Is It Safe to Travel to Namibia in 2026?
Namibia - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south; in the northeast, approximating a quadripoint, Zimbabwe lies less than 200 metres (660 feet) away along the Zambezi river near Kazungula, Zambia.
Is It Safe to Travel to Namibia in 2026?
Namibia is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Namibia due to crime and health risks. Potentially violent crimes, such as home invasions and muggings, are increasingly common, especially in tourist areas.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- health
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Potentially violent crimes, such as home invasions and muggings, are increasingly common, especially in tourist areas., Crime is a significant concern in Namibia, particularly in urban areas and tourist spots..
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from violent crimes such as muggings and home invasions, particularly in tourist areas where these incidents are increasingly common.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to crime in urban areas, but major hotels and business districts generally maintain security measures.
Families with children should be cautious due to limited healthcare facilities outside major cities and the risk of diseases such as malaria and other tropical illnesses.
Remote workers may find reliable connectivity in urban areas but should be cautious of health risks and limited medical facilities in rural regions.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Namibia.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Namibia has an overall threat severity of 3.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Free — scored 77/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Namibian Dollar (NAD)
Language
English
Notable restrictions:
- Travel medical insurance is recommended for all travelers.
- Local medical facilities may require full payment in cash at the time of service.
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- alertGlobal Polio: Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Namibia
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Namibia?
▶Is it safe to travel to Namibia right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Namibia?
▶What vaccines do I need for Namibia?
▶Is Namibia safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Namibia?
More Namibia Data
Free — 77/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.