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SAFETY ADVICE FOR DRIVING ON GRAVEL ROADS

1. Excessive speed is the main cause of accidents on gravel roads. It is highly advisable to keep to a speed limit of 60 - 80 km/h. Lack of concentration is the second cause, due to long driving distances and very little traffic.
2. Pay attention to road traffic signs. Particularly those that indicate a gentle or sharp turn ahead. You should reduce your speed accordingly.
3. Switch on your headlights in dusty conditions so that other road-users can see you.
4. Reduce speed when passing oncoming traffic and keep to the left side of the road as far as safely possible.

5. Tyre pressure plays an important role in the road-holding ability of your vehicle. Stick to the recommended pressures at all times. Check your tyres and tyre pressure every day.
6. Avoid driving at night. It is dangerous due to poor visibility and increasing game movement.
7. In rainy or wet conditions beware of slippery roads, wash-aways, and running or stagnant water.
8. Always be on the lookout for wild animals and slow down immediately when you see them.
9. Keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times.
10. Always sit in the driver's seat when driving. It is not a good idea to try to do it from the hood.

Click Here For a Crash Course in African Traffic Regulations

This was a perfectly good Nissan 4x4 pick-up until the driver decided to sail him over the Uniab River during the rain season. Should you ever feel the need for a similar adventure please contact www.submarines.com. Their vehicles are much more suitable for such purpose.

IMPORTANT!

Not all gravel roads are the same. Please be aware of the road conditions and adjust your driving style accordingly. Elephants: Adjust your running speed accordingly!

Watch out which turn you take!
You wouldn't be the first to wind up in the Twilight Zone...

Click here to see how NOT to go off-road

Photo by Johannes Widmer

Please DO NOT drive with your left foot on the clutch! DO NOT ride your clutch when driving off-road and especially NOT when you are stuck.If you do, YOU WILL INEVITABLY BURN OUT THE CLUTCH!!!

Offroad Training in Namibia:All drivers who complete any of these 3 off-road training programs pay only 50% of the normal reduced excess fees.
	Karas4x4 offers you training in the utilization of a 4x4 vehicle in diverse terrain. We teach you the basic knowledge and skills required to handle a 4x4 vehicle, both on-road and off-road, and vehicle preparation, preventative maintenance, and to handle basic recovery situations and equipment. We also offer guided off-road tours. email us
	The Safety Driving & Offroad Academy established on Ababis in November 2004 offers a complete training program for off-road drivers. Following the training we offer guided Off-road excursions. email us
	Drive Namibia – Driver training for self drive safaris provides guests with important knowledge and better understanding of using Namibian roads. Be Local introduces the principals of using 4x4 vehicles, reading road conditions and how to act in situations commonly experienced while driving in the Namibian interior. email us

10 Quickest ways to have an accident 10. Drive blindfolded with a psych to guide you 9. Impress your teenaged son by driving your 4x4 from the back seat 8. Play the stock market while you drive 7. Trust on your cruise control while getting a beer from the back 6. Pick your nose with both index fingers while racing along a gravel road 5. Put your trust in God rather than traffic signs to direct you 4. Be confident that that elephant will be out of the way by the time you get there 3. Give your full attention to the cobra that sneaked into your car when you left the doors open at night 2. Safe that antelope by turning sharp left 1. Think “ It won’t happen to me”
		How to drive off a parking line without going over the barbeque and crashing through the back wall or When do I use my reverse gear?

Recently Asco Car Hire tested a new configuration for its latest 4x4 models. Equipment: Left side a 500 liter display fridge: One half for dad filled up with 300 beers so he's got the feeling he's in the pub with his buddies, other half for mum filled up with a variety of supermarket products to give her the happy feeling of constant shopping.
Right side a soft-ice-cream machine to keep the kids quiet.

Asco Car Hire: Leading the industry through innovative ideas for the adventurous family holiday!

To ensure that other visitors will also enjoy the wild places of Namibia after you have left, please adhere to the following guidelines:

Do not deviate from existing roads and tracks. The Namibian landscape is extremely sensitive to disturbance caused by vehicle tracks and inconsiderate off-road driving is not only unsightly but also kills many small creatures and plant life, all very necessary to keep nature balanced and healthy.

Support community campsites. Should you be camping in the wild, ask permission from the local inhabitants, wherever possible, and respect their culture and traditions.

Do not litter nor bury any refuse. Take your garbage with you in closed plastic bags and dump it in a dustbin once back in the "civilized" world. Do not throw any cigarette butts on the ground.

Do not make big fires. The sparks could start a disastrous field fire. A small campfire is much cozier than a big bonfire anyway. Do not break off any branches, not even the apparently dead ones -since often they are not- but only use loose wood lying on the ground.

Never camp near waterholes, as this will prevent animals that have traveled long distances from quenching their thirst. That could be fatal to them or to you. There's not much fun in being eaten by a lion or being crushed by an elephant.

Keep a respectful distance from elephants and black rhino, and under no circumstances disturb or agitate these magnificent animals. When encountering animals in river valleys, do not chase them. Drive slowly, stop at a sufficient distance, and allow them to move on in peace. There have been several black rhino calf mortalities as a result of irresponsible 4x4 drivers chasing them.

Never drive through wetlands. It destroys the surface of these natural water places that are so essential to the wildlife in order to survive our long dry season. Not to speak of the fact that your vehicle, with everybody and everything in it, could disappear in deep quicksand, never to be found again...