From the airport to the city centre Namibia

Unlike most major African capitals, Windhoek is a quiet place to arrive, and you won't have to negotiate a cab ride to the city center: the fare is fixed at 400 NAD per person. You'll recognize the cab drivers by the yellow vests they wear. Alternatively, a counter is available shortly before the airport exit. The journey takes around 45 minutes, giving you the chance to enjoy your first savannah landscapes and come across a few monkeys and warthogs!

Arrival by train Namibia

The railroads are not very well suited to the needs of tourists. Most travelers will avoid this slow and unsuitable mode of travel. Operations of the luxury Desert Express train (www.desert.express) have ceased until further notice.

Arrival by boat Namibia

You can't really travel by boat in Namibia, but it is possible to float on Namibian waters on the coast and in the Kavango/Zambezi region. Please refer to the relevant sections for information on coastal marine safaris and mokoro trips on the Okavango and Kwando rivers (a must for the region). Some lodges also offer excursions in small motorboats, ideal for discovering aquatic fauna and birds.

Public transport Namibia

Unless you're traveling on an organized tour, getting around by public transport is a fairly arduous task, and should be ruled out if time is short. On the other hand, minibuses are available for hire, ideal for groups. Many car rental companies offer them. For those wishing to use public transport, Intercape Mainliner (www.intercape.co.za) is the most suitable company for international travellers (linking the main tourist towns and even going as far as Victoria Falls). There are also daily shuttles between Windhoek and Swakopmund. As for local minibuses, they are often overcrowded, unreliable and involved in numerous accidents. Windhoek's bus station on Independence Avenue is the largest in the country.

Bike, scooters & co Namibia

Although you may come across a few enthusiastic motorcyclists on the roads as they set out to discover the country, apparently unaffected by the dust, motorcycles are not a very suitable type of vehicle in Namibia, as they are generally forbidden to cross parks. This is understandable in game reserves, but is there a valid reason for banning entry to natural parks that are not home to dangerous wildlife? This restriction is gradually being lifted. Like motorcyclists, there are very few cyclists on Namibia's roads and tracks. However, it is possible to mountain bike at guestfarms and lodges, which rent or lend bikes locally.

By car Namibia

Although some towns are accessible by public transport, Namibia requires you to have your own vehicle or to travel on an organized tour, without which the vast majority of points of interest will remain out of the traveler's reach.

Roadworks are constant in Namibia, so it's best to bring a good, up-to-date map. Excellent road maps are available locally, published by the Tour and Safari Association of Namibia (TASA) and on sale in all bookshops and many petrol stations.

What's more, drivers will find that it's hard to get lost on Namibia's clearly marked trails (although the signs don't always keep up with the changing trail numbers!). Tourist sites and hotels are also well signposted. Nevertheless, in addition to the directions given in the articles on the various addresses recommended in this guide, don't hesitate to consult the official website of the tourist office, as well as the guidebooks in which a number of establishments are listed on regional maps.

The best way to visit Namibia is by car , and renting a vehicle is a serious matter when planning your trip. Namibia's road network is predominantly on dirt tracks, but these are of very good quality and standard cars travel very well on them. However, the smaller tracks are not accessible to conventional vehicles, and you need a high chassis and possibly a 4×4 to get through them. Some of the tracks leading to the various accommodations are badly damaged after the rainy season.

Type "B"roads are tarmac, type "C" roads are dirt or tarmac and very wide, type "D" roads are generally accessible to all vehicles, but difficult stretches can occur. Below this, the tracks are generally accessible by 4 × 4. The current trend is to rent a 4 × 4 vehicle (usually a Toyota Hilux) equipped for camping with a tent on the roof. Admittedly, this is an ingenious technique, even if it means folding up the tent to move around. Most travellers will rarely leave the first three categories of roads. Indeed, it's important to know that many of them won't be going it alone on the small, difficult trails, and that, if the decision is taken to go "solo", mastery of this type of driving is required. For game or scenic drives in difficult environments, the professionals at lodges, camps and national parks welcome travellers in their vehicles. Note, however, that this choice may depend on the season of the trip and the type of accommodation adopted, as the real advantage of the 4 × 4 is the ability to cross small rivers with water during the rainy season and possibly camp. This is particularly true in regions such as Damaraland, Kaokoland, Bushmanland and Zambezi. The 4 × 4 option allows you to put together a more original itinerary and travel through magnificent, less-visited areas. The savings you make on accommodation can then make up for the extra you spend on the vehicle.

Rent a car in complete safety. Take the time to decide which type of vehicle to choose and compare offers on the Internet. Ask your rental company if there is a minimum age and experience requirement, and if there is an extra charge for each additional driver. Make sure you choose the right insurance. Always check the condition of the car with the rental company, checking for minor scratches and dents... because you won't be missed on your return! Being rigorous is the only solution, and you have to accept the rule that if someone scratches the car in a parking lot, the bill is yours. Ask for two spare wheels if you're planning to drive on difficult roads (discuss your roadmap with your car rental company). But don't panic: in most cases, your trip will go off without a hitch if you follow the safety instructions.

Road traffic. Car rental companies don't always require you to have an international driving license, but you will be asked for it if you are stopped by the police on the road (at least an official translation is useful). Driving, inherited from the British code, is on the left. The speed limit in towns is 60 km/h, on tarmac roads 120 km/h and on gravel tracks 80 km/h. Roadside signs are precise. The hazards they point out, such as the risk of wild animals and crossing farm boundaries (ground grid and narrowing of the track), are worth slowing down for. Once off the main asphalt roads, it's not uncommon to see no vehicles for more than an hour on the secondary tracks that criss-cross the country - you'll be in the middle of the desert.
Although the fuel supply infrastructure has improved considerably in recent years, your fuel reserves should never be neglected, as the distances between towns are great, and villages and hamlets become increasingly rare as you move away from the central region.

Safety first and foremost. It cannot be repeated often enough: the greatest danger in Namibia is on the road, and speeding is the cause. Remember to drive on the left. Beware of the (French) reflex to swerve to the right when surprised by an oncoming vehicle. Beware of narrow passes and small hills on dirt roads: keep to the left when crossing them. Avoid driving at dusk and at night, as warthogs, kudu, zebras and other animals (elephants in Zambezi) cross the roads and can cause very serious accidents if they collide with a vehicle, especially as the light from headlights attracts them!

A few smart tips for the road. Get a blanket to protect your luggage from dust. Carry jerrycans for 4×4 trips in remote areas, especially if you don't have a double tank. Find out about the most common breakdowns (punctures) and the appropriate tools (often supplied by the rental company). For 4 × 4s, adjust tire pressure according to road conditions (wheels should be under-inflated on tracks, especially on sand).

Accessibility Namibia

Namibia is an ideal destination for people with reduced mobility or parents who need to use a baby carriage. For disabled people, 4 × 4 or minibuses are quite comfortable vehicles, and it is more than likely that the space required will be sufficient. Some lodges have adapted rooms (please enquire beforehand); in all cases, the rooms are on the first floor, but the access to them is often a stony path that is difficult to negotiate in a wheelchair.

Tourist traps Namibia

Namibia is a destination where, on the whole, you won't be hassled by crooks. However, be sure to check with your cab driver in advance that the fare is the right one: airport to city center for 400 NAD, short trip to city center 12 NAD, trip from city center to outlying area 24 NAD.