Cape town or Johannesburg to Swakopmund
Discussion
Hi all.
I am going to Swakopmund in September. looking at flights and car rental I think i could save quite a lot of money flying to South Africa renting a car and spend a few days driving up. Rental cars seem a lot less in SA (supply and demand?) and apparently the cars are insured and so on over the border.
I am not thinking of it completely to save money it looks fun... is it safe enough are there enough fuel stations? also any rental companies to be used or not?
Thanks and sorry for all the questions!
I am going to Swakopmund in September. looking at flights and car rental I think i could save quite a lot of money flying to South Africa renting a car and spend a few days driving up. Rental cars seem a lot less in SA (supply and demand?) and apparently the cars are insured and so on over the border.
I am not thinking of it completely to save money it looks fun... is it safe enough are there enough fuel stations? also any rental companies to be used or not?
Thanks and sorry for all the questions!
Personally, I would fly to Windhoek on Air Namibia and rent a car (4WD if you are going anywhere other than on main roads) there. If you really want to drive from SA, then Cape Town is the obvious choice, since the drive from there is straight up the N7 all the way and takes you through some spectacular countryside, canyons with enough diversions on the way along what becomes The Skeleton Coast.
If you rent a car in SA, you will be doing a lot of mileage driving to Namibia (easily 3-4000km) and you need to ensure that their mileage limit will allow this for the relative period - the rental companies to select from are multitude, but stick with those that will cover you in Namibia in the eventuality of a breakdown whilst there...not to be taken lightly, since Namibia is sparsely populated and distances vast. Avis, Hertz, Budget are the ones that I use and don't go for the "Mickey Mouse" operators.
If you rent a car in SA, you will be doing a lot of mileage driving to Namibia (easily 3-4000km) and you need to ensure that their mileage limit will allow this for the relative period - the rental companies to select from are multitude, but stick with those that will cover you in Namibia in the eventuality of a breakdown whilst there...not to be taken lightly, since Namibia is sparsely populated and distances vast. Avis, Hertz, Budget are the ones that I use and don't go for the "Mickey Mouse" operators.
Hi,
I have been in Namibia for the last year or so and I would recommend that you deal with one of the local hire companies such as Camping Car Hire, Savanna, ASCO etc. These guys are all Namibian and cater to tourists needs much better and they are a bit cheaper than AVIS/Europcar/Hertz. They will collect you at the airport outside Windhoek and can help with any other needs in Namibia.
Travelling from either Joburg via Botswana or Cape Town straight north is very easy and you shouldnt have any fuel problems. Sometimes the remote fuel stations especially in the Kalahari in Botswana are out of fuel as they havent had a delivery but there are normally at least a couple of stations to choose from in a particular town/village. I can get from Windhoek to Joburg in a day or about 14 hours driving including 2 border crossings and carry 80litres of petrol in the main tank plus 40litres in Jerry Cans just in case. Extended tanks would be nice but I havent needed them yet.
Enjoy Namibia its the best place in Africa today as far as I am concerned but be ready for the fog/mist in Swakop. Oh and beware of the police with portable speed guns they are very good at hiding under trees and in ditches
Cheers.
I have been in Namibia for the last year or so and I would recommend that you deal with one of the local hire companies such as Camping Car Hire, Savanna, ASCO etc. These guys are all Namibian and cater to tourists needs much better and they are a bit cheaper than AVIS/Europcar/Hertz. They will collect you at the airport outside Windhoek and can help with any other needs in Namibia.
Travelling from either Joburg via Botswana or Cape Town straight north is very easy and you shouldnt have any fuel problems. Sometimes the remote fuel stations especially in the Kalahari in Botswana are out of fuel as they havent had a delivery but there are normally at least a couple of stations to choose from in a particular town/village. I can get from Windhoek to Joburg in a day or about 14 hours driving including 2 border crossings and carry 80litres of petrol in the main tank plus 40litres in Jerry Cans just in case. Extended tanks would be nice but I havent needed them yet.
Enjoy Namibia its the best place in Africa today as far as I am concerned but be ready for the fog/mist in Swakop. Oh and beware of the police with portable speed guns they are very good at hiding under trees and in ditches
Cheers.
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