Hire car with camping equipment

In Namibia we recommend four-wheel drive vehicles (also called 4×4 vehicles). These are usually off-road vehicles with roof tent and canopy, in which there is space for the camping equipment. They are available as a single cab (single cab for max. 2 people) with one roof tent or a double cab (double cab for max. 4 people) with two roof tents.

If you don’t want to sleep in a roof tent, there are also a few models with pop-up roof – so-called bush campers.

What should you look out for when choosing a vehicle?

For Namibia we recommend a vehicle with four-wheel drive. Even though many routes can easily be driven without four-wheel drive, from our point of view there are two reasons that speak in favour of a vehicle with four-wheel drive:

• Safer: We generally recommend driving with four-wheel drive (H4) engaged. Road holding is better because all four wheels are gripping. In the case of sudden manoeuvres (e.g. swerving to avoid a vehicle or animals) the car is more likely to stay on track. Diesel consumption only increases marginally by 0.5 l per 100 km. For a total driving distance of 3,000 km that adds up to about 15 EUR.
• Carefree: Many routes in Namibia are so-called pads (gravel roads). These can also be driven without four-wheel drive. In Namib-Naukluft Park at Sesriem it happened to us on a trip that a vehicle without four-wheel drive got stuck in light sand on a campsite. With 4x4 that won’t happen to you.

What vehicle models are there?

In Namibia you can generally choose between three vehicle models: Toyota Hilux, Toyota Fortuner and Toyota Land Cruiser:

• Toyota Hilux: The most popular vehicle in Namibia and worldwide is the Toyota Hilux. The vehicle is sufficient for almost all regions of Namibia. The car is powerful and has four-wheel drive.
• Toyota Fortuner: An alternative is vehicles with a continuous interior such as the Toyota Fortuner. In these vehicles no sand or dust gets onto your luggage.
• Toyota Land Cruiser: If the terrain is particularly demanding, a Toyota Land Cruiser can also be a good and comfortable alternative. However, it is not absolutely necessary. It is available as a pickup and as a Prado with a continuous interior.

Toyota Hilux - best value recommendation

The Toyota Hilux is the most popular and cheapest vehicle in Namibia. The Hilux is perfectly suitable for all regions in the travel guide.

If you would like a bit more power and ground clearance, then the Hilux with safari equipment can be a good alternative for you. The underbody is often not insured in Namibia. However, if you avoid the north-west of Namibia (Palmwag and Kaokoland), the extra ground clearance is not really necessary.

In Namibia almost all car hire companies offer the Hilux. We provide an overview of the providers. Make sure you pay close attention to inclusive services and hidden costs. We help you with this.

• AfriCar Car Hire
• Insurance cover disproportionately expensive.
• Africa on Wheels
• Subsidiary of Caprivi Car Hire set up to offer older vehicles at lower prices.
• Asco Car Hire
• One of the largest 4x4 car hire companies. Newer and older vehicles are available.
• Savanna Car Hire
• Large fleet with higher prices for insurance.
• Bushlore
• Premium hire company with above-average equipment at comparatively higher prices.

Toyota Fortuner - sand protection for your luggage

The Toyota Fortuner is a good alternative to the Toyota Hilux. As the luggage can be stowed in the interior, it is protected from sand and dust. However, the Fortuner is slightly more expensive than the Hilux.

The Fortuner is suitable for all regions in the travel guide. In Namibia almost all car hire companies also offer the Fortuner. We provide an overview of the providers. Make sure you pay close attention to inclusive services and hidden costs. We help you with this.

• Africa on Wheels
• Subsidiary of Caprivi Car Hire set up to offer older vehicles at lower prices.

Toyota Land Cruiser - for extreme demands

The Toyota Land Cruiser is the most powerful vehicle in this selection and is suitable for regions that are very demanding – such as the north-west of Namibia with steep climbs and loose scree. The Land Cruiser masters extreme gradients with ease. In return, however, the car is also significantly more expensive than the Hilux or Fortuner.

The Land Cruiser is suitable for all regions in the travel guide. In Namibia almost all car hire companies also offer the Land Cruiser. We provide an overview of the providers. Make sure you pay close attention to inclusive services and hidden costs. We help you with this.

• AfriCar Car Hire
• Insurance cover disproportionately expensive.
• Africa on Wheels
• Subsidiary of Caprivi Car Hire set up to offer older vehicles at lower prices.
• Asco Car Hire
• One of the largest 4x4 car hire companies. Newer and older vehicles are available.
• Savanna Car Hire
• Large fleet with higher prices for insurance.
• Bushlore
• Premium hire company with above-average equipment at comparatively higher prices.

Providers in a cost comparison

We have worked out a fictional 21-day holiday from 18 May to 8 June 2024 with various providers for you. The basis in each case was a Toyota Hilux (double cab) with camping equipment for two people and reduction of the excess to zero (incl. tyre and glass cover). Where possible we chose the budget option (not a new vehicle).

How are the costs made up?

Basically, the prices are made up of two components:

• Age of the vehicle: Many providers let you choose between a relatively new car and an older model. The latter is often offered as a so-called 'budget version'. The cars are always great, you usually just go without things like a USB port.
• Daily rate: The daily rate depends on the type of vehicle, the season (low, shoulder or high season) as well as the rental period (often up to 15 days and from 16 days).
• Insurance cover: Car hire companies generally offer basic insurance cover as standard. This includes third-party liability, accident, theft and fire insurance with an excess and a deposit. You can reduce the excess and the deposit for an additional charge.

You can optionally add further services:

• Additional driver: If you want to take turns driving on your trip, you'll need to book an additional driver.
• Equipment: The providers differ in terms of standard equipment. With some, sand mats are included, with others you pay an additional fee for them. So check what’s included and add the fee for your desired equipment to the rental price. Sat navs, satellite phones, etc. always cost extra.
• Expedition equipment: The Toyota Hilux also comes with expedition equipment. The vehicle is then usually slightly raised and has a snorkel so you can drive through deep water more safely.

What is insured?

In most countries in southern Africa there is no compulsory insurance. As a result, most cars aren’t insured, so owners have to pay for damage privately. Given the often difficult financial situation, you shouldn’t necessarily count on receiving compensation. It’s therefore advisable to make sure you’re properly insured.

This is always insured…

• Theft: If the renter locked the vehicle and still has all the keys, then theft is insured.
• Accident: Occupants are insured in the event of an accident. You still need travel health insurance.
• Comprehensive: Damage to your own vehicle is often only partially insured. It doesn’t matter whether you or third parties are responsible for the damage.
• Third-party liability: Damage to third parties is often insured up to cover of 1 million euros.

This can be additionally insured…

• Tyres: Flat tyres are not uncommon given the road conditions. However, they’re often not included in the basic cover.
• Windows/headlights: On gravel roads there is also repeated damage to windows and headlights. These are also rarely insured.
• Undercarriage: Many potholes mean that sometimes there’s damage to the undercarriage too. This is also often not included in the basic cover.
• Water: If you have to drive through water and damage occurs, this is also rarely covered by the basic insurance.
• Rollover: Because of the roof tent you have a different weight distribution. If you drive too fast and swerve sharply to avoid a hazard, the car can quickly roll over. This isn’t insured either.
• Incorrect operation: If the engine, clutch or similar breaks and incorrect operation can be proven, this also isn’t insured.

Our recommendation for you

If you use one of our recommended routes for your travel planning, then a Toyota Hilux or Toyota Fortuner is absolutely sufficient for you. If, however, you’re planning a detour to the north-west (e.g. Kaokoland), then expedition equipment or the Land Cruiser is recommended for you.

When choosing a provider, make sure that the equipment you need is included, or factor the additional fee for equipment that isn’t included into your calculations. Providers don’t differ in the services they advertise (e.g. transfers to and from the airport). That’s standard.

With the insurance, reducing the excess also means that you’ll have to pay a lower deposit on arrival. Otherwise this would block part of your credit card limit.

As a general rule, driving through the Caprivi is less stressful on the tyres because of the deep sand than driving on gravel or rocky roads. In addition, sandstorms occur more frequently near the coast due to the wind and fine sand. These can make the windows opaque. You can bear this in mind when choosing additional insurance.