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How to Drive from Kenya to Namibia (or South Africa)











           
What You Need
  • COMESA Yellow Sticker (Tanzania and Zambia third party insurance. Botswana may require local bond. Namibia doesn’t require insurance)
  • Logbook Processing with KRA
  • Copies of your logbook for temporary import permits in other countries
  • Passport
  • Yellow fever vaccination proof. COVID vaccination proof may be required
  • Warning triangles and 1 litre fire extinguisher

Border Crossing Checklist Key:

Required items are indicated in brackets next to each country's title 

YS – COMESA Yellow Sticker,

P – Passport

TIPi – Temporary Import Permit entry

TIPo – Temporary Import Permit exit

LB – Log book

LBc – Log book copy

Recommended Extras 

  • 1 extra full size spare, 2 if your tyres are more than 75% worn
  • Tow strap
  • Tyre Pressure gauge and pressure pump.
  • Enough rest every day. It’s a perseverance marathon, not an exhaustion sprint
What you need to know 
  • Seasons - Tanzania largely has same seasons as Kenya besides the cold July-August season. Namibia, South Africa and Southern Zambia have one long rainy season from end of December to around April. If planning to go off-road to the desert (any road that starts with a C) flooding may be a problem from mid-January. It is winter in June to August which means temperatures all the way to under 0 degrees. Good for all day sand dune climbing but may be quite cold. Likewise from November means sand dune/desert hiking can mostly be done from 6 AM to 8 AM requiring waking up at 4 AM or 5 AM. End of October and September tend to be the most pleasant/cool/dry weather wise. Read about the weather before going. 
  • Travel Time - It will take you usually a week to 10 days as a beginner. Remember it is not a race and to therefore drive at a normal pace, over speeding will exhaust you. Take breaks every 2 to 3 hours. 

Tanzania (YS, P, TIPi, LBo)

  • Temporary import permit for 7 days to be deposited at exit border
  • Transit passport stamp
  • Watch out for 50 kph enforcement especially around towns and on the Iringa to Malawi/Zambia stretch. Fine is 30k Tzs although usually reduced to 20k Tzs bribe
  • Usually no speed enforcement at night from 6:30 PM to 7 AM
  • Guest lodges in different towns, walk in.
  • “Here We Go” map app may help alerting you on speed limits, but has more areas marked where 50 kph doesn’t apply. Google maps hadn’t rolled out speed limits by 2023.

Mobile Network: Vodacom, mobile money works from Kenya M-PESA, cheaper than ATM withdrawal


 

Zambia (YS, P, TIPi, TIPo, LBc)

  • Fuel to full tank before crossing the border from Tanzania. Petrol especially may be tricky to get at Nakonde, note 200 km distance between urban areas for fuel planning.
  • Lengthy border processing, may require 6 hours+. If risking after 2 PM check if the police will do Interpol processing first. Other paperwork includes carbon tax, local tax, toll etc.
  • Card payments accepted for customs, or use ATM or M-PESA to MTN then withdraw. Don’t be conned to do border changes. Mobile money transfer may be cheapest option for local currency due to bad rates.
  • Chevron reflector stickers required front and rear, hawked at the border. Bargain hard.
  • Temporary Import Permit is 5 days and renewable at Revenue offices countrywide, Passport Transit is 7 days. Fines is you exceed or do not present your TIP for exit at next border point within 5 days. Strictly adhere to this, stamp both passport and customs before exiting Zambia.
  • Straighter roads, don’t overtake around bends. Speed limits enforced around Lusaka but more generous than Tz, driving at night past 10 PM may be disallowed past checkpoints between Nakonde and Kapiri Mposhi.
  • 20 Kwacha tolls in cash, road quality varies from newly done to clay patched sections to potholed sections, but largely usable
  • Guest lodges in different towns, walk in. If you booked online call ahead to ensure no double bookings
  • Steak is fairly available across the country. “Free breakfast” options are mostly bread , eggs and a weird pink “sausage”. Don’t bank on them
  • Last 150 kilometres from Livingstone to Namibia was previously heavily potholed and unusable requiring a detour through Botswana at Kazungula Bridge. Road should be now gravelled but confirm if maintained. Search Twitter for “Kazungula Katima Mulilo”
  • Victoria falls visit on your way back. Plan full day – morning walk, evening boat trip (Available mornings as well), you can cross to Zimbabwe side by foot to save on car fees. Helicopter rides available. Rains in December to March especially from noon.
 Mobile Network: MTN preferred around Tanzania border, mobile money works from Kenya M-PESA. SIM card may be pre registered by agent, ensure to get details,


 

Botswana (B*, P, TIPo*)

  • Kenyans and Ugandans may require a bond (needs an insurance agent to process) and carbon tax and other permits. Seems this is to the discretion of whoever is processing but is mandatory for trucks from the 2 countries.
  • Kazungula Bridge is $15 toll one way. All taxes and fees payable by card, do not be misled to change your money at the border or you’ll get a very bad rate.
  • Passage through Botswana to Namibia from Zambia may be unnecessary if Kazungula – Katima Mulilo is passable.
  • Car bond needs to be cleared at exit or on return at exit if returning though Botswana. Cheaper to do a return if that’s your plan.

Visa and MasterCard Cards widely accepted

 

Namibia (Carbon Tax)

  • Straightforward passport stamp and road till payable on entry. No other paperwork or fee needed. Cards accepted. South African Rand is an official currency as well at 1:1 with Namibian Dollar. Insurance not mandatory.
  • Best to visit between Winter and Summer in September to November. Rains from December to March and gravel roads may be flooded from January. Gets very hot from December. Winter can be very cold especially June to August.
  • Easy driving. Straight roads, 120 kph speed limits dropping to 90 in shopping centres. Be careful of missing bends as this are the major cause of accidents which are mostly people rolling especially on gravel roads where barking is hard. Observe speed limits between Windhoek and next major urban area (Otjiwarongo and Mariental) and between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.
  • Drive with your headlights on. Headlights, not full beams.
  • Most scenic and best places to visit include Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Sesriem (gravel road), Deadvlei (salt pan from Sesriem), Luderitz (use gravel road from Sesriem via Hammerstein, Helmeringhausen, Aus. Sinclair Mine road is too corrugated hence slower), Oranjemund, Rosh Pinah – Noordoewer (gravel), and C10 or D316 – AisAis(Fish River Canyon, gravel). 4X4 not required during summer months but a raised vehicle is recommended (SUVs and compact SUVS). Recommended to take the paid trip to Sandwich harbour rather than attempt sand dune driving, easy to roll for untrained drivers.)
  • Use 26/27 PSI front and 29/28 PSI rear for tyres on the gravel roads to avoid rattling and destroying the car. Watch out for bends due to low traction when braking. Recommended to use Google Maps or alternative to maintain awareness. Stick to the roads and don’t go off-road, you’ll get lost and die.
  • Skeleton coast is an excellent trip if you have a 4x4 and join the guided tours. Don’t attempt this trip on your own and without a 4X4. Also go check out the ghost elephants.
  • Etosha park is a plus if you have time.
  • Namibians party a lot. Katima Mulilo (Infinity, 2023), Swakopmund (Infinity, 2023) and Windhoek (Avane, Newscafe, Ladidas,Chicago’s, The catch were mentioned but I never tried any) are good for all night partying.
  • Be careful of wildlife driving after dusk, try stick to day driving between towns.
  • Have a tyre pressure pump and gauge to monitor and change pressure on the go.
  • Namibia has among the world’s straightest roads. Remain alert especially for bends. Crosses on the road side are memorials of accident victims. Do not race or try keep up with the locals. Do not exceed 120 kph on gravel roads (speed limit is 80 kph). Test your braking and note the limits on gravel roads, drive within that limit.
  • Book hotels and accommodation online or on phone before 3 PM. Namibians are not that open to simply showing up in the evening and many places will turn you away without prior bookings.

Visa and MasterCard Cards widely accepted


 
Here's a map of everywhere I drove to. Remember to book the trip to Sandwich Harbour, and you could equally join a guided excursion to Skeleton Coast, don't drive here by your self. https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&mid=1vYRbmcBU5UVdxn-il8_oNlCJtjuFIWw&ll=-17.518317109756957%2C26.852058749999998&z=6 

 South Africa 

  • Now Visa free for Kenyans (and still for Tanzanians), but likely to take up more than 25 to 30 days if using above Namibia schedule

  • The highlight is the desert flower boom towards the Namibian border at the end of winter. Check online for proper timing, it may make sense to cross through Windhoek and Noordoewer first and then time tour Namibian trip to start end August or early September via Alexander Bay/ Oranjemund crossing. In this case you will then do Rosh Pinah – Noordoewer – Fish Canyon – Luderitz.- Aus – Helminghausen – Sesriem – Deadvlei – Walvis Bay. Note to avoid the Sinclair Mine road cause of corrugations.

  • I don’t have South African driving recommendations and suggestions, but the Atlantic Highway is recommended. However, note South Africa is a massive country just like Namibia. An extra 3 weeks is recommended or 2 weeks if you are really really pushing it and on the road every day. Cape Town is however a day's drive from the Oranjemund Atlantic Crossing in Namibia 

  • Check elsewhere for tips on road tripping in South Africa, I have no experience here.

  • Reported car jackings especially in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Be very alert throughout your trip but especially in these 2 cities in that order.
  •  
  • Visa and MasterCard Cards widely accepted

Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozamique

  • Equally requires an extra week probably on your way back.
  • Lake Malawi camping or stays are the highlight.
  • Notorious for fuel shortages and lengthy border crossings in.
  • Avoid crossing from Zimbabwe and Mozambique if you’re from East Africa unless you have really researched these routes extensively.
  • Note that Northern Mozambique and other parts have an ongoing terror insurgency. Mozambican police have also being mentioned for their love of dollars.
  • Zimbabwe has a problem with bad roads. Do your research if crossing via Zim.
  • Cyclone season is late January to April. Track the weather for Mozambique and Malawi then.

 

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