking outdoors in risk areas and use strong DEET containing repellent on any exposed skin. Inspect all areas of the body promptly at the end of the day and carefully remove any ticks.
Avoid being bitten or scratched by any mammal. Consider pre-travel rabies vaccination, especially if travelling more extensively through Africa. Thoroughly rinse and disinfect any animal wound and seek prompt medical care for post exposure vaccination and wound care.
Read MoreThere are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of gastro spoiling your trip, including taking a water filtration drink bottle and one of our customisable medication kits with guidelines for self-treatment.
Read MoreNamibia has a high number of individuals with HIV. Avoid the risk of transmission of this and other STD’s. Avoid sex workers. Either abstain or pack condoms and use them. See a doctor on return for testing if you have put yourself at risk, and abstain until you are given the all clear.
Motor vehicle accidents are a real risk especially on unsealed roads/rural areas. Make sure you carry adequate water/fuel and provisions for remote travel.
We generally think of Malaria and Hepatitis when we travel overseas, however Measles is usually long forgotten in the preparation. In fact there have been a significant amount of cases brought back to Australia by overseas travellers who are generally unaware that they are at risk. This has long known
MPox (formerly Monkey Pox) remains a concern in many parts of the world including Australia. Thankfully the risk to most travellers remains low but this is a dynamic space. Travelers should avoid close contact with persons with symptoms consistent with MPox; observe hand and respiratory hygiene and safer-sex practices; and
As there is no non-essential overseas travel at this time this article will simply remain as an information resource for COVID-19. See our main COVID-19 page for more detailed information. We hope to be able to inform our travelers once again after this crisis passes. The links below remain trustworthy
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