“Does Namibia have clean drinking water?” This is one of the most asked questions when travellers are booking their Namibia tour.
Water safety and security in Africa is almost always making headlines but what you are not told is that many of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations, like Namibia, actually have pristine water sources, especially in those more urban areas.
As for water security, Namibia has been quite ingenious in adapting to its water challenges as effectively as its desert elephants have adapted to the harsh climate that they call home. The country uses a number of methods to preserve water, including building reservoirs, harvesting rainwater, and even using solar desalination and sewerage water recycling!
When travelling around Namibia, staying hydrated is of utmost importance. The dry desert conditions can become overwhelming, leaving you tired, with a headache and feeling generally quite miserable.
In this guide, we will not only be having a chat about drinking water safety and quality, but we’ll also be having a close look at each tourist destination so that you have the exact information you need to stay safe and hydrated during your stay in this gorgeous place.
Drinking Water Quality in Namibia
In Namibia, you will find 3 different water sources, and each is generally determined by the destination.
- Tap Water
Tap water in Namibia is generally safe to drink, especially if you are in one of the major towns or cities, like Windhoek. The tap water in these places is properly treated and carefully monitored, just as it would be anywhere else in the world.
And just as it would be anywhere else in the world, the tap water can have a slight chlorine taste following treatment.
- Borehole (Well) Water
Borehole water is one of the safest types of drinking water you will find while in Namibia. It is drawn directly from a deep well, and it is occasionally inspected to ensure its safety. Compared to tap water, borehole water has a “cleaner” taste.
This water is commonly found in rural areas, and those out of reach lodges and farms.
Microbial Concerns
While treatment processes will almost always eliminate harmful bacteria from the tap or bottled water, your gut microbiome might not be accustomed to the specific bacteria present in Namibia’s water. And this can sometimes lead to temporary digestive discomfort, even if you have been exclusively drinking treated water.
To make sure that your travel experience is not upset by an upset stomach, consider consulting your doctor about getting medication that you can use in the event of something like this happening. Travelling with the necessary medication in your bag will come in handy should you become ill when you are far away from a pharmacy.
Bottled Water Options
Sometimes, even though you have access to clean water, you might prefer bottled water, which you will find in most stores in Namibia. To keep your plastic waste to a bare minimum, you should buy a larger water bottle (think 2 litres) or you can even consider buying a big 25 litre container if you are going to be out on the road.
Refillable water bottles are certainly going to be the best option as this will produce the least waste. There are various places in Namibia where you can refill your bottle.
Drinking Water Safety in the Most Popular Tourist Destinations
Now that the basics of drinking water safety in Namibia are out of the way, let’s have a look at the drinking water in each popular tourist destination.
Windhoek
It should go without saying that the answer to “Can you drink the water in Windhoek Namibia?” is a resounding yes.
Namibia’s capital city goes the extra mile to ensure that the tap water is regularly treated and is safe to drink.
Windhoek is actually famous for its water processing industry. In 1968, the city created an ingenious water purification system, which was designed to process and reuse sewage water. This system is one that is ideal for the Namibian climate.
Swakopmund
Swakopmund is a hugely popular tourist destination and for those who ask “Is Swakopmund tap water safe to drink?” we can again say yes, Swakopmund tap water is safe to drink.
Around 32 km north of the town is the Erongo Desalination Plant, which is quite an interesting venture that has paid off well. The plant takes salty sea water and turns it into clean drinking water.
Etosha National Park
The hot and wild Etosha National Park is famous for tourists wanting to see the Big 5 as well as all of the other beautiful desert adapted animals. For the most part, the park is remote and if you are travelling here to camp, you will either need to bring along your own water or you can use the park’s water. On the official Etosha website, guests have asked “Can you drink water in Etosha?” and the official park response is yes, but it might taste slightly salty.
If you are planning to stay at one of the park’s lodges, you will have access to borehole water, which is safe to drink.
Sossusvlei & Namib Naukluft Park
The water in the Sossusvlei and Namib Naufluft Park is available in a limited supply and as such it would be a good idea if you brought along your own bottled water.
Skeleton Coast
Much like other remote areas in Namibia, drinking water is available in a limited supply as sources can be unreliable. If you are travelling to the Skeleton Coast, be sure to pack enough bottled drinking water.
Caprivi Strip
In the remote Caprivi Strip, water quality is not always the best and as such it would be best to bring along bottled water as well as some water purification tablets, which will come in handy should you arrive at a destination where there is water but which you might not trust to drink.
Additional Tips for Safe Drinking Water
It is not only drinking water that you need to consider when touring Namibia, here are a few other water considerations to think about:
- Avoid using tap water for brushing your teeth if you are unsure of its quality.
- Be cautious with ice added to drinks, especially when you are in remote areas.
- Stick to hot beverages instead of cold drinks if you are truly concerned about the water quality.
No matter where you tour Namibia, can trust the tap water and if you have concerns, you can always ask your tour operator for advice or additional information.