In total, Namibia has 27,600 miles (44,400 km) of roads, most of which (56%) are gravel, but many are also tar and dirt, and 90% of the major highways are tarred. A few roads, like the C34 along the Skeleton Coast, are even salt.
![](https://ati-holidays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/road1-1.jpg?w=690)
While Namibia’s road network is good and traffic is minimal, it’s important to be safe and conscious of your surroundings. Here are a few tips to help you negotiate Namibia’s roads:
- Never drive after dark outside of a town or city, particularly on gravel or dirt roads.
- Watch out for animals crossing your path, especially warthogs and kudus. Animals often sleep on the roads at night (hence point #1).
- Keep your running lights on at all times. Turn on headlights in dusty conditions.
- Stay below 120 km/h (75 mph) on tarred roads, and within 60 – 80 km/h (35 – 50 mph) on gravel roads.
- Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you on gravel roads to avoid stones that might get kicked up.
- Never brake hard on gravel or dirt roads, especially going into a corner, as it might overturn the car. It’s better to slow down and let the road guide you.
- When you come across a sign indicating a gentle curve, reduce your speed by at least a third. When you come across a sign indicating a sharp curve, reduce your speed by at least half.
- Carry 2 spare tires with you.
- In case of a (rare) tropical downpour, pull off the road, turn on your headlights, and wait for it to ease up.
- To cross a stream, test it first by walking to see how deep it is, and/or wait for it to subside (many streams are ephemeral).
- Stop at police road blocks.
- Gas stations only accept cash, so make sure you bring enough for your trip. Just to be on the safe side, we recommend that you fill up whenever you pass a gas station. Gas stations in Namibia are also all full-service, and it’s common to tip the attendant around 5 Namibian dollars
- For most tourist sites around the country you don’t need a 4×4 vehicle, but it does offer a lot more comfort, safety, versatility, and reliability. If you do use a 4×4, make sure you know how it works first:
- For the vast majority of the journey, you will only need to use 2×4 (2H) rear-wheel drive
- On more difficult, unstable, or steep terrain, you may need to switch to 4×4 high (4H), but keep in mind this uses more gas
- If you feel like you need some help getting through something, switch on the diff lock, which makes sure all the wheels spin together
- If you’re really stuck in soft sand, mud, or going over a very steep pass, switch to 4×4 low (4L), which uses a lower gear ratio
- Keep in mind that you can only use the diff lock and/or 4L for a very short time! Once you are through the obstacle, switch back to 4H or 2H with the diff lock off to avoid causing damage to the car
- For our 4×4 double cabs, we recommend keeping the tire pressure at 1.8 bars, which is a little soft but gives more traction and helps avoid punctures
- Remember to check whether your car takes diesel (many 4×4 vehicles do) or gas, and only use the appropriate fuel when filling up!
[contact-form][contact-field label=’Was this helpful?’ type=’radio’ options=’Yes,No’/][/contact-form]