HOLIDAY TRAVEL GUIDE FOR NAMIBIA
DRIVING
Driving is on the left-hand side. The road network is well developed and of a high standard. The developed national road and tourist infrastructure within Namibia makes it an easy, and fun, self-drive destination for the international tourist.Some driving will be done on tarred roads, some on gravel roads, which is why we insist you rent an SUV or 4x4 vehicle. Most of the gravel roads are well graded and easy enough to drive on. But if you are unfamiliar with driving on dirt roads, you must be aware that your car will handle very differently on a dirt road then it does on a tarred road. So if it’s your first time driving on such roads, start off slowly and get used to the way your car stops, accelerates and takes corners. Flat tyres can occur, no matter how cautious you are, therefore we recommend that you book an extra spare wheel when making your booking with us.
Along the main highways, petrol is available 24 hours a day, but we recommend you fill up with petrol when you have the chance, and don't let the tank get too low on fuel. Namibia is a sparsely populated country and getting stuck with no fuel is not ideal. Some maps will tell you where the filling stations are, but old maps (both actual or online) could be out of date. Some filling stations do not accept card payments for fuel, so always have enough cash to pay for your fuel.
On the toll-roads, there are telephones available in case of breakdown or in case of an accident. Always wear seatbelts. Mobile telephones are not allowed to be used in a car without a hands-free kit.
And a few final tips:
- Take bottled water in the car with you. Namibia can be very hot and you can drive for a while in some areas without seeing any settlement.
- Take snacks with you. Biltong and droewors are great snacks which can be found for sale all over Namibia.
- Keep a lookout for animals on the road. They can run into the road unexpectedly and cause damage to your vehicle, or an accident.
- Don't speed, the penalties for exceeding the speed limits are severe, and enforced.
- Mobile/Cell phone reception is not consistent all over the country, and Sat Navs/GPS devices can fail or struggle for signal. A map is solid and dependable and it never has to reacquire it's satellites!
OTP Travel Services Ltd T/A Africa Collection, registered in Ireland. Registered address: Unit 6, First Floor, Clonbealy Business Centre, Newport, Co. Tipperary V94 C5R3. Company Registration Number 497583. OTP Travel Services Ltd (497583) T/A Africa Collection is licensed by the Irish Aviation Authority, TO 260.