-QSDG 2007
Useful information
Accommodation
The QSDG2007 Conference will be held at Swakopmund, (http://www.legacyhotels.co.za), Republic of Namibia. Rooms have been pre booked at the Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment Centre, a four star hotel, located some 40 km from Walvis Bay Airport. All rooms are equipped with individually controlled air-conditioning, coffee/tea making facilities, Multi channeled TV, Internet access, direct dial telephone, individual safe in the Room, mini bar (on request) and hairdryer. A regular buffet breakfast will be available.
More information about Swakopmund (and Namibia in general) could be obtained from http://www.namibiatourism.com.na
Travel arrangements
Delegates can travel via Windhoek Airport, Cape Town or Johannesburg to Walvis Bay Airport, and the shuttle will do pick-up from this airport to the Swakopmund Hotel. The Walvis Bay airport is +- 40km from Swakopmund, and is +- 30min drive to the hotel.
Namibia Diplomatic Missions Abroad
Angola; Austria; Belgium; Botswana; Brazil; China – People’s Republic; Congo – DRC; Cuba; Ethiopia; France; Germany; India; Malaysia; Nigeria; South Africa; Sweden; United Kingdom; United Nations; United States of America; Russian Federation; Zambia; Zimbabwe
Delegates having passports from the following countries do not require a visa to enter Republic of Namibia:
Angola Malawi
Australia Mozambique
Austria New Zealand
Belgium Netherlands
Botswana Norway
Brazil Portugal
Canada Russian federation -
Cuba including the
Denmark Commonwealth of
Finland Independent States of the
France former U.S.S.R
Germany South Africa
Hong Kong (SAR) Singapore
Iceland Spain
Ireland Swaziland
Italy Sweden
Japan Switzerland
Kenya Tanzania
Lesotho United Kingdom
Liechtenstein United States of America
Luxembourg Zambia
Malaysia Zimbabwe
Macau (SAR)
Please, be advice to consult your Travel Agencies on visa requirement to enter Namibia
5) Partners Programme
Social delegates will enjoy several days of sightseeing with tourist (for more information on tourism visit website: www.namibiantourism.com.na and shopping attractions
5) General
Geographical Location
· Situated on Africa’s south-western seaboard. Bordered by Angola (north), Botswana and Zimbabwe (east), South Africa (south) and the Atlantic Ocean (west).
· Surface Area – 824 268km², divided into 13 regions as determined by the Delimitation Commission.
· Windhoek is the capital. The official language is English.
Climate
· Arid and semi-arid, changing to subtropical in the far north east.
· Hottest months, November to February (average temperatures, 20 – 36°C).
· Colder months between May and August (average temperatures, 6-10°C in the mornings and 18-22°C during the day).
Time Zones
· First Sunday in April to first Sunday in September – GMT + 1 hour.
· October to March –GMT + 2 hours.
Electric Current
· 220 VAC 50 Hz
Measures
· Metric System
International Telephone Code
· + 264 + area code + number required
Business Hours
· Offices: Mon-Fri 8:00-17:00
· Banks Mon-Fri, 9:00-15:30 and
Sat 08:30-12:00
Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are situated outside most banks and are accessible 24 hours. South African SASWITCH ATM cards can be used on designated machines and withdrawals are in Namibian Dollar only.
Currency
· Namibian Dollar (N$) on par with South African Rand ®.
· Most major foreign currencies and traveler’s cheques can be exchanged.
· International Credit Cards generally accepted: Visa, Mater Card, American Express and Diners Club.
6.) CREDIT CARDS / TRAVELERS CHEQUES
Most international cards (Visa, Master, American Express, Diners) are accepted, as well as traveler’s cheques, provided they are in an acceptable international currency.
7.) SHOPPING
Trading hours vary, but are normally, Monday to Friday 08:00 to 17:00, Saturday 09:00 to 13:00 and some supermarkets from 16:00 to 19:00 as well as the same hours on a Sunday. Café’s are usually open from 09:00 to 21:00. A number of ‘late night’ and ’24 hour shops’ are available. These are usually convenient stores attached to 24-hour gas/petrol stations.
8.) RESTAURANTS
Local restaurants cater for all tastes and budgets with pizza and burger outlets everywhere.
9.) TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFORMATION
Namibia has a well-developed communication infrastructure and most telephones are fully automatic with direct dialing to most parts of the world. Some Public phones operate with coins as well as TeleCards (N$20, N$50 or N$100 nomination) as well as pre-paid cards (FlexiCall Cards with the same nominations). For long distance calls, TeleCards or FlexiCall Cards are recommended.
To contact someone in Namibia from outside the country dial your international access code +264+area code+subscriber no. E.g. ‘00’ OR ‘09’ +264-61-2012685 for the TQF Centre.
The capital as well as most major towns and along the most national roads there is GSM coverage. Ensure with your GSM operator whether a roaming agreement exists with MTC of Namibia and then you must apply for the roaming feature at your local GSM operator.
10.) TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
Do no drink and drive. Obey the road sign and the speed limit. Road signs denote the maximum safe speed under favourable conditions. Drivers must always be in possession of their original drivers licence and may not speak on a cellular phone, while driving unless it is equipped with a car kit. All passengers as well as the driver must always wear safety belts. On all national roads are road blocks and heavy fines are imposed if not complying to the before mentioned requirements.