The HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting will take place June 10-14, 2009 in Windhoek, Namibia. This year’s theme is Optimizing the Response: Partnerships for Sustainability.

The meeting will be held at the Hotel Safari and Conference Centre.

Business
Business in Namibia is conducted somewhat formally, although socializing is an important part of building good working relationships. Standard business etiquette applies: dress tends to be formal with more lightweight materials worn in the hotter seasons, punctuality is important, shake hands on greeting and leaving and in general be polite and professional. English is the language of business, though German and Afrikaans are widely spoken. Business hours are usually 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Temperature
Windhoek's climate is that of a semi-desert, with fairly mild winters and very hot summers. Temperatures usually drop at night. June, July and August (the winter months) are the driest and temperatures range between 41°F (5°C) to 64°F (18°C). Nights are cold, but temperatures rarely dip below 32°F (0°C). On average, Namibia receives about 300 days of sunshine a year.

Things to do in Namibia
http://www.namibiatourism.com.na/
Excursion Brochure
Pre and Post Aids Conference Day Tours

Communications
The international access code for Namibia is +264. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)61 for Windhoek. Most towns are covered by a GSM 900/1800 mobile network. Internet access is available from some hotels and Internet cafes are available in Windhoek. BlackBerrys work, although intermittently.

Credit/Debit Card Information
MasterCard and Visa are accepted almost everywhere. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Banking and Currency Information
The official currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD) divided into 100 cents. Its value is equal to the South African Rand, which is also accepted as legal currency in Namibia. MasterCard and Visa are accepted everywhere.  American Express is accepted at the major hotels. Traveler’s checks and foreign currency can be exchanged at any bank or exchange bureau, though cash is more expensive to exchange than travelers checks. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler’s checks in US Dollars or South African Rand. Use of ATM machines in public places is discouraged. Please limit your use of ATM machines to hotels or banks.

Electrical Power
Electrical current is 220 volts AC, 50hz. Outlets are of the round three-pin type.

Health
A yellow fever certificate is required for all travelers arriving from infected areas. Travelers should ensure their polio vaccinations are up to date. Cholera outbreaks do occur, and visitors should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. There are good medical facilities in Windhoek, but medical insurance is essential as treatment is expensive.

Passport/Visa
Tourists may enter Namibia for up to 3 months.  Those who require visas to enter Namibia may apply either before they travel at the nearest Namibian Embassy/High Commission or upon arrival at the Windhoek International Airport.  For those who wish to apply at the airport, please provide the following information (official name on your passport; your citizenship; and your passport number) in advance to visainfor@courtesyassoc.com.

All visitors require a passport valid for at least six months after the period of their intended stay, and documents for return or onward travel. Passports should have at least two unused pages for endorsements by the Namibian Immigration Service.

Safety and Security
Windhoek is rated critical for crime.  Incidents of violent crime directed against U.S. and other foreign visitors are rare.  The most common crimes are non-violent crimes of opportunity such as pick pocketing, purse snatching, vehicle theft, and vehicle break-in.  Common sense measures, such as not leaving valuables in parked cars, safeguarding purses, keeping wallets in front pockets, and being alert to one's surroundings, are the best deterrents against crime. Visitors should not leave valuables unsecured in their rooms and should carry only photocopies of their passports while touring the city. Visitors should also use caution when using ATM's as there have been reported cases of card trapping devices being placed inside ATM card readers. Before using any ATM, run your hand over the mouth of the card reader slot.  If you notice any irregularities, do not use that ATM. If your card is confiscated, politely decline any assistance offered from bystanders and immediately report the incident to the bank.

Luggage Tag
In order to assist baggage handlers at the airports in identifying that your luggage belongs to an attendee of the 2009 HIV/AIDS Implementers' Meeting, please click here to print the luggage tag and attach it to your bags... If you have color printing capability, it is advisable to print this tag in color.