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Namibia
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Central
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South
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North
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Car Rental Namibia
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JD 4x4 Carhire |
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Aroundabout Carhire |
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Namibia by Train, Bus and Aircraft
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Trains
Trains run between Windhoek and Tsumeb (via Okahandja, Karibib, Otjwarongo; departure Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday at 5:45pm), arrival the following day at about 10 pm) and Walvis Bay is also being serviced (daily from Windhoek 7.55 pm, arrival on the following day at 7 am). The compartments are uncomfortable and the trains are slow. Recommendable, however, is the "Desert Express" of TransNamib, a luxury train with colonial flair, running between Windhoek and Swakopmund.
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Desert Express |
Busses
Recommendable are the comfortable "Intercape Mainliner" overland busses. They run between Windhoek and Walvis Bay, Windhoek and Victoria Falls and Windhoek and Cape Town. Tel 061-227847.
Flights
The national airline "Air Namibia" daily services - at reasonable prices - Luederitz, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Ondangwa, Mokuti, Katima Mulilo, Maun, Victoria Falls as well as Cape Town and Johannesburg. National flights usually depart from Eros Airport near the centre of Windhoek, and international flights from Hosea Kutako Airport, 40 kilometres out of town.
And there are a couple of smaller charter flight operators in Windhoek and Swakopmund, which take you anywhere in single- or twin-engine aircraft.
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Namibia Fly-in Safaris |
Means of Transport
and Car Rental
in Namibia
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Namibia by Car
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Renting a Car
Namibia is best explored in a reliable rented car. There are a number of car rentals in the country, most of them in Windhoek. The prices are higher than in South Africa, mainly due to the higher wear and tear on the gravel roads. The greater number of accidents leads to high insurance premiums, which reflect in the hire price.
Vehicle Insurance
Generally two types of insurance are available: Under "Standard Cover" there is in case of an accident an excess payable at varying amounts, usually between 5 and 15% of the new value. Under "Super Cover" the excess falls away or is very small. Never insured are tyres, rims and windows. And if the car rental can prove negligence on your part, e.g. driving under the influence of alcohol or speeding on a gravel road, the insurance won't pay anything.
Delivery of a Rented Car
When taking over a vehicle, one should check it for dents and damage to the tyres, rims and windows. Don't forget to check the spare tyres before signing the contract.
Driver's Licence
The driver must be at least 23 years old and in possession of an international driver's licence. If the driver is younger, he must hold the licence for a minimum of 2 years.
Four-Wheel Drive and Equipment
Some car rental companies also offer 4X4's, if required, complete with safari equipment including a roof-tent for two to four people. The Toyota Hilux, either as "Single Cab" for 2 persons or as "Double Cab" (for a maximum of 5 persons) is most commonly found. Most of the vehicles run on petrol as Diesel engines are rare due to the poor quality of Diesel fuel. If visiting remote areas, like Kaokoland, one must take petrol in canisters along. Cars use approximately 15 l/100 km and should have a range of 800 to 1 000 kilometres. However, nowadays, there are vehicles with extra tanks, which saves you the unpleasant tasks of transporting canisters and refilling the tank. Bigger compact vehicles, like the Toyota Landcruiser or the Mitsubishi Pajero, are very expensive in southern Africa, because high customs duties (60%!) are charged on their import, which raises the purchase price enormously. The Landrover Defender is more affordable, but not everybody likes this make, particularly because it is not dust-proof.Off-Road Driving
The main advantage of a 4x4 is the ground clearance, the actual all-wheel drive is less important. Nevertheless, let the car rental agency explain to you how to change into 4-wheel mode (with wheel hubs). When driving through soft sand (e.g. in Sandwich Harbour) for longer periods, you should reduce the pressure on all the tyres (not below 1 bar). The tyres must be as soft as balloons in order to not sink in so deeply. As soon as you get back on firm ground, you have to pump the tyres up again. Note: Bring an air-pump!
Long-Term Rental or Car Purchase
Some car rental companies offer long-term tariffs. If you plan on spending more than 3 months in Namibia or other countries within southern Africa, you could consider buying a vehicle there. The prices are much lower in South Africa than in Namibia. The problem is always to resell the car at the end of the journey at not too much of a loss. The easiest cars to sell are the big 4x4's with Turbo Diesel and luxury equipment, but they are also the hardest to find at a good price.
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© HIGHLINE TRAVEL GUIDES |
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