Index 

Tourist Info Office

Namibian Entry Requirements

Border posts

Mata-Mata & Sendelingsdrift

Cross-Border charges

Entry Routes from S.A.

Road Conditions

Namibian winter time

Safety tips

The Henties Bay Municipality operates a Tourist Information Office that is situated at the Grobler Motors/Total Service station.

Tourist Information Officer:  Estelle Rubow
Tel +264-64-501143
Fax +264-64-501142
E-mail: hbayinfo@iway.na
 

Namibian Entry Requirements

To visit Namibia foreign nationals must be in possession of a passport that is valid for at least six months after date of entry. A visa is required from all visitors except nationals of countries with which Namibia has the necessary visa abolition agreement.
Border posts between Namibia and South Africa, (Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer), are open 24 hours per day.
The Transkalahari border post between Namibia and Botswana is open daily from 06:00 to 23:00. 
The Mata-Mata border post is open daily 08:00 - 16:30.
The Sendelingsdrift border post is open daily 08:00 - 16:30.
 

Border Posts

Mata-Mata and Sendelingdrift Border Posts Open

The Mata-Mata border post between Namibia and the Khgalagadi Transfrontier Park enables tourists to travel directly from the Park to Namibia and make it easier to combine a visit to the Park with a trip to Namibia.
To cross the border from the Namibian side, a minimum two-night stay in the Khgalagadi Transfrontier Park is required.  Namibians can obtain day permits to visit the park.

The Sendelingsdrift border post gives visitors to Namibia direct entry to the Ais-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, which can be reached via Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay.  A pontoon takes vehicles across the Orange River at the border post:  Standard vehicle with 6 and less occupants - R/N$150.00 per vehicle (one way) and R/N$250.00 (return).  The ferry can carry two standard 4x4 vehicles without trailers or one 4x4 vehicle plus a trailer or two standard sedan vehicles with trailers or one bus with less than 20 seats.

During the past rainy season the border post had to be closed twice due to the high levels of the Orange River; once in February due to heavy rains at Sendelingsdrift and again in April due to heavy rains further north. 

To make sure whether the border post is open or not it is best to phone the border post:
South African side:  +27-27-831 1506
Rosh Pinah:  +264-63-274 760

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Cross-Border Charges

Road-user charges have been imposed to generate sufficient funding to maintain a safe and economically efficient road sector in Namibia. The following Cross-Border Charges (CBCs) or Entry Fees are to be paid by all foreign-registered vehicles entering the country:

• N$120.00 per vehicle

• N$80.00 per trailer

• N$380.00 per bus

• Cash payments can be made in Namibian Dollars or credit card.

• All South African vehicles must have a ZA sticker on the window, which can be obtained from any AA office in South Africa.

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Entry Routes from South Africa

There are various entry routes from South Africa into Namibia and to Henties Bay. Why don't you regard your trip to Henties Bay as part of your holiday and put a few days aside for traveling, using the more scenic gravel roads and this way experiencing much more of the essence of Namibia.

MAIN ROUTES

Through Nakop Borderpost:
B3 - Ariamsvlei - Karasburg - Grünau - 178 km (tar)
B1 - Keetmanshoop - Mariental - Rehoboth - Windhoek - Okahandja - 566 km (tar)
B2 - Karibib - Usakos - Swakopmund - 287 km (tar)
C34 - Henties Bay - 70 km (hard surface salt road, no road markings, visibility in foggy conditions poor)

Through Vioolsdrif/Noordoewer Borderpost:
B1 - Grünau - 172 km (tar)
B1 - Keetmanshoop - Mariental - Rehoboth - Windhoek - Okahandja - 566 km (tar)
B2 - Karibib - Usakos - Swakopmund - 287 km (tar)
C34 - Henties Bay - 70 km (hard surface salt road, no road markings, visibility in foggy conditions poor)

Via Transkalahari Highway
N4 - Pretoria - Lobatse Border Post (Open 06:00 - 22:00) - 300 km (tar)
A2 - Jwaneng - Kang - Transkalahari (Buitepos) Border Post (Open 07:00 - 24:00) - 750 km (tar - take care of domestic animals on the road)
B2 - Windhoek - 320 km
B2 - Okahandja - Karibib - Usakos - Swakopmund - 355 km (tar)
C34 - Henties Bay - 70 km (hard surface salt road, no road markings, visibility in foggy conditions poor)

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

Through Nakop Borderpost:
B3 - Ariamsvlei - Karasburg - Grünau - 178 km (tar)
C12 - Seeheim - 129 km (gravel, graded regularly, 4x4 recommended)
B4 - Goageb - 63 km (tar)
C14 - Bethanien - 34 km (tar)
C14 - Helmeringhausen - 80 km (gravel, graded regularly, 4x4 recommended)
C14 - Maltahöhe - Bülsport - Solitaire - Kuiseb Pass - Walvis Bay - 537 km (gravel road, although regularly graded slightly corrugated and rough in places, 4x4 recommended)
B2 - Swakopmund - 30 km (tar)
C34 - Henties Bay - 70 km (hard surface salt road, no road markings, visibility in foggy conditions poor)

Through Nakop Borderpost:
B3 - Ariamsvlei - Karasburg - Grünau - 178 km (tar)
C12 - Seeheim - 129 km (gravel, graded regularly, 4x4 recommended)
B4 - Goageb - 63 km (tar)
C14 - Bethanien - 34 km (tar)
C14 - Helmeringhausen - 80 km (gravel, graded regularly, 4x4 recommended)
C27 - Betta - Sesriem - 253 km (scenic gravel road, 4x4 recommended)
D826/C19 - Solitaire - 83 km (scenic gravel road, 4x4 recommended)
C14 - Kuiseb Pass - Walvis Bay - 230 km (scenic gravel road, 4x4 recommended)
B2 - Swakopmund - 30 km (tar)
C34 - Henties Bay - 70 km (hard surface salt road, no road markings, visibility in foggy conditions poor)

Through Vioolsdrif/Noordoewer Borderpost:
C13 - Rosh Pinah - 154 km (scenic gravel road along Orange River - graded regularly, 4x4 recommended)
C13 - Aus - 165 km (tar)
C13 - Helmeringhausen - 105 km (gravel, graded regularly, 4x4 recommended)
C14 - Maltahöhe - Bülsport - Solitaire - Kuiseb Pass - Walvis Bay - 537 km (gravel road, although regularly graded slightly corrugated and rough in places, 4x4 recommended)
B2 - Swakopmund - 30 km (tar)
C34 - Henties Bay - 70 km (hard surface salt road, no road markings, visibility in foggy conditions poor)

Through Vioolsdrif/Noordoewer Borderpost:
C13 - Rosh Pinah - 154 km (scenic gravel road along Orange River - graded regularly, 4x4 recommended)
C13 - Aus - 165 km (tar)
C13 - Helmeringhausen - 105 km (gravel, graded regularly, 4x4 recommended)
C27 - Betta - Sesriem - 253 km (scenic gravel road, 4x4 recommended)
D826/C19 - Solitaire - 83 km (scenic gravel road, 4x4 recommended)
C14 - Kuiseb Pass - Walvis Bay - 230 km (scenic gravel road, 4x4 recommended)
B2 - Swakopmund - 30 km (tar)
C34 - Henties Bay - 70 km (hard surface salt road, no road markings, visibility in foggy conditions poor)

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES FROM WINDHOEK
B1 - Windhoek - Okahandja - B2 - Usakos - D1918 from Usakos via Spitzkoppe - Henties Bay (gravel, graded regularly) - 350 km

C28 Windhoek via Boshua Pass - Swakopmund (gravel, scenic route, difficult pass, 4x4 necessary) - C34 - Henties Bay (hard surface salt road, no road markings, visibility in foggy conditions poor) - 387 km

C26 Windhoek via Kupferberg Pass, Gamsberg Pass, - C14 via Kuiseb Pass - Walvis Bay (gravel, scenic route, 4x4 recommended) - B2 - Swakopmund - C34 - Henties Bay (hard surface salt road, no road markings, visibility in foggy conditions poor) - 445 km

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES VIA REHOBOTH
C 24 - Rehoboth via Remhoogte Pass - C14 - Solitaire - Walvis Bay (gravel, scenic route, 4x4 recommended) - B2 - Swakopmund - C34 - Henties Bay (hard surface salt road, no road markings, visibility in foggy conditions poor) - 510 km

Through Sendelingsdrift Border Post
Port Nolloth, Alexander Bay, Sendelingdrift where you cross the Orange River by ferry, and then with the C13 to Rosh Pinah.  This Border post opened on 16 October 2007.

Through Mata-Mata Border Post
From the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park through Mata-Mata
Proceed with the C15 through Gochas, Stampriet, Hoachanas, Uhlenhorst to Rehoboth (red sand dunes - 4x4 recommended)
or
Join the C17 through Koës to Keetmanshoop (red sand dunes - 4x4 recommended) for a trip to Lüderitz or via Aus through the Namib to Henties Bay.

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ROAD CONDITIONS

Last update: Saturday, 10 May 2008

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Namibian Winter Time

The Namibian time changes to winter time on the first Sunday of April.
See the following website for time conversion: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

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SAFETY TIPS

Henties Bay and surroundings are of the safest tourist destinations in Namibia where you can move around on the beach and in the streets without being constantly plagued by pickpockets and other criminals.

It is, however, necessary to be as mindful of crime as you would normally be at your home, a big city or another country. By ignoring basic safety measures, tourists promote crime and put their safety in jeopardy.

Please help us to combat crime by taking the following basic precautions in order to ensure that your stay is as pleasant as possible.

* Never carry large amounts of cash on your person. Use credit cards or travelers cheques that are user friendly.
* Do not leave documents, money or valuable items in your car.
* If no facilities for the safekeeping of valuables are provided in your holiday accommodation, ask your agent or hotel/guest house manager for the safekeeping thereof.
* Do not display expensive cameras or other valuables, but carry it in a shoulder bag where it is not visible.

Holiday Housing

* Make sure that the accommodation you rent is provided with burglar proofing, an alarm system and safe parking.
* Make sure that you know how to use the alarm system. Consult your booking agent or Tom Cat Security in this regard.
* If you make use of holiday accommodation that does not have the necessary security, guards can be rented form Tom Cat Security.
* Make sure that you lock all doors at night and do not leave any valuables under an open window. Thieves in Henties Bay are especially active at night and usually very opportunistic.
* Report any burglaries immediately to the police.

* Anglers must not take gillies or other help picked up from the street to their homes - rather obtain a reference from your booking agent.
* Make sure that you are informed about the Angling Regulations. Heavy penalties are imposed for undersized mussels, the possession of bristle worm, angling in prohibited areas and the possession of more than the prescribed quantities of fish. Inspectors of Sea Fisheries will accept no excuse for the violation of the Regulations and South African Tourists constantly receive fines at road blocks and the borders for such violations. The Angling regulations are available at the Tourist Bureau.
* Please keep our beaches clean at all times and bring your refuse home where it can be discarded in a proper manner.
* Please keep on existing tracks in the area between the high-water mark and the main coastal road. This is the main breeding area for the almost extinct Damara Tern.

* Information about various 4x4 routes as well as other interesting sites in the area can be obtained from the Tourist Bureau. Make sure that you know exactly where you are heading and that you have sufficient directions.
* Make sure that you have enough fuel, spare tires, sufficient tools, drinking water, warm clothing and sun protection before you venture into the desert.
* Take extreme care when driving on gravel roads and do not exceed 80 k.p.h. Excessive speed is the major cause for accidents on gravel roads.
* Please note that there is no cell phone network in the remote areas surrounding the Henties Bay Municipal area.
* Wild animals must please be respected and not disturbed. Elephants can be encountered in the northern regions and can be very aggressive and dangerous when disturbed. Jackals play a vital role in the desert ecology and should under no circumstances be disturbed.
* Do not remove any plants, stones or wood from the desert. Heavy penalties can be imposed.
* Do not indulge in off-road driving on the lichen fields, gypsum plains or any other place in the desert, but stay on the existing roads and tracks.
* Do not throw cigarette butts from car windows - it can lead to enormous veld fires where grass is high and dry.
* Do not litter in the desert - it is not only unsightly, but extremely dangerous for wildlife and can cause painful deaths.
* Do not camp within 2km from open waterholes - it is very disturbing to wildlife.
* Do not sleep in the open - people have been attacked by hyenas in the past. Always sleep in your car or in a tent.

* Water is an extreme scarce commodity. Please use it sparingly.
* Please contact the Tourist Bureau for any enquiries and information.

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