Travelling in Namibia

Namibia is a huge country without many public transport options, so hiring a car is by far the best way of getting around. Namibia’s roads, both tarred and gravel, are in good condition and are well maintained, making it easy to do a self-drive holiday. It’s a good idea to have both a GPS (or offline map on your smartphone) as well as a paper map for navigating.

You don’t need to hire a 4x4 to drive around Namibia – 2WD sedan cars are able to drive on the gravel roads – but it is preferable to have a car with high ground clearance especially for the ungraded dirt secondary roads. If you’re travelling in Namibia’s remoter regions such as the Skeleton Coast National Park, Kaokoveld and Damaraland, you’ll need a 4x4. You’ll also need a 4x4 to explore Khaudum National Park, Nkasa Rupara National Park and parts of Bwabwata National Park in the Zambezi Region.

Some car rental companies offer vehicles fully kitted out for camping tips, with rooftop tents, freezers, gas cookers, camping chairs and tables, sleeping bags, jerry cans and cooking sets.

Namibia has one of the world’s highest rates of road accidents, and it’s recommended to take out fully comprehensive insurance to cover you for any damage or accidents that may happen on your trip.