Go with a plan.
Namibia's safety score rose to 68 today, though you should still heed the US and Canadian level 2 advisories while watching for global polio and measles outbreaks.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Namibia
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go with a plan.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Taxi driver coordination
Taxi drivers often spot vulnerable tourists and coordinate with robbers via cell phone. Avoid disclosing your specific accommodation location to strangers to prevent being tracked.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Polio
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Namibia is a peaceful country and is not involved in any wars.
- •Namibia has a relatively high crime rate, particularly sexual abuse, general violence after alcohol abuse, and theft.
- •For foreigners, it is not prudent to walk or ride taxis alone after sunset.
- •Most reported robberies take place just outside of the city centre.
Staying healthy
- •The HIV infection rate in Namibia is around 17%, which is lower than before but is still the leading cause of death in the country.
- •Namibia's medical system is modern and capable of attending to whatever needs you may have.
- •The northern part of Namibia is in a malaria-risk zone, so consult a doctor before leaving, and take appropriate malaria precautions when travelling in these areas.
- •Ensure you are well stocked with water when journeying through the hot and sparsely populated country.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Namibia is generally safe, but the primary danger is the road network rather than violent crime. Dirt and gravel roads require respect, offroad driving skills, and the ability to perform minor repairs. Fatal collisions occur, so travelers should avoid driving after dark. In major cities, the environment feels sketchy, necessitating the use of hi-vis car guards and constant vigilance. Do not leave vehicles unattended in unsafe areas. Outside of cities, human encounters are rare, and violence is not a reported issue. Travelers must respect restricted zones like the Sperrgebiet diamond land to avoid legal trouble, and adhere to strict local alcohol sales regulations to avoid unsafe situations.
“The roads are dangerous to drive and you would want to be comfortable with offroad driving and small car repairs.
— r/travel
“The major cities do feel a bit sketchy, make use of the car guards in hi vis vests and don't leave your car for long anywhere unsafe. You'll need a thick skin, and sometimes eyes in the back of your head.
— r/travel
“DONT GET OUT OF YOUR CAR IN THE SPERRGEBIET - it is private diamond land, we only found out afterwards that we had broken several laws by going to the bathroom and going over to the railway to look at wildlife on the C13 and B4.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
D / M · 220V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 10 111 / ambulance: depends on town/city / fire: depends on town/city
Zoom in
One Namibia city on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (11 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- reddit — observed 2026-07-12
- unodc — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12