We have all been there before... The “Should I do this?”, “Is it not dangerous?” or “I’m not sure, but I’m going to find out.” Sounds familiar, probably because it has passed through most people’s minds at least 3 times before booking that self-drive trip.
Being in a foreign country already comes with its own challenges, but we are here to give you the ultimate tips and tricks guide, or at least the need-to-know things before tackling your next adventure through southern Africa. While some might be better equipped when it comes to knowledge about changing a tyre etc., the end goal stays the same: enjoying the trip, maxing out those camera SD cards and obviously flaunting it all a bit on social media. Get that beer in hand ’cause we are about to dive into it all head first. Let’s go!
1. The Right Car
Make sure you have the right car! I know this sounds like preaching to the choir, but you would be surprised how many times people don’t think this through. Namibia is known for its gravel roads, which are in great condition, but sometimes, due to high-volume traffic on small isolated roads, they can get corrugated. Trust me, this isn’t the “my nose is tingling” type of corrugation, this is the “grandma just fell out the car” kind of corrugation. Regardless if you are planning a heavy 4x4 tour or just a lodge-hopping tour, the right car goes a long way in keeping with your schedule and grandma happy.
To sum it up, 4x4 is king in southern Africa if you plan to go off the beaten track or just a standard gravel road. The term “every rental is a 4x4” is fun until you are stuck in the middle of nowhere with no help. Be smart, get the right car and equipment from the get-go and be a champ on your trip.
We would always recommend adding a fridge / cooler box to your car because, let’s be honest, who wants warm beer (no, don’t drink and drive, it’s for when you arrive at your destination ) and dusty snacks? In Namibia the insurance options are a must due to roads and animals. We would always recommend going for the super cover that normally includes tyres and windscreens. These options are sometimes Zero Excess or have a small excess amount to be paid, depending on the rental company’s insurance options.
2. Tyres and Ease of Mind
Tyres on our roads can sometimes be like a hot knife through butter. It does not matter if you are Max Verstappen or Tony with the polony from next door, if the unfortunate opportunity arises for a stone cutting your tyre, be prepared to get down and dirty and change the tyre. Take the extra 15 min and ask your rental vehicle depot to show you how to change a tyre if this is something new to you. Namibia is known for its vast beauty, solitude and shifting sand. It’s exactly because of this that you should know how to change the tyre yourself, Karen! In Namibia AA services don’t exist and self-sufficient is the new word of the day. You will always have tools in the car to change a tyre, a jack to lift it up and a pump in case you need to inflate.
Always make sure to loosen the wheel nuts on the tyre before jacking up the car, otherwise when you try to loosen the wheel nuts while the car is jacked up you might flip the car over! Just joking hulk calm down, but you might seriously let the car slide of the Jack and that is no Bueno. Once the bolts have been loosened, keep them on the tyre and jack up the car. Make sure the handbrake is on and put a rock or something behind and infront of the other tyre to make sure the car isn’t going anywhere. Once the car is up and all is secure, remove the wheel nuts and remove the tyre that gave up on life. Have your spare tyre ready and put it onto the mounting bolts of the car. Put the first nut on and tighten with your tool bar until its hand tight (don’t over tighten it yet). The key here is criss crossing the nuts as you tighten. So if the first nut was middle top, then the next nut would be the bottom, then top left, then bottom right and so until all the nuts are on and hand tight. Now we drop the jack and once the car is on the ground we tighten the wheel nuts with the tool bar. If you are part of the world strongest man line up, then make sure its fastened but don’t over tighten or flip the car. If your part of the I do Pilates twice a week club, well then Samantha you will have to put some grit behind that bar and tighten it. Congrats, you just changed a tyre, honestly its easier than changing diapers. Make sure to check the wheels nuts again after a couple of kilo meters as they might sometimes loosen a bit due to corrugation, just retighten them if needed.
On gravel roads, and depending on the load your car is carrying, we would recommend your back tyres being around 1.8–2.2 bar pressure (depending on the weight of the car) and the front around 1.8 bar. The rental companies will also give clear instructions about the pressure you should drive, and if you are not sure, then ask .
When driving thick sand, we would recommend deflating the tyres to broaden the wheel surface and for easier driving. The tyre can be deflated anywhere from 1.6–1 bar depending on the conditions you will drive. Never inflate your tyres over 2.5 bar, it won’t be needed anywhere you will be travelling with your tour. Special circumstances may need this, but we doubt this would apply for a standard trip. And again, if you’re not sure, ask.
3. 4x4 Settings & When to Use It
Engaging your vehicle’s 4x4 does not turn you into Superman, although it does feel like it. Knowing when to use these functions is just as important as to when one makes 2-minute noodles, it’s done after 2 minutes! Standard cars used in southern Africa have a high range, low range and diff lock. Some fancy car versions have snow, mud, sand and many other settings that we don’t see on the daily, but here is why high range and low range are king.
High range means the 4x4 (meaning all 4 wheels, if you have 3 wheels and not 4 you have a problem, please refer back to Tip 2). High range is for normal sand, mud and rock driving if needed. Your car can travel at a higher speed when in this mode compared to low range, and it can also be used for more traction (obviously) when driving in special conditions like heavy rain or muddy gravel roads. This is normally the go-to for the standard 4x4 tour. If the gravel road is normal and dry and you’re not sliding around like you’re part of the Tokyo Drift, then you don’t need to engage high range. Stick to the standard 2x4 mode, drive safely and focus, you’ll be fine.
On most modern vehicles, the thing most people forget, and that does not turn off automatically when going into high range, is that little gremlin called Traction Control. It’s great for main road use and obviously safe etc., but when it comes to 4x4 and sand driving, it’s your enemy. It brakes the wheels as it reads that the wheel is over-rotating (which happens in sand) and then automatically brakes the car, resulting in you getting stuck in the sand / mud and your passengers laughing at you. This has happened to us as well and it sucks. So take the 2 seconds and press the Traction Control button and keep it pressed in for 5 seconds. It will show TRC is off, and then the warning light will come on that says the TRC is off. Every time you start the car you will have to do this, and only if needed, obviously.
Low range is like an elephant, slow-moving but extremely powerful. This is for slow driving and maximum torque out of your car. You do not engage this mode when you want to drive fast. In this mode, and depending on the gear you’re in, you will drive anywhere from 20–40 km/h max. This is normally to tow heavy objects / pull out a stuck car or to get yourself out of thick sand or climbing rocky outcrops etc. I can write a book on when to use this function, but we are keeping things short and sweet here. When engaging low range, your vehicle will automatically disengage the traction control as well. As soon as you are out of the situation you found yourself in, be it getting stuck in the sand / mud or over the rocky hill climb etc., then disengage the low range and go back to normal high range or 2x4 to save on fuel and save the car from unnecessary damage.Diff lock is only needed in extreme conditions where you need the power of low range and the power to be distributed equally to all your wheels. This is when you are severely stuck or pulling the moon into the Earth’s stratosphere. When engaging diff lock, especially front diff lock, try not to steer around too much, as you can sometimes damage the front diff by doing this.
Most importantly, when driving in town and on highways in normal conditions, disengage the 4x4 and go to normal 2x4. You will be fine, don’t stress. It also saves you the embarrassment of the locals looking at you strangely when you turn and your car is squealing like a sprinting pig.
So to sum up, high range for normal 4x4 situations as needed, and remember to turn off the traction control every time the car starts while in the 4x4 situation. Low range to get more power and less speed and get yourself out of situations or over the hill or save your buddy from getting stuck. Turn off the 4x4 when not needed and always remember: SLOW IS PRO.
4. Road Awareness and Rules
We all want a perfect video to highlight our trip, and having that video of you driving and looking like Tom Cruise in Top Gun is awesome, but not at the expense of people’s lives and your own! When travelling the roads of southern Africa, the same rules apply (mostly) as in your own country. I know, how strange, but some people tend to forget this. Don’t drive over blind crests / hills on the wrong side of the road, and especially not when you and your buddies are driving side by side to film each other. This is one way of meeting your creator very quickly. When doing things like this, make sure you have a clear line of sight to see other oncoming cars, and safety first. Enjoy the trip and make that video, but don’t be an idiot while filming.
The same goes for cars trying to pass you. If someone wants to pass you ’cause either way you are going too slow or they are in a rush to maybe get to a toilet for all we know, let them pass. Trying to block them or speed up etc. will only result in everyone being mad and upset and a potential disaster. Luckily Namibia is beautiful, so take it relaxed and enjoy the view and let the other guy pass.
If you find yourself on a gravel road, then you know you will have dust everywhere, and what does that mean? No visuals. Always have your car’s headlights turned on while on a gravel road, even if the sun is beating down on you. It gives oncoming traffic a better visual of you, as you can sometimes spot the headlights before the car in dust. This is just an extra safety tip for when on main roads. If you are following another car on the gravel road, then give each other a bit of space, firstly to not drive in dust constantly and so that you have a safe visual of what’s in front of you. We all did social distancing in Covid times, keep that practice on gravel roads.
It can happen very quickly that a car in front of you brakes on the gravel road due to animals etc., and with your visual reference almost being zero in dusty conditions, chances are high of you rear-ending them. So keep the distance, see the danger before you feel it and make sure to always have a clear view of what’s in front. In southern Africa, don’t drive at night if not absolutely needed, as animals on our roads are a real threat, and even if you have owl-like eyes, the headlights draw antelope to it like steel to a magnet. Don’t test fate and stay safe 😉.
5. Entertainment and Respect
What is a good road trip without a good playlist? Boring, that’s what. Our vehicles will always have some or other way to be able to connect to your beloved playlist, be it Apple CarPlay / Android Auto, Bluetooth or you singing, you will have music. As important as this is, it’s also important to know when not to play the music as loud as possible. I mean, you’d think people would learn this in school and basic parenting, but sometimes it might slip the mind when that bass drops and the guitar is in full motion, so let’s refresh it for you.
When on game drives or at any animal sighting, turn off your music, and when stationary and viewing the animals, turn off the car as well. This isn’t just for quiet and peaceful nature sounds but also for the animals’ well-being. Some animals are very sensitive to loud noises, especially ones that don’t occur naturally in nature. Rhinos and elephants are perfect examples, they rely on sound as part of their awareness and protection, just like us. Now throw in blasting music, car idling and children screaming, and you have the perfect recipe for an irritated / freaked-out animal capable of flipping your car or causing serious damage. There is a reason why all wildlife documentaries are done only with the noise of nature and not a full-on EDM concert. Respect this small yet very important rule and all will be well, and you get a gold star for basic human ethical behaviour.
Type yoOn the same note, don’t get out of your car next to wild animals. Have you ever seen a tree squirrel roundhouse kick you so hard that your teeth go flying... Well, neither have we, but maybe it can happen. All jokes aside, animals in the wild are not your friendly neighbourhood dog or cat and should be respected at all times. Leave them in their natural habitat and view them from the safety of your car while respecting the distance between you and them as well. Don’t go and force an encounter by driving close to the animals, you are either going to chase them away or, worse, make them aggravated. Give the animal its space and respect and enjoy the show, and who knows, maybe the animals come closer out of curiosity, but leave that choice up to them.ur paragraph here
Type your paraWe can go on for pages and pages on what to do and what not, but let’s be honest, you don’t have the time. The food is burning on the stove, the kids are fighting and you just want a glass of wine next to a campfire with nature surrounding you, just like us! Maybe we turn this into a monthly series with on-the-ground stories and experiences, guess time will tell. Take these tips and make use of them to enjoy that hard-worked-for holiday, and disconnect from social media and reconnect with life.graph here