Moving to Namibia from South Africa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from South Africa to Namibia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from South Africa to Namibia.
Get free moving quotes to Namibia
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from South Africa to Namibia, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from South Africa to Namibia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Namibia performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Namibia leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Namibia performs significantly better than South Africa across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Namibia generally does better on infrastructure, though South Africa leads in electricity per capita.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Namibia generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Africa generally does better on family life, though Namibia leads in life expectancy.
Data: South African Revenue Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Pretoria | Windhoek |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) | 84°/63°F (29°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) | 74°/50°F (23°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 76°/49°F (24°/9°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) | 87°/61°F (30°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Pretoria | Windhoek |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.7°C) |
| Feb | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) | 84°/63°F (28.7°/17.0°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) | 81°/61°F (27.4°/15.9°C) |
| Apr | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) | 78°/55°F (25.8°/12.9°C) |
| May | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) | 74°/50°F (23.4°/9.8°C) |
| Jun | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) | 69°/44°F (20.7°/6.9°C) |
| Jul | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) | 70°/44°F (21.2°/6.9°C) |
| Aug | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) | 75°/48°F (23.8°/8.9°C) |
| Sep | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) | 82°/54°F (27.5°/12.4°C) |
| Oct | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) | 85°/58°F (29.3°/14.7°C) |
| Nov | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) | 86°/61°F (30.2°/16.2°C) |
| Dec | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) | 89°/63°F (31.4°/17.2°C) |
Data:
South African Weather Service,
Namibia Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa and Namibia. To live, work, or study long-term in Namibia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Namibia's immigration authority.
South Africa passport holder visiting Namibia
Visa Free
Namibia passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Namibia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Namibia has 3.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Namibia safe for expats?
Namibia performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Namibia is 12.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 45.5 in South Africa.
How is healthcare in Namibia compared to South Africa?
South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Namibia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Namibia, compared to 8.1 in South Africa. Namibia scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What's the weather like in Namibia compared to South Africa?
The average high temperature in Windhoek is 80°F, compared to 77°F in Pretoria. Windhoek receives around 14.5 in of rainfall per year, while Pretoria gets 27.0 in.
What language do they speak in Namibia?
The official languages in Namibia are Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga and Tswana. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. Namibia
At a Glance
ZA
|
NA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,516,665 | 2,727,409 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Namibian Dollar (NAD) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga, Tswana |
| Driving side | Left | Left |
| Calling code | +27 | +264 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | 10111 |