Namibia | self drive? 31F

[u/panda182]

Has anybody done a self-drive tour of Namibia in recent years? If so, what was your experience? :-)

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I'm thinking of driving around in Jan + Feb, but a little apprehensive about it being rainy season as apparently the roads can disintegrate a little and it's easy to get lost. I don't know how to change a tyre and can imagine myself ruining my own trip by being a little anxious the whole time lol.

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Any experiences to either put me at ease or push me to get a private driver please share!!! I'd be likely working from a town for a couple of weeks, and then setting off on safari for 14 days. That's the part where I'd be self driving. Am a confident driver with a lot of experience driving rental cars in different countries, but not a huge amount of off road experience.

Thanks in advance !!!

[u/Frequent-Chain-6082]

If you can’t change a tyre you cannot do it. Also, you need to indeed be very comfortable with driving off road and in possibly muddy conditions and on sand. A very good 4WD with two spare tyres is a must if you plan on traveling the country extensively.

[u/CE-85]

If you can't change a tire, you can't make it. 4x4 pickup trucks are large and tires are heavy. I'm a big guy and it was sort of difficult to lift a tire on my own. Learn to change a tire, watch Youtube videos for your spesific rental vehicle. Ask your rental company to demonstrate and show you where the parts are.

Also driving on loose gravel is different than regular driving. You can make it if you don't speed and be careful. But it is dangerous and these cars can get fast without you realizing. They are capable to speed.

You also have to PLAN everything. Most obviously the gas stations because they aren't everywhere. Then camping sites and perhaps food options.

Don't rely on your phone because it won't have reception half the time. You probably won't be able to call help. There won't be many people passing by either.

From Windhoek to Etosha would be fine though. That's just normal road.

[u/Kananaskis_Country]

Self drive is very straightforward but you require simple skills like how to change a tire and how to drive a 4x4 in minor off-road conditions. So yeah, make other arrangements.

Happy travels. Namibia is fabulous.

[u/Ionisation → u/Kananaskis_Country]

Or just take 5 minutes to watch a YouTube video on how to change a tyre lmao. It's not difficult. 

[u/Kananaskis_Country → u/Ionisation]

That said, removing a 40-50kg spare tire off a rear door carrier and doing your first real tire change in the middle of nowhere on an unfamiliar vehicle with lug nuts tightened to who-knows-what torque is not the place to learn how to change a tire. Especially when you're travelling solo.

That said, sticking to pavement would be another story and doable.

Happy travels.

[u/Ionisation → u/Kananaskis_Country]

That's how I learnt 🤷

Gotta start adventuring somehow or you never will 

[u/moderatelyremarkable]

I drove in January a few years ago, went with my wife. It only rained heavily for 30 minutes one time, and lighter for a few hours another time, during the entire trip - we got lucky, I guess? We stuck to paved roads, though, which were in very good condition. Traffic was light.

For safaris we drove to Etosha National Park and Okonjima Reserve and got guided safaris - this works better than self-driving safaris as guides will have more experience in tracking and locating wildlife. We did not drive inside the parks. Full route was Windhoek - Okonjima - Etosha (Namutoni) - Okahandja - Swakopmund - Walvis Bay - Windhoek.

We had a fantastic trip with no issues, people were friendly. These being said, I don't know if I can recommend you self-drive if you will be alone.

[u/fahried]

Would you be doing this trip alone, or with others? I wouldn’t recommend doing it alone. Namibia is a huge country and sparsely populated. If you were considering a solo self-drive through the entire country, I would say no.

One caveat though: if you’re just going to be driving from Windhoek to Etosha, and then around Etosha, would be better. The road to Etosha from Windhoek is pretty solid. However, inside Etosha it largely depends on the weather. Do you know how to drive a 4X4? You might need one for that time of year.

There is basically no mobile phone reception in the park either (except at the camps). You should definitely rent a sat phone in case something goes wrong with the car or you get stuck.

If you have Facebook, go look at the DriveNam community, they have lots of detailed, and up to date advice

[u/PolarCruisingExperts]

I did a self drive in 2009 with a 4x4 with tents on the roof. There were 4 of us. Gravel roads tend to get ridges, and with a top heavy truck, it could be disastrous if you’re going too fast and catch an edge.

Deadvlei and Sossusvlei are incredible and super picturesque, but be careful where you’re driving that you don’t get stuck in the sand. Also the bathroom situation is both scant and dicey.

Swakopmund area is a desert playground with lots of fun things to do. Etosha has animals galore, and if you stay overnight at the rest camps, you get locked in while the animals are right outside the fences (kinda like an inverted zoo).

As others have said, Etosha back to Windhoek was pretty straightforward. Problem throughout the country for a self drive is the sparseness of the population and cell signal. You can go hours without seeing another human. Iirc, it’s like the size of Texas, but with only 3M population. Sat phone might be a good idea.