Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Namibia, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country.

There are also some things that might be legal in Namibia, but still illegal in the United States. For example, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Namibia, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

U.S. citizens should avoid purchasing diamonds and other protected resources outside of licensed retail establishments. The penalty for illegal dealing in diamonds in Namibia is stiff – up to U.S. $20,000 in fines or five years in prison – and the courts generally impose the maximum sentence. The purchase and exportation of other protected resources (for example, elephant ivory or hunting trophies from certain endangered species) may also be prohibited by Namibian, international, and/or U.S. law.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: While Windhoek and other urban areas have good communications and transport infrastructure, some destinations in Namibia are very isolated, with little to no access to communications. If you plan to travel to these areas, come prepared with abundant water and supplies. Consider taking along a satellite phone for use in an emergency. The Embassy strongly recommends you contact family and friends in the U.S. before you travel to an isolated area. You should provide them with a detailed travel plan and a date upon which you will again be in contact.

In isolated regions potentially dangerous areas are common and unmarked. For this reason 4X4 trails, climbing areas, hiking trails, and rivers can be unpredictable and dangerous. Outside communication in these areas can be limited while rescue teams and medical assistance can be up to twenty-four hours away. Rugged terrain and severe climate can further complicate circumstances if something goes wrong. For example, over the past several years dozens of tourists (U.S. citizens among them) and locals have drowned in rivers with swift currents. Appropriate caution should be used in all unfamiliar surroundings.

Wild animals are dangerous. Travelers are advised that, even in the most serene settings, animals are wild and can pose a threat to life and safety. Travelers are cautioned to observe all local or park regulations and heed all instructions given by tour guides. Lions, elephants, oryxes, and rhinos have critically injured and killed individuals in the region. In addition, baboons are encountered throughout Namibia and they commonly scavenge the belongings of travelers. In some areas, especially where camping is common, baboons may be used to human presence and be quite bold in approaching or taking items that interest them. Keep belongings and food put away or in secure containers.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Consensual same-sex sexual relations are criminalized in Namibia. Although the U.S. Embassy is not aware of any recent arrests or prosecutions for such activities between consenting adults, they remain illegal under Namibia’s common law system. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our Information for LGBT Travelers page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Namibia, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. The government does not require special access to public buildings, and some buildings are not wheelchair accessible. The government requires that all new government buildings include ramps. Some street corners in the capital, Windhoek, are outfitted with special signal crossings for the visually impaired.