Gobabis printable guide

Gobabis

Half a day is enough: 1–2 h for the Cattle Country statue on the B6 and the town's historic churches; sleep here only as a rest stop on the Trans-Kalahari route.

Gobabis is a small transport hub on the B6 Trans-Kalahari Highway, 200 km east of Windhoek and 113 km from the Buitepos border with Botswana. Freight between Walvis Bay and Botswana keeps it busy, but the sights are few: the Cattle Country statue, 14 historic churches and the 1890s Lazarett field hospital, a national monument. Plan a few hours, not a day.

Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.

Country

Namibia

Best months

Apr–Oct

Avoid

Jan–Mar (rainy season)

Stay

1 (optional stopover) nights

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$300–500 excl. bed · Mid N$500–800 excl. bed · High N$800+ 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	N$15–25
Meal at a local restaurant	N$50–120
Petrol, per litre	N$20–22

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

WDH · Hosea Kutako International Airport (Windhoek): About 200 km (124 mi) west, roughly 2 h on the B6About 124 mi (200 km) west, roughly 2 h on the B6

Typical fares

Shared taxi (combi), Windhoek → Gobabis: About 200 km (124 mi) on the B6, roughly 2–2.5 h; fare checkAbout 124 mi (200 km) on the B6, roughly 2–2.5 h; fare check
Petrol, per litre: N$20–22 (check)
Buitepos border post to Botswana: 113 km (70 mi) north-east on the B6; hours check70 mi (113 km) north-east on the B6; hours check

Get around

The centre is small enough to walk. Shared taxis (combis) run to Windhoek; most travellers arrive by car on the B6.

See and do

Known for

Cattle Country Statue
Town of the Churches (14 historic churches)
Lazarett field hospital, national monument
Trans-Kalahari Corridor stop

Day trips

Where	How	Time
Buitepos border (Botswana)	Drive north-east on the B6, 113 km (70 mi)Drive north-east on the B6, 70 mi (113 km)	About 1 h 15 min one way
Witvlei	Drive west on the B6 towards Windhoek	About 1 h

Sleep

Steps Accommodation: Budget double or twin room with garden view and shared kitchen, on Hemanus Landsberg Avenue in Nossobville, about 2 km (1.2 mi) from the centre; from N$200.Budget double or twin room with garden view and shared kitchen, on Hemanus Landsberg Avenue in Nossobville, about 1.2 mi (2 km) from the centre; from N$200.
Goba Lodge: On the outskirts of town, overlooking a dam.
Nossob Safaris: Bunk-style and backpacker beds about 12 km (7.5 mi) out on the C30.Bunk-style and backpacker beds about 7.5 mi (12 km) out on the C30.

Phrase card

English	Say or show
Hello	Hallohah-loh
Thank you	Dankiedahn-kee
How much is it?	Hoeveel kos dit?hoo-feel kos dit
Where is the toilet?	Waar is die toilet?vahr is dee toy-let
Please help me	Help my assebliefhelp may ah-suh-bleef
Goodbye	Totsienstot-seens

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

Dining and nightlife options thin out after 20:00.
Avoid driving the B6 after dark: wildlife and poor lighting.
The railway line ends here but carries freight only, no passengers.
Epako, about 2 km east of the centre, has informal settlement areas; go with a local if you visit.

Gobabis is generally safe in daylight. Keep valuables out of sight, and avoid isolated roads after dark.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Gobabis yet. Suggested stay: 1 (optional stopover) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

Cattle Country Statue
Town of the Churches (14 historic churches)
Lazarett field hospital, national monument
Trans-Kalahari Corridor stop

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Gobabis official website: gobabis.org
Wikivoyage: Gobabis, revision 5033728 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5033728

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Gobabis

Na hierdie adres, asseblief

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 Gobabis; most are in Windhoek (check the address).

English is the official language; Afrikaans and Otjiherero are widely spoken in Gobabis.

Voykit · checked 2026-09