Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WILD DRIVING & CAMPING IN BOTSWANA &
NAMIBIA
These are road-tested tips to help you plan a safe and successful 4WD expedition.
» Invest in a good Global Positioning System (GPS). You should always be able to
identify your location on a map, though, even if you're navigating with a GPS. We
found the Tracks4Africa program to be the best.
» Stock up on emergency provisions, even on main highways. Fill up whenever you
pass a station. For long expeditions, carry the requisite amount of fuel in metal jerry
cans or reserve tanks (off-road driving burns nearly twice as much fuel as highway
driving). Carry 5L of water per person per day, as well as a plenty of high-calorie,
non-perishable emergency food items.
» You should have a tow rope, a shovel, an extra fan belt, vehicle fluids, spark plugs,
bailing wire, jump leads, fuses, hoses, a good jack and a wooden plank (to use as a
base in sand and salt), several spare tyres and a pump. A good Swiss Army knife or
Leatherman and a roll of gaffer tape can save your vehicle's life in a pinch.
» Essential camping equipment includes a waterproof tent, a three-season sleeping
bag (or a warmer bag in the winter), a ground mat, fire-starting supplies, firewood, a
basic first-aid kit and a torch (flashlight) with extra batteries.
» Natural water sources are vital to local people, stock and wildlife, so please don't
use clear streams, springs or waterholes for washing yourself or your gear. Similarly,
avoid camping near springs or waterholes lest you frighten the animals and inadvert-
ently prevent them from drinking. You should always ask permission before entering
or camping near a settlement. Remember that other travellers will pass through the
region long after you've gone, so, for the sake of future tourism, please be consider-
ate and respect the local environment and culture.
» Avoid camping in shady and inviting riverbeds, as large animals often use them as
thoroughfares, and even when there's not a cloud in the sky, flash floods can roar
down them with alarming force. In the interests of the delicate landscape and flora,
keep to obvious vehicle tracks; in this dry climate, damage caused by off-road driving
may be visible for hundreds of years to come.
» Sand tracks are least likely to bog vehicles in the cool mornings and evenings,
when air spaces between sand grains are smaller. Move as quickly as possible and
keep the revs up, but avoid sudden acceleration. Shift down gears before deep sandy
patches or the vehicle may stall and bog.
