Is Namibia Safe For Solo Female Travellers? EVERYTHING You Need To Know

If you’ve been dreaming of travelling to Namibia and are wondering, “Is Namibia safe for solo female travellers?” then you’ve come to the right place.

Namibia is a beautiful and unique destination, offering stunning landscapes, incredible wildlife, and a rich cultural experience. 

But when planning solo travel, especially as a woman, safety is always a key concern.

Namibia has been ranked as one of the top 10 safest countries in Africa, making it a great choice for solo female travellers looking for an African adventure. 

With its low crime rate and friendly locals, it’s considered a safe and welcoming country to explore independently.

I personally spent 5 weeks solo travelling in Namibia (volunteering and exploring), and after experiencing the country firsthand, I feel well-equipped to give you all the details you need about female safety while travelling there. 

From navigating public transportation to exploring remote areas, I’ll share my insights and tips to ensure your journey is both safe and enjoyable.

So, is Namibia really safe for solo female travellers?

Read on below to find out and feel more confident about planning your solo trip to this incredible country.

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Prepare for your trip to Namibia 

The Subject of Safety 

I want to acknowledge that safety is a deeply personal and subjective matter.

While I felt quite safe during my time in Namibia, it may not necessarily be the same experience for you. 

Often, when unpleasant or unsafe situations occur, it can be a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, which is largely beyond our control (as there are both good and bad people in every country).

For instance, the place where I felt the most unsafe in all my travels was Paris, where I nearly got mugged, and a friend had a sketchy encounter with an Uber driver.

Paris is generally considered safer than many places in Africa. 

So, while I believe you can keep yourself safe as a solo female traveller in Namibia, I can’t guarantee that your experience will mirror mine.

Top Tips For Solo Female Travellers In Namibia 

Travelling around Namibia as a solo female traveller 

Namibia is one of my favourite countries in the world, but one of the downsides to travelling here is that it is not well set up for solo travellers. 

Public buses in Namibia will take you only to the big cities within the country and not to any places you actually want to see as a tourist in Namibia. 

This is because pretty much all of the best and most interesting things to see in Namibia are found in the most remote parts of the country. 

I expect that as Namibia becomes a more popular tourist destination over the next few years its transport infrastructure will improve, but for now, you have two options when it comes to travelling around the country. 

Option 1 – Guided Tour 

I found in Namibia that most solo travellers opted for a guided tour of the country, and this is the option that I chose for myself. 

Solo travelling is often the more expensive option, so opting for a guided tour was the most cost-effective way to explore Namibia (as it’s not the cheapest country in the world). 

On top of that, as someone who hates driving, this option was the one that gave me the most peace of mind knowing that all the driving and logistics would be taken care of.

Click here to read about my guided tour experience in Namibia with Chameleon Safaris here.

Option 2 – Self Drive 

Another option for exploring Namibia is to rent a 4×4 and do a self-drive tour.

I didn’t love this option so much not only because I hate driving, but Namibia is a huge country and driving from point A to point B can often be upwards of 6 hours, which isn’t ideal if you are the only one doing the driving. 

Not only that but parts of Namibia are super remote, and you can often go hours without any cell phone reception, so if you were unfortunate enough to run into an issue, this could pose even more problems for you. 

However, if you are an experienced driver, know how to change a tyre (getting a flat tyre in Namibia is extremely common) and are happy to travel Namibia at a slower pace (so you can break up the hours of driving) then this could be a great option for you. 

Another option I saw some people doing was meeting fellow solo travellers in hostels and teaming up to do a 4×4 self-drive tour as a small group (again this would be a good option if you can be flexible with your time). 

Public Buses

I spent my first 3 weeks in Namibia volunteering and had to use the public buses to get to and from the farm that I was volunteering on. 

If you do need to book public buses between 2 cities in Namibia then I highly recommend booking through Busbud. 

I booked through this service and had a great experience, I also felt super safe on the buses that I booked through them. 

Where to stay as a solo female traveller in Namibia 

While visiting Namibia’s top attractions, you’ll likely stay at the most convenient campsites near each destination. However, below I’ve shared some of my favourite places to stay as a solo female traveller in all the major cities across Namibia.

Windhoek 

Chameleon Backpackers – This is the best hostel I stayed in during my time in Namibia, It is a super sociable place and I met lots of other solo travellers here. 

This is also the same company that I booked my guided tour of Namibia with. 

Swakopmund 

Salty Jackal – This is a super sociable hostel in Namibia that also doubles up as a surf camp. If you want to meet other solo travellers whilst you’re in Swakopmund this is the best place to stay. 

Don’t Walk By Yourself In Windhoek At Night 

When you arrive at your accommodation in Windhoek you’ll most likely be instructed not to walk around the city alone at night. 

I stayed at Chameleon Backpackers whilst I was in Windhoek and there were signs everywhere saying that it’s best to not go anywhere alone at night and/or walk around with valuables. 

I know this is something we naturally avoid as solo female travellers anyway but it’s important to mention. 

If you do go out at night, make sure to join a group and try not to bring too many valuables with you. 

It’s also important to add that I felt completely safe walking through Windhoek by myself during the day, whilst I got a few stares here and there, there was nothing that made me feel too uncomfortable. 

General Safety Tips For Solo Female Travellers In Namibia 

Stay connected- Download an eSIM or get a local SIM

I never travel solo without data—it’s essential for navigation and safety.

I always use Google Maps in taxis to ensure the driver is on the right route, which gives me peace of mind. 

If your phone is unlocked, getting a local SIM is the most affordable option. 

Otherwise, you can easily download an eSIM;  Airalo is the only eSIM company that I am aware of at the moment that has an option for Namibia

Avoid sharing your accommodation details with strangers (or posting them on social media until you’ve left).

While it’s unlikely that someone will track you down at your hotel or hostel just because you mentioned it in passing or tagged your location on Instagram, it’s not impossible, and it has happened to women before.

Make sure you are extra careful about who you share important and private information with.

Keep your family and friends informed about your whereabouts.

Make sure your loved ones know where you are and where you’re staying.

This not only provides them with peace of mind but also ensures they have essential information in the unlikely event that something goes wrong.

Is Namibia Safe For Solo Female Travellers 

After my 5-week experience in Namibia, I firmly believe that Namibia is safe for solo female travellers. 

My experience showed Namibia to be welcoming and very safe, with its low crime rate and friendly and helpful locals.

Though the country’s vastness and remote attractions may present some logistical challenges, there are plenty of ways to navigate them, whether that’s through guided tours, self-drive adventures, or public transport.  

By following common safety practices and planning ahead, you can fully enjoy all that Namibia has to offer.

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• The ULTIMATE 10-Day Namibia Itinerary 

Happy Travelling  

I hope this post has helped you answer the question “Is Namibia safe for solo female travellers?” 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out!