Self drive tours afford you the opportunity to explore. Namibia ‘off the beaten track”. Choose between 2 wheel drive cars and more elaborate 4 x 4’s wheel drive car hire.
- Namibia has over 42, 000km of total road, of which 13% is bitumen surfaced
- Arterial roads link Namibia with Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa
- Don’t forget your drivers license – you need to have a license with a photograph when you hire a car !
- Namibia’s roads run as straight as arrows to far horizons
- Don’t forget to fill up with petrol as often as possible, the petrol stations are miles apart and supply is erratic
- Watch your speed, you may feel your not traveling very fast, but the gravel and dirt roads can be dangerous.
If you are a little bit confused about how to start planning your trip to Namibia, the first thing we encourage you to do is to drop us and enquiry and start chatting to us. Our self drive tours are a few of our favourite and most popular tours. They concentrate on the highlights of Namibia including the Namib Desert, Sossusvlei, Damaraland and Etosha. Ranging from 8 days to 2 weeks they are ideally suited for the person looking to explore Namibia by car.
In
Namibia the cars are right hand drives and everyone drives on the left. The speed limit is 60 – 80km per hour in built up areas and 120km per hour on open roads. All passengers must wear safety belts and drivers are required to have their original drivers license at all times. The use of cellphones when driving is illegal
The road network is one of the best in the word. Road signs are international and easy to understand. Though Namibia is rated as having the best gravel roads in the world, travel is extremely hazardous at speeds above 80kms per hour. Slight bends in the road easily cause the vehicle to slide – avoid over correction when this happen. Accidents are common, hence the above average insurance excess charged by
Namibia Car Hire companies.
Special attention should be paid
Namibian wildlife and signposts to warnings of antelope, warthog, and kudu, as they often graze along the verges and can be unpredictable. As roads north of the veterinary cordon are usually unfenced, drivers should watch out for animals, both during the day and at night. Always your headlights and spot lights at night, and when dusty conditions are encountered. Slippery conditions can be encountered during the rainy season in the interior and throughout the year when using the coastal ‘salt’ roads
Tyre pressure should be checked as often as possible. Correct pressure plays an important role in maintaining grip and prolonging tyre life. Slow punctures are common, and if pressure is checked regularly, can be fixed at a service station. When you collect your
hire car, check all tools and spares yourself, do not take the car rental companies word for it .
Refuel as often as possible when traveling through remote areas as supplies at these areas can be erratic.
The Namibian landscape is extremely fragile, so please follow only well defined tracks and roads. Deviating off existing tracks not only spoils the scenery and enjoyment of others, but destroys plants and small creatures. In certain areas, such as the gravel plains, a single set of car tracks can remain visible for decades.
Respect the
Namibian culture and traditions of those inhabiting the area through which you are traveling. Disrespect causes resentment and ill feeling towards other tourists.
CARAN stands for the
Car Rental Association of Namibia, and all car hire companies in Namibia must comply with certain standards if they are to be come members. These standards include : providing sufficient insurance, 24 hour back up service in cases of accidents or breakdown, providing new vehicles, and ensuring that vehicles are regularly serviced. The companies that we use for car rental in Namibia are all member of CARAN.
When it comes to choosing your car you will have to choose between a 2 Wheel Drive Sedan Car and a 4 Wheel Drive. Generally speaking the 4 Wheel Drive cars cost more to hire and run and must be driven with greater care and alertness. These vehicles can be unstable. They do however however have greater ground clearance and allow you to go further, and of course there is a certain appeal about driving a 4 x 4 in this particular setting. Two wheel drive vehicles have less ground clearance and carry less, however this prevents novice drivers attempting the impossible and can lead to a safer journey.
Your final choice will come down to where you intend traveling and your budget.
