The Ultimate Guide to Vehicle Renting and Driving in Namibia

A road trip through Namibia is an exciting, unique adventure. The country is beautiful and extremely diverse, and with a name meaning ‘a vast place’, it’s no wonder a lot of time will be spent traveling from place to place. Driving in Namibia is, however, a bit different from everywhere else.

Unfortunately, Namibia is not known for its exquisite road quality. In fact, a lot of the country is connected only by gravel roads instead of tar. Of course, in the cities this is not the case, but if you want to travel to places like Sossusvlei, Fish River Canyon, and Etosha National Park, you’ll definitely come across some rough roads.

Because gravel road is different, there is a general set of rules to follow while driving on them that do not apply to tar roads. If you drive as you normally would, the chances are much higher that you could cause an accident or damage your vehicle (or someone else’s). If you don’t have experience on these types of roads, it can be quite dangerous, so I’ve put together a list of driving ‘to-dos’ and ‘not to-dos’ to help you be prepared and stay as safe as possible.

Renting a vehicle

It is, of course, possible to explore Namibia without a car, but it is very inconvenient and might be quite difficult. After all, public transport is minimal, and can be dangerous for anyone who isn’t a local. If you plan to avoid driving the long roads, Gondwana (the biggest tourism group in Namibia) offers shuttle buses that take you from city to city/another area in the country. If you plan to opt for this, you can book a shuttle here. However, the routes are limited and run only once daily. So, if you want to explore the country, your best bet will definitely be to rent a car.

The process of renting a vehicle always seems a bit daunting to me. I’m always afraid there’s something wrong with my driver’s license or credit card or something. So, let me tell you exactly how it works in Namibia.

What type of car should you pick?

First order of business: Rent a 4×4.

On many roads a tougher car will be extremely helpful. It is generally more comfortable, withstands much more damage, and is bigger on the inside too. The tyres provide more grip on the gravel roads, which can be a bit slippery.

Make sure to pick an option with unlimited mileage, as well as full insurance. On our way to Sossusvlei, our windshield was cracked by a stone hitting it when a car passed us on the gravel road. Another car lost its whole front bumper while we were in the dunes (and yes, it was a rental!)

A great option is to hire a 4×4 with a rooftop camper. These vehicles come with a full set of camping equipment, as well as tents with bedding included. This is probably the cheapest way to travel in Namibia as camping areas are everywhere, and obviously cheaper than hotels or lodges.

What do you need to rent a car in Namibia?

To rent a car, you will need a valid driver’s license and a credit card. The driver’s license must be in English, otherwise you will need an international driver’s license. The driver must be over the age of 23 or 25 (depending on the company) and must have been in possession of the license for at least 1 year.

Driving in Namibia

Driving in Namibia carries a much higher risk than it does in another countries, partially because of the bad roads, but also because of the long distances of nothingness between places. Here I’ve compiled a few tips and tricks to help you be safe on your trip:

Don’t underestimate the distances

Namibia is a relatively big country, so if you’re not used to driving non-stop for a few hours at a time, it can be a bit overwhelming and exhausting. I’ve heard many tourists say that they didn’t expect the drive between towns to be so long. Also, expect there to be long stretches on which you don’t really see anything interesting. Generally, you’ll spend 4-6 hours on the road to travel from one place to the next in Namibia.

If you get tired, take a break immediately!

Did you know that a tired driver is more likely to cause an accident than a drunk driver? And it is so easy to get tired on the long empty roads. Just stop by the side of the road and have something to drink or eat, or even take a nap (though not if you’re alone). Always have some caffeine on hand. It also helps to make your passengers constantly talk to you to keep you awake. A helpful tip is to have multiple drivers so that one can take over when the other gets tired.

Don’t drive in the dunes without experience or guidance.

Local Namibians drive up and down dunes in their private vehicles all the time. Please remember that these people usually have years of experience, many of them having grown up around dunes. Driving around in the dunes without experience is extremely dangerous! This is because dunes have a specific structure. On one side the dune may have a low incline, but it is often unpredictable how steep the other side is. If you want to experience this, take a tour to Sandwich Harbour with a tour company that will either guide you or drive you in their vehicle.

Bring a road map or download the google maps route.

There are many areas in Namibia where reception is not good, or even nonexistent, especially on gravel roads. Always be prepared for this. Buy road maps to where you plan to drive (you can usually find these at souvenir shops) and mark the road you want to take. Alternatively, download the google maps route on your phone so that it will be available offline. (Tip: Also download some music on Spotify so you don’t get stuck without it.)

Be careful on gravel roads.

These are usually the roads that cause the most accidents. Make your turns as wide as possible, because if you jerk your steering wheel, the car can very easily roll. So, even if the car goes off the road, don’t jerk it back onto the road. Rather take a slow, wide turn back on and remember not to panic.

The most common thing that happens on these roads is tyre punctures. Always keep your eyes on the road and avoid any potholes or harsh dips in the road. Before you start your road trip, know how to change a tyre!

Also, before you drive on a gravel road, deflate your tyres a bit. It may be helpful to carry a tyre pressure gauge. Deflating the tyres will help increase the contact area of the tyre with the road. This gives the car more grip and in turn, the driver more control. When you get back onto a tar road, just go to the first petrol station and ask an attendant to reinflate your tyres. (Remember to tip N$5 or 10.)

Don’t get too close to other cars on gravel roads.

If you drive on a gravel road and come across another car, slow down! Driving on these roads throws up a lot of stones that can potentially damage other cars. Also, when overtaking another car on the gravel road, stay on the right side (yes, we drive on the left) of the road for a bit. If you turn back onto their side right in front of them, a stone could hit their windshield and damage their vehicle.

Keep your headlights on.

Yes, even during the day! This ensures that cars driving in the other direction can spot you from far enough, which could avoid unnecessary accidents. On gravel roads, it helps other cars spot you through the clouds of dust that form.

Avoid driving at dusk or at night.

Driving in Namibia at night on a highway or gravel road is quite dangerous, because you won’t find any streetlights anywhere. That means that there is less distance for you to see potholes, wild animals, or anything else that might be on the road. Plan your trips out so that you get to your destination early enough to miss nightfall by at least 1 hour (in case there is some sort of delay).

Driving at sunset can also be very dangerous, especially when driving towards the West. The sun can be blinding, especially the Namibian sun, so avoid it if you can.

Don’t drive faster than you need to.

The last thing you’ll want on your holiday is a traffic ticket for speeding. On highways, Namibians do this very often. But police are posted all along those long, empty highways, especially over hills, because they are aware of this. On highways, the speed limit is generally 120km/h, while on gravel roads it is 100km/h (but I was driving more around 80km/h).

Fill up your tank whenever possible.

Try to fill up your tank at every petrol station you pass. On tar roads, you’ll find them frequently enough, but in more remote areas, like Sossusvlei and Skeleton Coast, you might drive a few hundred kilometres without passing one. Also, fill up right before you leave each destination to travel to the next one.

Watch out for animals on the road.

It is so important to always be concentrated on the road in front of you. Be aware that there are wild animals roaming around almost everywhere. That means that they might unexpectedly run into the road.

Driving in Namibia can be a bit intimidating, but if you follow my tips you’ll be fine. Hopefully, my little guide has helped not only ease your mind, but prepare you for the road ahead (pun intended).