Travel safely…

Roads are usually well paved. When planning your trip one should always bear in mind that only 40% of Namibian roads are tarred. The remaining 60% are gravel roads.

Depending on the appearance of the roads they are subdivided into B, C and D roads. B-roads are tarred and C-roads are wide and relatively well prepared gravel roads. D-roads on the other hand can most of the time only be accessed with a four-wheel drive.

Busy gravel roads have a phenomenon that cannot be found in Europe: so called corrugated roads. Sand and gravel are compacted by the frequent traffic and as the name indicates, the ground forms a sort of corrugated pattern. Driving on corrugated gravel roads calls for a slow and cautious driving behavior, as driving too fast decreases road adherence. Car hire companies therefore usually only allow a maximum speed of 80 km/h on gravel roads.

Dune off-road trips are prohibited for safety reasons by most car rental companies. However, if you would like to drive in the dunes, there are several operators who offer this pleasure trips in their own cars.

Glaring sunlight, heat haze and dust makes assessing distances very imprecise. We suggest leaving the headlights on in order to be seen by any oncoming traffic on time.

At the start of twilight one should have arrived at the desired accommodation or camping site, as wildlife increases and dust and light from the sunset increases the risk of accidents.

Namibia offers wonderfully located camping sites and now and then one can pitch a tent wherever one feels like. As all over the world it is self-evident to leave the camping site clean and tidy when leaving, as Namibia’s breathtaking nature should be kept forever.

To avoid unnecessary stopovers you should always make sure that the tank has enough diesel/petrol. Africa on Wheels fits all its vehicles with 2 spare wheels, and the Double Cabs with an extra fuel tank.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.