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Voykit pocket guide · Namibia
Katima Mulilo
Spend 1–2 days in Katima Mulilo: see the Zambezi riverfront, visit local markets and stay in budget guesthouses.
Katima Mulilo is a small river town in Namibia's Zambezi (Caprivi) region. Its main attractions are the riverfront, local markets and nearby wildlife tours. One to two days cover the key sights and allow a night in town.
- Country
- Namibia
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Mar (rainy, malaria risk)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NAD
- Money
- Currency is the Namibian dollar (NAD, N$), pegged 1:1 to the South African rand; rand is accepted in Namibia, but Namibian dollars are not accepted in South Africa.
- Daily spend
- Budget N$350–550 excl. bed · Mid N$550–900 excl. bed · High N$900+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- MTC has the widest coverage; TN Mobile is the alternative. Buy at the airport or town shops with a passport (registration required).
- Emergency
- Ambulance and rescue (private, E-Med Rescue 24) 081 924
- Plugs
- Types M, D · 220–230 V · 50 Hz · Same large round-pin sockets as South Africa; bring an adapter and a car charger.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10%.; Fuel attendant: N$5–10.; Car guard: N$5–10.; Lodge guide: N$100–200 per guest per day.; Lodge staff: N$50–100 per guest per day in the communal box.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Windhoek and main towns (Windhoek recycles water to drinking standard). Carry plenty in the car.
- Toilets
- Clean at fuel stations, lodges and park camps; few facilities between towns.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at Green Basket Cafe | N$30–50 |
| Zambezi Bream plate | N$150 |
| Local taxi (tourist rate) | N$26 |
| Bus ticket to Windhoek | R600 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KMP · Katima Mulilo Airport
- Flights from Windhoek a few times a week; no taxis at the airport as of 2022 — arrange transport in advance or walk.
Typical fares
- Local taxi in town
- N$13 for locals, N$26 for tourists (check)
- Bus Katima Mulilo → Windhoek (Oasis, daily 15:00)
- R600, via Rundu (check)
- Zambezi Mubala boat tours
- Birding 3 h N$750 pp; fishing N$365 per hour; sunset cruise 1.5 h N$440 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Local taxis charge N$13 for short trips, N$26 for tourists. B8 highway runs through town; bus to Windhoek departs daily at 15:00.Local taxis charge N$13 for short trips, N$26 for tourists. B8 highway runs through town; bus to Windhoek departs daily at 3:00 PM.
See and do
Known for
- Zambezi Riverfront
- Local markets
- Boat tours and wildlife spotting
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Zambezi River boat tour | Book at Zambezi Mubala Lodge; boat departs from lodge dock. | 30–45 min total |
Sleep
- Caprivi Travelers Backpackers Hostel
- Dorms, single/double rooms, free Wi‑Fi; N$240 per night.
- Katima Mulilo Town Council Guesthouse
- Basic single/double rooms; N$240 per night.
- Zambezi Mubala Lodge and Camp
- Chalets and campsites; camping N$290 per person per night (discounts for locals).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Mubitamoo-bee-tah |
| Thank you | Tangitahn-gee |
| How much is it? | Ni zimali?nee zee-mah-lee |
| Where is the toilet? | Kwi toilet?kwee toy-let |
| Can I pay by card? | Ni kona ku patala ka kadi?nee koh-nah koo pah-tah-lah kah kah-dee |
| Help | Nithusenee-too-seh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Greet and ask 'how are you' before any question; avoid: Straight to business
- Village visits: Go with a guide and ask permission; avoid: Photographing without asking
- Roads: Wave at passing drivers on quiet gravel; stop for anyone in trouble; avoid: Speeding through villages
- Lodges: Follow staff instructions about walking at night; avoid: Leaving your room after dark in unfenced lodges without an escort
- Language: English or a few words of Afrikaans or Oshiwambo; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks German
Scams and watch-outs
- Military equipment and infrastructure photography is illegal; can lead to confiscation.
- Limited street lighting and sanitation; carry water and mosquito protection.
Generally safe for tourists, but avoid photographing military sites and stay aware of malaria risk in the rainy season.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Katima Mulilo yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Zambezi Riverfront
- Local markets
- Boat tours and wildlife spotting
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Katima Mulilo, revision 5264859 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5264859
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Katima Mulilo
Kwa ha ano, ni kupa
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Ambulance and rescue (private, E-Med Rescue 24)081 924
No embassies in Katima Mulilo; the US embassy and most others are in Windhoek (check).
Phrases are in siLozi, the main local language; English is widely understood. Numbers and fares: check before you travel.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/katima-mulilo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.