Driving in Namibia
Namibia
has an excellent network of tarred and gravel roads. It is however, essential
that you allow sufficient time when driving from one point to another. The speed
limit on gravel roads is 60 km/h and accidents are sure to result when this rule
is ignored. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road and law requires the
wearing of seatbelts. Credit cards are not accepted as payment for fuel. Roads
signs, particularly those, which indicate a curve in the road, should be
observed and speed should be reduced by at least a third when a warning sign
appears. Headlights should be turned on in dusty conditions. Tyre/air pressure
plays an important role as far as the road holding ability of the vehicle is
concerned. Please observe the manufacturer's guidelines in this regard. As far
as possible, avoid travelling at night and be aware of slippery roads in wet
weather. One should also always be aware of animals crossing the
road.
Important: not all gravel roads are the same!
Please be aware of
the conditions of the road surface.
Four Wheel Drive
Excursions
Before driving:
- Check engine oil when vehicle is cold
- Do
not over fill when topping up
- Check tyre pressure. (The correct pressure is
written on a sticker on the driver doorframe. This should be checked when the
tyres are cold. Correct pressure will reduce fuel consumption and prevent
steering wobble and tyre bursts).
- Check radiator water in plastic bottle
next to the radiator
Tar/Gravel roads:
- Front wheel hubs must be in free
position
- Secondary gear lever must be on 2H
Engaging four wheel
drive:
- Never shift secondary gear while driving
- Always turn free wheel
hubs to "lock" position before engaging secondary gear.
Sandy conditions:
-
Follow instructions on engaging four wheel drive
- Shift secondary gear to L4
low. Use first and second gear and do not over-rev the engine
- Do not exceed
60 km/h
- Watch out for dips in the road.
Avoid:
- Sudden motions and
overcorrecting of steering wheel.
- Driving over the speed limit
Extreme /
muddy conditions:
- Follow instructions on engaging four wheel drive
-
Shift secondary gear to L4 (low range)
- Only use first gear and do not
over-rev
- Gently rock vehicle backwards and forwards.
General
Information
On arrival at the Avis rental counter, you must produce:
-
Method of payment
- Driver's license
- Passport (if foreign visitor)
-
Cash or credit card to cover applicable deposits
- Home address and telephone
number
- Local contact details (Hotel/tour operator)
Standard cover rates, from 01.11.2007 until 31.10.2008:
| GRP | VEHICLE TYPE | CATEGORY | SIPP CODES VALID TO 31 OCTOBER 2007 | SIPP CODES VALID FROM 01 NOVEMBER 2007 | KEY | RATE CODES | CONDITIONS | ||
| 9M | 9O |
Minimum Rental Period: 1 Day |
|||||||
| 1-13 | 14-23 | LIABILITY AMOUNT | EXTENSION | ||||||
| P | Corsa or Similar | Economy | EDMN | ECMN | (M) | N$ 293 | N$ 278 | N$ 7800 | N$ 380 |
| A | VW Chico or Similar | Economy | CDMN | EDMN | (M) (CD) | N$ 308 | N$ 294 | N$ 7800 | N$ 402 |
| B | VW Polo Hatch or Similar | Compact | CDMR | CDMR | (M) (CD) (AC) (P) | N$ 425 | N$ 403 | N$ 7800 | N$ 552 |
| C | VW Polo Classic or Similar | Intermediate | IDMR | IDMR | (M) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 512 | N$ 486 | N$ 7800 | N$ 666 |
| D | Nissan Tiida or Similar | Intermediate | CDAR | IDAR | (A) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 528 | N$ 502 | N$ 7800 | N$ 686 |
| E | VW Jetta or Similar | Standard | IDAR | SDAR | (A) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 773 | N$ 733 | N$ 9600 | N$ 1004 |
| G | Mercedes C Class or Similar | Full Size | FDAR | FDAR | (A) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 967 | N$ 919 | N$ 9600 | N$ 1258 |
| K | Nissan X-Trail 2x4 or Similar | Full Size | SWMR | FXMR | (M) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 845 | N$ 803 | N$ 9600 | N$ 1098 |
| H | VW T5 Caravelle or Similar | Full Size | LVMR | FVMR | (M) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 1502 | N$ 1427 | N$ 10800 | N$ 1952 |
| J | Toyota Hilux Single Cab | 4x4 | IFMR | FPNR | (M) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 1024 | N$ 972 | N$ 10200 | N$ 1330 |
| N | Toyota Hilux Double Cab | 4x4 | FFMR | FFNR | (M) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 1050 | N$ 997 | N$ 10200 | N$ 1364 |
| M | Nissan X-Trail or Similar | 4x4 | FXNR | FXNR | (M) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 1050 | N$ 997 | N$ 10200 | N$ 1364 |
Maximum cover rates, from 01.11.2007 until 31.10.2008:
| GRP | VEHICLE TYPE | CATEGORY | SIPP CODES VALID TO 31 OCTOBER 2007 | SIPP CODES VALID FROM 01 NOVEMBER 2007 | KEY | RATE CODES | CONDITIONS | ||
| 6J | 6K |
Minimum Rental Period: 1 Day |
|||||||
| 1-13 | 14-23 | LIABILITY AMOUNT | EXTENSION | ||||||
| P | Corsa or Similar | Economy | EDMN | ECMN | (M) | N$ 321 | N$ 306 | NIL | N$ 419 |
| A | VW Chico or Similar | Economy | CDMN | EDMN | (M) (CD) | N$ 340 | N$ 323 | NIL | N$ 442 |
| B | VW Polo Hatch or Similar | Compact | CDMR | CDMR | (M) (CD) (AC) (P) | N$ 454 | N$ 431 | NIL | N$ 590 |
| C | VW Polo Classic or Similar | Intermediate | IDMR | IDMR | (M) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 522 | N$ 496 | NIL | N$ 678 |
| D | Nissan Tiida or Similar | Intermediate | CDAR | IDAR | (A) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 576 | N$ 547 | NIL | N$ 748 |
| E | VW Jetta or Similar | Standard | IDAR | SDAR | (A) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 840 | N$ 798 | NIL | N$ 1091 |
| G | Mercedes C Class or Similar | Full Size | FDAR | FDAR | (A) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 1188 | N$ 1129 | NIL | N$ 1544 |
| K | Nissan X-Trail 2x4 or Similar | Full Size | SWMR | FXMR | (M) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 925 | N$ 880 | NIL | N$ 1202 |
| H | VW T5 Caravelle or Similar | Full Size | LVMR | FVMR | (M) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 1704 | N$ 1619 | NIL | N$ 2215 |
| J | Toyota Hilux Single Cab | 4x4 | IFMR | FPNR | (M) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 1046 | N$ 995 | NIL | N$ 1361 |
| N | Toyota Hilux Double Cab | 4x4 | FFMR | FFNR | (M) (CD) (AC) (P) (AB) | N$ 1091 | N$ 1036 | NIL | N$ 1417 |
| M | |||||||||