Driving in Namibia

Namibia is made for road trips.

The country has a well-developed road network, light traffic across much of the interior and enormous stretches of landscape best appreciated at your own pace. Self-driving is therefore one of the most popular ways to explore Namibia.

It is also worth remembering that a quiet road is not necessarily an easy road. Distances are long, gravel is common and animals, dust, rain and fatigue can all change conditions very quickly.

Which side of the road do Namibians drive on?

Namibia drives on the left-hand side of the road.

Vehicles are generally right-hand drive, and overtaking is done on the right.

If you normally drive on the opposite side, take a little extra care when leaving fuel stations, intersections and accommodation entrances, where habit can take over before you have had your morning coffee.

Namibia's road network

Namibia has an extensive national road network consisting of surfaced highways, gravel roads, earth roads and a small number of salt roads.

The main routes between larger towns are generally tarred and in good condition, while many tourism routes use well-maintained gravel roads.

Gravel should not automatically be read as “bad road”. In Namibia, it is simply part of normal travel.

Do not underestimate distances

Namibia looks deceptively manageable on a map.

A destination may appear reasonably close until you realise that the route is several hundred kilometres long, much of it on gravel, and that you would quite like to stop occasionally to take photographs.

Plan journeys using realistic travel times rather than distance alone. A 300 km journey on a quiet gravel road is not the same thing as 300 km on a motorway.

Gravel roads

Most visitors will drive on gravel at some stage, and many will spend a considerable portion of their trip on it.

Slow down, leave a generous following distance and avoid sudden steering, braking or acceleration. Loose gravel reduces grip and can cause the vehicle to slide, particularly on bends or when braking hard.

Road conditions can change from one section to the next. Corrugations, loose sand, stones, potholes and washaways may appear even on routes that were excellent a week earlier.

Our separate guide to 4x4, 2WD & Road Conditions goes into more detail about vehicle choice and gravel-road driving.

Animals on the road

Livestock and wildlife are common on Namibian roads, particularly outside towns.

Cattle, goats, donkeys, antelope and other animals can appear with little warning, and their behaviour around vehicles is not always predictable.

Reduce speed when animals are near the road and give them plenty of space.

Avoid driving at night where possible

Night driving outside towns is best avoided unless necessary.

Roads are poorly lit, wildlife and livestock are difficult to see, and the long distances between settlements mean assistance can be far away if something goes wrong.

Dusk and dawn also deserve extra attention because animals are often more active at these times.

Seat belts and safe driving

Wear seat belts and make sure everyone in the vehicle does the same.

Do not use a mobile phone while driving unless you are using it legally and safely through a hands-free system, and never drive after drinking alcohol.

The apparent emptiness of Namibia’s roads should never be mistaken for permission to drive faster than conditions allow.

Navigation

GPS and navigation apps have made getting around Namibia considerably easier than it once was, but it is still worth carrying an offline map or downloading your route before leaving town.

Mobile coverage is not continuous in remote areas and navigation systems occasionally have surprisingly imaginative ideas about what constitutes a road.

Road signs on established routes are generally good, and locals are usually happy to help if you are uncertain.

Mobile coverage and emergencies

Do not assume you will have a mobile signal throughout a self-drive trip.

Tell someone where you are going when travelling into remote areas, carry drinking water and keep essential contact details available offline.

If you break down, remaining with the vehicle is generally safer than attempting to walk long distances for help.

Rain can change a road quickly

During the summer rainfall season, thunderstorms can cause local flooding and damage to gravel and earth roads.

Ephemeral rivers that are dry for most of the year can flow suddenly after heavy rain elsewhere in the catchment.

Never drive into flowing water if you are uncertain of its depth, strength or the condition of the road beneath it.

The Roads Authority issues notices when major roads are damaged or temporarily restricted, so it is worth checking current road information after significant rainfall.

Plan less, rush less

One of the easiest mistakes to make in Namibia is trying to cover too much ground in a day.

Leave time for stops, changing road conditions and the inevitable photograph that somehow becomes twenty photographs.

Namibia is a much better country when you are not trying to race through it.