Permit

A Permit in Namibia refers to an authorization paper to enter a specific area in the country. This is mostly the case for state-operated nature reserves, game parks, recreation areas and national parks.

It is not possible to buy permits online. All permits are issued by the Ministry of Environment & Tourism only. This is often confusing, as travellers think that they can get a permit also with Namibia Wildlife Resorts, however, NWR is only the public operator of different accommodation establishments in the parks. It has nothing to do with permits whatsoever.

Permits can be bought at the following places:

• At the entrance of a nature reserve, national park, etc., however, it has in most cases to be paid in the next accommodation en-route (e.g. you get a permit when you enter Etosha through the south gate, but you pay for it at Camp Okaukuejo). This is NOT the case for Namib-Naukluft-Park and Dorob National Park (keep in mind: here only the main through-roads are permit-free)!
• For Namib-Naukluft-Park and Dorob National Park you get the permit in Sesriem.
• For the Naukluft section of the Namib-Naukluft-Park the permit can be bought at the small office close to the start of the Olive Trail;  this office is often not operating and thus it is strongly recommended to get the permit in Sesriem beforehand.
• Always and for any nature reserve, national park, etc. a permit can be bought at the MET offices in Windhoek and Swakopmund.

Entering a restricted section or nature reserve, national park, etc. without having a valid permit is an offence and you might get a fine (first fine generally N$ 300) and/or you are ordered to leave the park immediately.

Permit Tariffs 2011
Permits are valid for 24 hours and not per calendar day!

Foreigners

• N$ 80 (below 16 years free) for Etosha, Ai-Ais/Fishriver, Skeleton Coast, Naukluft Park (Sesriem & Sossusvlei), Waterberg
• N$ 40 (below 16 years free)for any other park, reserve, etc.
• N$ 50 (children 6-17 years N$ 30) for Twyfelfontein and Brandberg
• N$ 40 (children 6-17 years N$ 30) for Petrified Forest
• N$ 15 (children 6-17 years N$ 10) Heroes’ Acre
• N$ 10 (children 6-17 years N$ 5) for Eenhana Shrine
• Botanical Garden in Windhoek is free

SADC citizens

• N$ 60 (below 16 years free) for Etosha, Ai-Ais/Fishriver, Skeleton Coast, Naukluft Park (Sesriem & Sossusvlei), Waterberg
• N$ 30 (below 16 years free)for any other park, reserve, etc.
• N$ 50 (children 6-17 years N$ 30) for Twyfelfontein and Brandberg
• N$ 40 (children 6-17 years N$ 30) for Petrified Forest
• N$ 15 (children 6-17 years N$ 10) Heroes’ Acre
• N$ 10 (children 6-17 years N$ 5) for Eenhana Shrine
• Botanical Garden in Windhoek is free

Namibians & Namibian Residents

• N$ 30 (below 16 years free) for Etosha, Ai-Ais/Fishriver, Skeleton Coast, Naukluft Park (Sesriem & Sossusvlei), Waterberg
• N$ 10 (below 16 years free)for any other park, reserve, etc.
• N$ 30 (children 6-17 years N$ 20) for Twyfelfontein and Brandberg
• N$ 30 (children 6-17 years N$ 25) for Petrified Forest
• N$ 15 (children 6-17 years N$ 10) Heroes’ Acre
• N$ 5 (children 6-17 years N$ 2) for Eenhana Shrine
• Botanical Garden in Windhoek is free

Vehicles

• N$ 10 (normal sedan, 4×4, etc) for national parks, Heroes’ Acre and Eenhana Shrine
• N$ 20 (normal sedan, 4×4, etc) for Brandberg, Twyfelfontein and Petrified Forest