 Namibia is vast, and the ultimate way to experience this country is by ‘doing it yourself’ in your own vehicle, in your own time. The country has a well established road network and infrastructure, which links all major cities. The dispersed nature of towns does however mean that distances are great, and certain simple steps should be followed to avoid discomfort.
Helpful Tips to Self Drive in Namibia
- Take a cooler box with you. Temperatures are exceptionally high, and refreshment stores are spread over vast distances. Buy plenty of water and snacks for your trip.
- Carry supplies of toiletries. Although fuel stations on main routes are generally well equipped and clean, there is frequently a scarcity of ablution facilities when leaving main highways.
- Always fi ll up at every opportunity even if you have more than half atank. You never know when you will fi nd another fi lling station. Fuel stations outside Windhoek and Swakopmund are not open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most hired vehicles run on unleaded fuel which is not readily available, especially in the desert.
- Fuel stations do not accept credit card payment, only cash. Most shops and facilities in the outlying areas do not have access to credit card machines and will only accept cash. (Prepay as much as you can through your tour operator.) Make certain you always have suffi cient local currency in cash, either ZAR – South African Rands or NAD – Namibian Dollars.
- Drive cautiously as only 11% of Namibia’s roads are tarred. The majority of the roads are good gravel or salt roads. The speed limit is 80km/h on gravel roads and 120 km/h on open roads (tarred roads) and 60 km/h in villages/towns. Remember to drive on the left hand side.
- If at all possible, avoid driving at night. This is when game tends to frequent the roads.
- Ensure that you take basic medical supplies with you. Pharmacies are few and far between, once you have left the major cities.
- Outlying areas often do not have electricity, and many of the lodges run on generator power. Bear in mind that you may not be able to charge laptops, cameras or mobile phones in these areas. Please ask your lodge if you wish to charge these items.
- Most tourist routes can easily be negotiated in normal sedans. We suggest that you hire a car with air-conditioning, as the temperatures can be particularly high in summer.
Namibia Self Drive Tours
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