Self Drive Information - Self Drive Holidays - Namibia

•  Take a cooler box with you. Temperatures are exceptionally high, and     refreshment stores are spread over vast distances. Buy plenty of water and     snacks for your trip.
 
•  Carry supplies of toiletries. Although fuel stations on main routes are generally     well equipped and clean, there is frequently a scarcity of ablution facilities when     leaving main highways.
 
•  Always fill up at every opportunity even if you have more than half a tank. You     never know when you will find another filling station. Fuel stations outside     Windhoek and Swakopmund are not open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most     hired vehicles run on unleaded fuel which is not readily available, especially in     the desert.
 
•  Fuel stations do not accept credit card payment, only cash. Most shops and     facilities in the outlying areas do not have access to credit card machines and     will only accept cash. (Prepay as much as you can through your tour operator.)     Make certain you always have sufficient local currency in cash, either ZAR –     South African Rands or NAD – Namibian Dollars.
 
•  Drive cautiously as only 11% of Namibia’s roads are tarred. The major-ity of the     roads are good gravel or salt roads. The speed limit is 80km/h on gravel roads     and 120 km/h on open roads (tarred roads) and 60 km/h in villages/towns.     Remember to drive on the left hand side. If at all possible, avoid driving at night.     This is when game tends to frequent the roads.
 
•  Ensure that you take basic medical supplies with you. Pharmacies are few and     far between, once you have left the major cities.
 
•  Outlying areas often do not have electricity, and many of the lodges run on     generator power. Bear in mind that you may not be able to charge laptops,     cameras or mobile phones in these areas. Please ask your lodge if you wish to     charge these items.
 
•  Most tourist routes can easily be negotiated in normal sedans. We suggest that     you hire a car with air-conditioning, as the temperatures can be particularly high     in summer.