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So you are in a Namibian town on city and are thrilled that you can park for free on the street. There are no parking meters!Not so fast, there are "car guards", and for $N3 - $N5 per hour they will watch your car. They do have a quasi-uniform (jacket or vest) that identifies them as an official car guard. While under their watchful eye, nothing ever happened to our car or it's contents, so I figure the system does work.
Namibia is in many ways two separate countries. The south that has commercial agriculture and industry and the north the supports traditional lifestyles, including traditional susistance agriculture and herding.In order reduce the rist of animal diseases being transferred to the farms in the south, there are animal control checkpoints along all the roads. There is no issue when travelling from south to north, but when travelling back to the south from the north, your vehicle will be inspected. No unprocessesed meat is allowed to cross this control line, even if you bought it in a supermarket.The other warning is that the veterinary inspectors at two of the control points tried to get bribes.
This is a warning to those peope that do not have any experience in driving on gravel and sand roads. SLOW DOWN!I saw too many people driving these as if they were the Autobahn or some other western superhighway. They are not and even though the speed limit is normally 80 km/hr and in some cases higher, you can't do it. Sand and gravel do not give you the same grip as asphalt or gravel and stopping and turning distances are far greater than you are used to. Roll overs are frequent and a lot of people get flats and in some cases the tires are so badly damaged that they have to be replaced.Try to drive towards the centre of the road, that way you won't damage your tires (sidewall damage that can't be repaired) and move over to the left when approaching blind hills or curves you can't see around.Animals, can dart out unexpectedly and your first reaction is to swerve to avoid them. If it...
As they say, when it rains, it pours. The sand and gravel roads turn from acceptable driving surfaces to soft mud very quickly and you will have very limited control of your vehicles. If you are an experienced ice and snow driver things will feel very familiar to you! Most people will probably visit in the dry season, but if you are there during the little rains or rainly season, please take note!SLOW DOWN! Deep ruts can develop very quickly and your car will follow these rather than where you want to be. Take it easy of the gas (spinning your tires will throw mud around and you won;t have any control) and don't try to brake too hard as you will just slide like on an icy surface.If you are driving a 4x4, consider switching into 4x4 mode; low or high, depending on the conditions.
The paved B roads can be driven with normal vehicles, but the C and D roads may be problematic.If you are planning to drive on any unpaved roads, consider getting a 4x4 with high clearance. This applies to Etosha National Park as well. The main roads are fine, but the side ones, especially during rainy season can be problematic if you have a slow slung vehicle and front or rear wheel drive only.
There are some areas on main roads (C and D roads) where you might frun into deep sand. The last part of the drive to the sand dunes near Sessriem and the road up to Nhoma are two places we ran into this.If you are not an experience deep sand driver (or if you are used to driving in very snowy areas, many of the same skills apply). You can get stuck. If in deep sand, try to drive through it slowly and try to not stop! Don't drive too quickly and you can easily loose control and get stuck. If in a 4x4, switch into 4x4 mode (low) before driving through the deep sand.Watch where other vehicles have gone and follow the tracks that have gone through the shallowest sand, don't get into the deep stuff if you can avoid it!If you do get stuck:1. Try to rock your way out by switching between 1st gear and reverese.2. If you get really stuck and rocking does not work prepare to dig your way out....
The telecommnications infrastructure in Namibia is not terribly robust, especially in more remote parts of the country. In bad weather, this problem extends to places like Windheok as well.Bottom line is that your credit cards may not work, ATMs may not give you cash, so make sure you have sufficient cash to cover off your costs if you run into these issues. While we did not have any. I wouild assume that traveller's cheques are not going to be accepted anywhere other than banks, so don't count on these!
On the day we were out trying to spot a desert elephant or two, we had just got back into our jeep when a black mamba slithered across our path. The mamba's reputation goes before it. For the wary traveller, it is sometimes hard to separate fact from myth.The black mamba is in fact an olive green colour (but I wouldn't advise you to approach one just for the sake of proving me wrong). At 3 to 4 metres long, it is Africa's largest venomous snake, and with an ability to move at up to 18 kmph, its fastest. It's not though the world's most deadly: that honour goes to the Inland Taipan: one bite by all accounts (and don't ask me how they know this), can kill 200,000 mice. Death is not an inevitable end after a mamba bite, in fact only 20% of attacks end in death. Despite all the horror stories, mambas are not programmed to attack without provocation: attacks are normally the result of people...
I have read several of the posts regarding the travel conditions in Namibia, and I must say more emphasis must be placed on personal awareness, each visitor taking their safety completely upon their own shoulders. I say this because I received zero information, instructions, warnings, or any material regarding driving dangers from my rental company. Please see the blog I created specifically to address my concerns for drivers that follow behind us visiting Namibia.http://namibiandrivingdangers.blogspot.com/The posts I did read on Virtual Tourist mention actions and factors that lead or contributed to particular accidents. Our story is different, in the fact that we were driving under the posted speed limit, and suddenly, without warning our truck went into a slow-motion clock-wise spin on a smooth straight section of gravel road, resulting in 2 violent rollovers before settling back on...
I have read several of the posts regarding the travel conditions in Namibia, and I must say more emphasis must be placed on personal awareness, each visitor taking their safety completely upon their own shoulders. I say this because I received zero information, instructions, warnings, or any material regarding driving dangers from my rental company. Please see the blog I created specifically to address my concerns for drivers that follow behind us visiting Namibia.http://namibiandrivingdangers.blogspot.com/The posts I did read on Virtual Tourist mention actions and factors that lead or contributed to particular accidents. Our story is different, in the fact that we were driving under the posted speed limit, and suddenly, without warning our truck went into a slow-motion clock-wise spin on a smooth straight section of gravel road, resulting in 2 violent rollovers before settling back on...
Hotel Heinitzburg Windhoek
1 Review and 62 Opinions We only stayed for one night sadly, as on our return to Windhoek we travelled on to a game farm. But...
Rostock Ritz Namib-Naukluft Park
1 Review and 15 Opinions It is a desert Motel - in the middle of nowhere but the accomodation is great. Make your...
Hansa Hotel Swakopmund
1 Review and 65 Opinions the hotel was well located and the rooms that I had to pass by on the way to mine looked good. Mine...
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Q: Hi, I've been looking into planning a trip to Namibia and Botswana, but I haven't been finding much useful information as to how...
A: The two countries share a huge border. I've been through the crossings at either end of the Caprivi Strip so could offer general comments (although better travelled...
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