Region
Four-O region
Stop 1–2 nights for Etosha's south gate and Tsumeb; skip the rest unless you have business in Oshakati.
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Key facts · Namibia
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Currency
- Namibian dollar
- Language
- English is the only official language
- Plugs
- M · D · 220–230 V
- Time zone
- Central Africa Time
Rules in force · 7Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
- Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
- Namibia ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Namibian government sources before booking: since 1 April 2025 citizens of 33 countries, including the US, UK, most of the EU, Canada and Australia, need a visa on arrival or an e-visa.
- Namibia ↗Taking a rental car into Botswana, South Africa, Zambia or Zimbabwe needs written permission from the rental company and the right papers; ask when you book.
- Namibia ↗Etosha gates open at sunrise and close at sunset: you must be inside a camp or out of the park by closing time.
The Four-O (Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Omusati) is Namibia's most densely populated area and its least touristed. For a visitor it is a functional stop, not a destination: Tsumeb and the Etosha south gate (Andersson/Von Lindequist) sit on the B1 between Windhoek and the park, and Ondangwa has the north's only scheduled airport. Come for one or two nights on the way through, or to see a working northern town rather than a lodge.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- TsumebCity guide
Mining town on the B1, 60 km (37 mi) from Etosha's south gate; the practical overnight.Mining town on the B1, 37 mi (60 km) from Etosha's south gate; the practical overnight.
Best Sep–Nov
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Day trip
- OshakatiCity guide
Northern economic hub with Ondangwa; business hotels, not sightseeing.
Best May–Sep
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Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 1 nights
- Tsumeb 1 night, Etosha south gate next morning
- 2 nights
- Tsumeb 1 + Oshakati/Ondangwa 1 if you want the north proper
- Treating the Four-O as a sightseeing region: apart from Etosha's edge and Ghaub Cave there is little built for visitors.
- Fuel up in Tsumeb or Ondangwa; stations thin out on the C-roads.
- Malaria prophylaxis is a real decision for this region, not a formality.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etosha National Park | Tsumeb | 60 min | unknown | Andersson gate is about an hour south; enter early, waterholes are best before 10:00.Andersson gate is about an hour south; enter early, waterholes are best before 10:00 AM. |
| Ghaub Cave | Tsumeb | 90 min | unknown | Old mission-station cave near Grootfontein; rhinos seen from the farmhouse. Check access and hours before driving out. |
| Oshakati and Ondangwa | Tsumeb | 150 min | unknown | Tarred B1 the whole way; markets and everyday northern town life. |
Bags between cities
No luggage-forwarding network here; carry your bags between stops.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tsumeb | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | × | × | × | go | go | go | ok |
| Oshakati | × | × | × | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | × |
| Namibia (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central north (Tsumeb, Ondangwa)Four-O interior | wet | wet | wet | ok | best | best | best | best | best | ok | ok | wet |
- Central north (Tsumeb, Ondangwa)
- Rainy season roughly November to March; the dry months May–September give the best gravel-road conditions and the best Etosha game viewing. October is hot before the rains.
Etosha's dry-season waterhole viewing (Jun–Oct) is the main reason travellers time a Four-O stop.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windhoek | Tsumeb / Ondangwa | Self-drive on the B1 | ~5 h to Tsumeb, ~7 h to Ondangwa | Tarred the whole way; the standard route north. |
| Windhoek (WDH) | Ondangwa (OND) | Scheduled regional flight | ~1 h 15 | Ondangwa airport has flights to Windhoek and Walvis Bay; check current schedules and fares. |
| Windhoek | Ondangwa | Rail | unknown | The line exists but the passenger service ended in 2006 and has not run since; do not plan on it. |
| Windhoek / Lusaka | Oshakati / Ondangwa | Long-distance coach | unknown | Both towns are on the big coach route; check operators and times locally. |
Regional passes
Minibus taxis
checkThe way locals move between towns; cheap but no fixed timetable — ask at the rank.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Namibian staples (mahangu porridge, grilled meat) | Tsumeb, Oshakati, Ondangwa | Everyday town restaurants and takeaways rather than lodge dining; expect simple, filling plates. |
Go next
Etosha National Park
planned~1 h from Tsumeb to Andersson gate
The reason most travellers pass through here.
Windhoek and Khomas
B1 south, ~5 h from Tsumeb
Back to the capital to close the loop.
Kavango region
plannedEast via the B10 / B8
Continues toward Rundu and the Zambezi.
Kunene region
plannedWest and south via the C46/C41
Remote north-west; plan fuel and daylight.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 1 base
- Day trips
- 3, 1 h to 2 h 30
- Nights suggested
- 1–2 nights
- Ways in
- 4 listed
- Best months
- May–Sep
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Ask about Four-O region
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