Is a self-drive in Namibia the right trip for you?

I spent 16 days doing a self-drive across Namibia so I might be a little biased. But I’m also here to break out all the honest pros and cons of doing a self-drive trip in Namibia so you can decide if it’s the right trip for you.

Table of contents

Why should I do a self-drive trip in Namibia?

1. It’s an amazing place to visit.
   Namibia is a beautiful country in the south western part of Africa (just north of South Africa with the Atlantic Ocean along its western coast). It’s gorgeous, safe, and deeply interesting to explore with a ton of infrastructure in place to make it fairly accessible.
   
2. There’s a ton to do in Namibia
   Whether you like safaris, hiking, rock climbing, fishing, or just relaxing there’s a ton to discover.
   
3. It’s a great first taste of driving in Africa
   With a small population (just over 3 million) the traffic is far less intense than a place like Zimbabwe. In fact, most days outside of Windhoek you’re practically the only car on the road.
   
4. The roads are (fairly) easy to drive
   Many of the roads are reasonably well taken care of, even the dirt roads. Yes, you’re going to be dealing with gnarly washboard roads, but every single day of our road trip we saw at least one team out tending to them so they’re going to be nowhere near the worst roads you’ve ever driven on (as someone driving in Toronto, I promise you the potholes here are significantly worse).

What are the pros and cons of doing
a self-drive through Namibia?

Should I self-drive in Namibia? Should I join a tour instead?  These are important questions and you should consider your travel style, budget, and whether you’re even a decent driver before you commit. Here’s some pros and cons to get you started

Pros of doing a self-drive in Namibia

• You’re in control of your time:
  Ever try to get 10 strangers to wake up early so you don’t miss the sunrise? Spent an hour bickering about where the group should eat dinner because someone else is a picky eater? 
  
  Forget about waiting for Janet from Wisconsin to roll out of bed or finding a place that Tim from Burmingham can get chicken nuggets for dinner.
  
  A self-drive means you’re in control of when you leave, when you arrive, how many breaks you take along the way, where you stop for dinner, what music you listen to and everything in between. As someone who happily spent many hours taking pictures of Deadvlei, it was really nice to not worry about having to leave until I was ready to leave.
  
• More itinerary flexibility:
  Less into the sandy Sesriem and more into checking out the desert elephants in Damaraland? A self-drive itinerary can be shaped so you can do more of the things you love and pass on things that you’re not into
  
• Budget friendly:
  With no guide or driver to cover or tip, you immediately save some money on the trip. Namibia can be surprisingly inexpensive if you pick your accommodations just right and find the balance that works for you between camping, budget lodges, luxury safari camps and everywhere in between
  
• It’s FUN:
  I’ll be honest, it’s just fun to hop into a big pick up truck and cruise. It’s fun to tackle off-roading. It’s fun to learn how to drive on the “wrong” side of the road. And isn’t having fun one of the major reasons we love to travel?

Cons of doing a self-drive in Namibia

• You might miss having a guide
  The right guide can make a great trip into a life-changing experience as they share stories, insights, and the history of what you’re seeing. A self-drive means no one is there to give you the backstory so you might miss out unless you’ve really done your research
  
• Driving all day can be tough
  There are likely going to be some days where you’re driving for over 6 hours across washboard roads and I’ll be honest, it can be exhausting. On our trip I was the only driver and I covered 3800km in total. Sometimes it’s nice to shut your brain off and let someone who knows where you’re going take on the driving and navigation.

Things to consider before
doing a self-drive in Namibia

I can happily gush about how much I loved my self-drive experience in Namibia for hours, but if you’re trying to decide whether it’s right for you there’s some questions you should ask yourself (and anyone who is coming with you).

1. Do you actually like driving?
   Sure, it might sound like a great idea, but if you loathe getting behind the wheel at home it’s not likely you’re going to be much happier driving in Namibia. If you’re a road tripper and love to cruise then this might be the right trip for you.
   
2. Are you a good driver?
   Safety is always the first thing to consider before any trip, and a self-drive trip adds a little extra responsibility. Not just for you and your group, but for everyone in the country you’re visiting. Causing damage (big or small) can be devastating for everyone involved and just because you’re not at home doesn’t mean you’re not on the hook for dealing with it.
   
3. Do you have the required documents?
   Yes, you need a driver’s license to drive in Namibia so if you don’t have one (or don’t have a driver in your group) you’re sadly out of luck on this one.
   A driver’s license is just the start, there may be other requirements depending where you’re renting your vehicle. So make sure you research what those are with your tour company or car rental company well in advance of your trip. An International Driver’s License can’t hurt!
   
4. Do you have any off-road experience?
   This one isn’t necessarily mandatory, generally the roads are very manageable. But the vast majority of them are not paved and in places like Sesriem or Etosha you might drive through places that are covered with sand (or are only sand). Being comfortable with using a compressor to fill/empty your tires depending on the terrain or how to use a low range gearbox can make your trip much easier.
   
   Of course you can learn on the way, watch YouTube videos, practice at home or even take a short off-roading course in your home country before you go. Some companies offer off road training in Namibia as well.
   
5. Are you sure you’re a good driver?
   Just checking

What do I do next if I’ve decided
I want to do a self-drive?

Exciting! After deciding a self-drive in Namibia is right for you, there’s a few things you should start doing.

• Make a list of the things you want to see and do in Namibia
  Know before you go so you can work with your tour partners to build an itinerary that you’ll love
  
• Start researching different companies
  There’s many out there to pick from. I went with Explore Namibia and had an excellent experience. 
  
• Decide on an itinerary and budget
  Ya know, the details
  
• Research visa requirements
  This will differ country to country but you should investigate what documentation you might need to enter Namibia long before your flight to Windhoek
  
• Research your driving document requirements
  Your tour company should be able to help you decide what you need. And the Namibian Embassy’s website is a good place to start
  
• Get booking!
  Don’t miss out, book in advance so you’re not heartbroken if you miss a campsite or activity you were dreaming of

What did you decide?

Leave a comment below and let me know if you’ve decided to book a self-drive in Namibia or if you’ve got any other questions I can help you answer.