Question 1

What is a national park permit and why do I need one?

Accepted Answer

A national park permit (also called a park entrance permit) is required by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) for entry into any of Namibia's national parks and game reserves. The fees fund conservation efforts and park maintenance.

Question 2

How are fees calculated?

Accepted Answer

Fees are calculated per person, per park, per 24-hour unit of stay. Rates differ based on three factors: the park's pricing group (Group A, Group B, or Group C), the visitor's nationality (Namibian, SADC, or International), and age category (Adult 16+, Child 9-16, or Child under 8 who enters free). Vehicle fees are also charged per 24-hour unit based on vehicle seat capacity.

Question 3

What is the difference between Group A, Group B, and Group C parks?

Accepted Answer

Group A parks include major destinations like Etosha, Namib-Naukluft, Skeleton Coast, and Waterberg Plateau, with higher entrance fees. Group B parks include Bwabwata, Khaudum, Daan Viljoen, and others, with lower fees. Group C applies specifically to Sandwich Harbour, with its own rate structure. The grouping is set by MEFT based on park infrastructure and demand.

Question 4

Do children need permits?

Accepted Answer

Children aged 8 and under enter all parks free of charge regardless of nationality. Namibian children aged 9-16 also enter free. SADC and International children aged 9-16 pay a reduced rate.

Question 5

What currencies are accepted?

Accepted Answer

All fees are denominated in Namibian Dollars (NAD). Payment is processed through our secure online checkout. The Namibian Dollar is pegged 1:1 to the South African Rand.

Question 6

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept Visa, Mastercard, and Google Pay through our secure Stripe-powered checkout. All transactions are encrypted and processed in Namibian Dollars (NAD). Your card will be charged in NAD and your bank may apply its own exchange rate for international cards.

Question 7

How do I receive my permits?

Accepted Answer

After successful payment, your official MEFT-format permits are generated as downloadable PDFs within 48 hours. You will receive an email notification once your permits are ready. You can also check your permit status at any time using the 'Check Permit Status' page. We recommend downloading your permits for offline access before your trip.

Question 8

How long does permit processing take?

Accepted Answer

Permits are typically processed and available for download within 48 hours of successful payment. During peak travel season (June–October), processing may occasionally take slightly longer. You will receive an email notification as soon as your permits are ready.

Question 9

Can I book permits for multiple parks in one transaction?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our trip builder allows you to add multiple parks to a single booking. You can specify different dates, party compositions, and vehicle details for each park. All fees are calculated and displayed before checkout.

Question 10

What if I need to change my dates?

Accepted Answer

Please contact us as soon as possible if your travel dates change. Depending on the timing, we may be able to reissue your permits for the new dates. Note that park permits are date-specific.

Question 11

Can I cancel my order and get a refund?

Accepted Answer

MEFT park permit fees are non-refundable. Once payment is processed, the fees are committed to the Ministry. In rare cases of genuine mistaken purchases, we may consider a partial reimbursement of up to 70% (less a 30% administrative fee). Please see our Cancellation Policy for full details.

Question 12

Is my payment secure?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. All payments are processed through Stripe, a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment processor — the highest level of security certification in the payments industry. We never store your card details on our servers.

Question 13

What are the MEFT Terms and Conditions?

Accepted Answer

The MEFT General Conditions prohibit activities such as driving off designated roads, being in the park after sunset (except on public roads), collecting firewood, bringing domestic animals, littering, disturbing wildlife, possessing loaded firearms, flying drones, and entering on motorcycles or quad bikes. Full conditions are presented during the booking process.

Question 14

Is this an official government service?

Accepted Answer

No. The Grow Namibia Foundation (powered by About Africa Co.) is an independent third-party service — we are not contracted by MEFT. We act as a gateway to facilitate and assist visitors with national park permit services. This was made possible through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MEFT that speaks to information sharing and digitalisation. All fees are calculated according to the official MEFT fee schedule (Government Gazette No. 543) and permits match the official MEFT form structure.

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