Driving Tips for Namibia
- Speed is the cause of most accidents. Namibia has a good road network and the speed limit in urban areas is 60 km/h and on tarred roads outside of urban areas 120 km/h. On gravel roads outside urban areas the speed limit is 100 km/h, but we strongly recommend not to exceed 80 km/h as gravel roads can be unpredictable. Most car hire companies in Namibia nowadays set the speed for gravel road at a maximum of 80km/h.
- Please make sure you are aware of your rental companies’ terms and conditions as they all differ.
- Watch out for drivers overtaking, heavy cross winds and blowing dust. Be on the save side and slow down! Enjoy Namibia at a relaxed pace, you are on holiday!
- In Namibia, we drive on the left side of the road.
- Passengers in the back as well as the front must wear seat belts.
- Headlamps need to be always switched on.
- To operate a motor vehicle in Namibia you need a valid driving license and must carry it with you while driving.
- Before leaving, make sure you checked your vehicle and that your tyres have the correct air pressure. Always carry at least one spare tyre. When visiting a remote area, it is advisable to carry a second spare tyre and a repair kit.
- 4×4 vehicles are recommended when travelling in remote areas.
- Always make sure you have enough fuel for the journey planned. Fill you tank at every available opportunity, even though you may not be in immediate need.
- Always carry water with you when you travel.
- Always inform people of your itinerary. In an unlikely event that you should become lost, authorities will be able to find you easier.
- Make sure that you have a current map before you leave.
- Make sure you have appropriate insurance.
- Namibia’s wildlife is marvellous but take care! Animals often cross the roads or graze near the roads. Both wild and domestic animals frighten easily and run over the streets.
- Avoid driving at night. Wildlife is most active at dusk.
- When entering any game park or other area where there are wild animals, read the safety guidelines available.
- Take the same precautions in Namibia as you would anywhere else in the World.
- Most of the above accounts for Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe as well. Please make sure you understand all regulations in each country as they might differ slightly.
Have a question?
Should you have any further questions or concerns that we have not addressed, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will gladly answer these for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 24 hour/ 7 days back up service included?
In the unlikely event your vehicle breaks down, a 24 hour/ 7 days back up service is included in the price. You will receive 2 emergency numbers upon pick up to ensure you don’t loose to much holiday time. Should the vehicle not be repairable in a short time, you will receive a replacement vehicle within 24 hours.
How old are the vehicles and how many kilometers do they have on ?
We try and make sure that all vehicles that are rented out to our clients, are not older than 3 years or have more than 150 000km on. By this we try to ensure that our clients receive the best possible vehicle for their Safari.
Do you offer standard waivers?
No, we have a special deal with our suppliers and all vehicles include super cover waivers at no extra cost to the client.
Diesel or Petrol?
We often get asked what is better and what is available. We don’t know up until a day or two if you will receive a petrol or diesel vehicle. In low season we can however try and allocate a engine type of your choosing. Both diesel and petrol are readily available and it will not make much of a difference which type you receive.
Do you need a 4x4 (off-road vehicle) for a self-drive safari in Namibia?
First of all, it completely depends on the route you are going to drive and what your plans are. There are many routes, where you a 4x4 is not necessary and the route can be done by a cross over vehicle with higher ground clearance. Of course, a 4x4 is mostly recommended, but speak to us and we will gladly advise you. If you want to travel Namibia and have a lot of plans driving on gravel roads, a 4x4 is most likely the way to go, especially in our rainy season from December to mid-April.
What do I need to drive a vehicle in Namibia?
You will need a valid driving license and if this is not in English (which most Europeans licenses are, but not the French Driving license), you will need an International Driving license in English. This you must obtain from your local authorities, before arriving in Namibia. Every driver’s license will be checked, and copies made, which are added to the rental contract.
At most towns in Namibia, you will find permanent police controls, that will check your driving license and if your vehicles registration is up to date and paid up. You might also be asked to present identification, so please always have your passport available as well.
Are gravel roads dangerous?
Gravel roads are perfectly safe and most accidents happen due to speeding. Take your time and don’t drive over the speed limit. Not all gravel roads are the same and you need to adjust your driving in some cases. Most important, take your time and don’t rush or try and drive to far in one day.
What if I want to cross over into another country?
That is no problem at all and you will receive a cross border letter that will allow you to take the vehicle over the border. Please note that it is advisable to request this before you arrive and that we make sure that the vehicle you will receive is allowed to enter the countries that you want to visit. Taking rental vehicles over the border into Angola for instance is not allowed by many companies, but we do have partners where this is allowed.
Are one-way rentals allowed?
Yes, they are. Please advise us of your intended drop off or pick up location and we will quote you accordingly. Please note that this needs to be sorted out and booked before your arrival as sometimes it takes days to get a vehicle back to its original rental location. Not only that, but a driver also needs to be sent to the desired location to meet you again and collect the vehicle. If you want to drop off in another country, the same as above applies and can be arranged prior to your arrival.
We need a SIM Card, what do you recommend?
We recommend you buy yourself a SIM Card at MTC at the Hosea Kutako International Airport. This can unfortunately only be done in person as you need to show them your passport to register the SIM Card and can’t be pre-bought by us or your guide. MTC is Namibia’s largest Mobile operator, with the best coverage in Namibia. Depending on how long you stay, there are various pre-paid packages available, but we recommend that you buy the MTC AWEH Ultra 30 package. This includes 15G of Data and 1500 local minutes to any network, at a price of only NAD287.00(Please check website link below for up-to-date prices). This package is valid for 30 days from the day of purchase and should be sufficient for the time you are in Namibia. There are various other options available as well and can be checked here.
Do you recommend we hire a SAT Phone?
Namibia has a very good cell phone coverage, but you need to be aware that it is not comparable to Europe, USA and most first world countries. On most well-travelled gravel roads there is good coverage, but it can also be that for some kilometres or even maybe 10, 20 or even more kilometres, there might not be any coverage at all. Going of the beaten track for instance the Khaudom National Park or Kaokoland, a SAT Phone is highly recommended.
What about GPS rental or is my Google Maps/ Apple Maps sufficient?
Again, it comes down to the cell phone coverage you have and offline maps are often not as good as you might want to believe. If you plan ahead, and know what you are doing, then it might be sufficient to only have your Google or Apple maps. However, we had plenty of guests getting lost or taking incorrect routes as the online maps often are not as accurate, especially on less travelled gravel roads. For just 3 or 4 Euros a day, a GPS is a good investment into your travels and we have never had guests that said it was not worth it.
Do you rent out 2-way Radios?
Yes, we do and it’s a great way to communicate between vehicles without much hassle. Please however note that the 2-way radios are registered in Namibia and are not allowed to be used outside of Namibia.
Do you own your vehicles?
No, we are a rental agency making use of only the most reputable car rental business with a long track record. We can therefore assure our clients that they will get the best possible vehicle and price.
We need to exchange money
If you want to exchange money before coming to Namibia, please be advised that the Namibian Dollar is not an international currency, and you will not be able to find any outside of Southern Africa. The South African Rand is directly linked to the Namibian Dollar (1 to 1) and is also accepted here in Namibia. So, it is perfectly fine to bring South African Rand (ZAR) and these you can order at most international banks. If you are not able to get any in your home country, you don’t need to stress as can also exchange money at the Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport upon arrival. The easiest is to bring Euros, US Dollar, or British Pounds. If you are flying via South Africa and are in transit there, we suggest you change some money in South Africa already as you then save some time when arriving in Namibia.
What are the minimum and maximum ages for renting a vehicle?
Driving experience is very important when driving in Namibia. Therefore, most companies only allow drivers from an age of 21, but some even only from 23 or 25 years of age. This is something that we can sort out for you, so please don’t be offended if you ask you age when requesting a quote from us.
The Maximum driving age is not always set in stone, but usually from the age of 80 some questions will be asked and sometimes a proof physical health is requested as well.
What payment options do you offer?
We offer two payment options. The first being a bank transfer, where will send you an invoice with our banking details and you can do an online SWIFT Transfer directly from your bank account to ours.
The second option is by credit card. If you choose to pay via credit card, we will send you an invoice as well as a separate payment request E-mail, which will be coming from our secure online payment partner. This payment request is only accessible by yourself and is a very secure way to do the payment.
I want to rent a vehicle with Camping gear, what does this include?
If you want to rent a fully equipped vehicle, this is something we’ve been specialising in for years. We will send you a list of the included camping gear and this will include most of the gear you will need to for a relaxing camping adventure. I say mostly, because you will still need to bring a camping torch along and we always recommend that you bring along a headlamp, as this allows you to use both hands for what ever needs to be done. Things like fire-lighters, mosquito repellents, dishwashing liquid etc. You will be able to buy in the many well stocked grocery stores around Namibia.
Can you assist with campsite and accommodation bookings in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe?
Yes, we can assist you and can give you advise on routes and recommended establishments on your route. Most campsites are not bookable online, but we have most, if not all contact details and will gladly assist you with booking these. That said, we can also assist with lodge and hotel bookings as well. And often, but not always, we can offer better or the same prices you would find on the online booking platforms. One thing that we can however guarantee is our local 24/7 back service and personal help. Contact us for more information.