To book your dream holiday to Namibia, is as easy as falling of a log. It might seem scary at first because you don’t know where to start, who to contact, who to trust and what to search for.
I want to help you plan your holiday flawlessly without ending up somewhere on a deserted island. If that does happen to you, please send me the GPS coordinates so I can join you. It sounds like fun.
Do your homework and get inspired
The first thing you need to do is lots of research on Namibia. Go to Google images, type in Namibia and voila. An ocean of images will pop up in front of you. The ones that appeal to you the most are the places you want to be visiting. Go to each image individually and read about the area. This way you get an idea of what is where in Namibia and which lodges and attractions you want to visit. On TripAdvisor you will find feedback and recommendations from other travellers. Don't judge a lodge or attraction based on one review, read through a few, but also read the answers of management. This way you get a general idea of what the place is like. Ask your friends questions on platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Should I book via a Travel Agent or Direct?
Travel agent
Take this newly found inspiration to a travel agent. They will arrange your accommodation, flights and car hire until you are back home again. A vital note to remember: talk to your agent as much as possible. Even if you think your questions are silly, ask them. This way you and your travel agent understand your needs and what they can or cannot offer you. Think about your whole trip and what you want to do. Everything you are unsure about can be clarified by your agent. Your travel agent doesn’t know what you like, who you are or where you're from. Help this person to tailor a fantastic holiday to suit your needs, by getting to know you better.
Book Direct
For the more spontaneous traveller, do everything yourself. It's intimidating at first but after a bit of practise it gets easier. To avoid disappointment, make sure you book well in advance. This is particularly essential during the high season (1. July to 31. December). To plan your holiday yourself can be a lot of fun. You get to decide where you want to go and what you want to do. You are not restricted to a fixed itinerary.
A question frequently asked: which one do I book first - the air tickets or the accommodation? That’s like asking: which came first, the chicken or the egg?
I have a perfect solution; get a detailed map of Namibia. Start marking a route of attractions. Keep in mind the distances you will have to travel to get from point A to B, as some destinations are situated quite far from each other.
Driving at night and for hours on end is extremely dangerous. For more tips on travelling in Namibia, go to our Travel tips blog entry.
Get the details of up to two lodges or establishments in a specific area. If you have a slight idea of when you want to go on holiday, enquire about accommodation, flight availability and activities. This way you get an idea of which dates are available. As soon as you have compared all the dates, start making reservations.
Go crazy with your online research. Search for photos, videos and comments on Google, Facebook, YouTube etc - It's all there with enough content to help you. I guarantee the big WWW will not bite. You can literally search for and find anything on the internet.
Get the details of up to two lodges or establishments in a specific area. If you have a slight idea of when you want to go on holiday, enquire about accommodation, flight availability and activities. This way you get an idea of which dates are available. As soon as you have compared all the dates, start making reservations.
Go crazy with your online research. Search for photos, videos and comments on Google, Facebook, YouTube etc - Its all there with enough content to help you. I guarantee the big WWW will not bite. You can literally search for and find anything on the internet.
What you should and should not do
DON’T ! There is a reason this word is written in a Big Bold font.
Do not over plan your trip. A surprise or two along the way will form part of your adventure.
Make sure your flights, transport and accommodation in Namibia is booked. Get enough information together about the area, before your trip. On your trip, just go with the flow and be a visitor. All the other things will come naturally. Bear in mind, you are a visitor to Namibia and should respect the cultures and ethnic traditions.
Don’t' over pack. For more on dress code - read our previous blog entry on Travel Tips for Namibia.
DO
Take lots of photos to share with your friends. I like to have a little notebook on hand to jot down details of something funny or extraordinary that happened. With time, we seem to forget little details of a trip. This way you can keep a journal. Even though you have the photos, you don’t always remember why you took that specific photo.
Be considerate when taking pictures of locals. In some cultures, cameras are forbidden. If the person says no, just move on and don’t be pushy.
Support local people and products. This is one of the things you can research before your trip, but also ask around when in a specific area. Buying locally produced products ensures a future for our country's residents.
Do use your common sense. Act like you would at home with the acceptable amount of safety and carefulness.
Enjoy your holiday to the fullest. Don't sweat the small stuff. If something goes wrong, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. I am not one for quotes, but this is something I just love repeating: Smile and wave boys, just smile and wave. It's from the Madagascar movie I know, but those penguins are adorable.
Are you ready to book your holiday? Go on, do it now.
Jessica Schoombee is a local freelance writer. She is an eccentric young lady who has a love affair with writing. Get on board her journey of discovery.
