Car Rental in Namibia

Namibia is a great country to explore by car. The distances are huge, but the long traveling will be justified as there will always be a unique landscape awaiting you at the end, be it ocean, cliffs, or desert. 

• From Namibia to South Africa - 40 offers from $59.17 per day
• From Namibia to Botswana - 7 offers from $59.17 per day

• Windhoek Hosea Kutako Airport: Namibia’s main airport has flights to and from domestic and African destinations, as well as European cities like Amsterdam and Frankfurt. 
• Walvis Bay Airport: Namibia’s second airport has good connections to Cape Town and Johannesburg in neighboring South Africa. 
• Windhoek Eros Airport: The capital city’s other airport is quite small, but hosts flights to and from many interesting domestic destinations.
• By land: If your rental car provider permits it and you have the visa and other necessary entry documentation in order, it might be possible to pick up a car in a neighboring country and then drive to Namibia. Large international airports near Namibia include Cape Town Airport in South Africa and Gaborone Airport in Botswana. 

• Windhoek: The capital of Namibia is a good place to learn about the country’s fascinating history through its art, culture, and architecture.
• Walvis Bay: Located on the Atlantic Coast and also on the edge of the Namib Desert, Walvis Bay is an absolutely unique destination where you can go surfing or dolpin watching one day, then on a desert safari the next.
• Nature Parks: Etosha National Park, Fish River Canyon Park, Waterberg Plateau Park are just some of the nature areas that are scattered throughout the country show Namibia’s amazing wildlife and diversity.
• Kaokoland: This area near the border with Angola might be a challenge to reach, but seeing the desert elephants and lions, mountains, and Epupa Waterfalls are just some of the reasons why the hardship will be more than justified.
• Kalahari Desert: Located on the very east of the country, this desert’s landscape will make you truly feel like you’re on another planet.

The most popular rental car in Namibia is the Nissan X-Trail 4x4, but travelers also tend to pick the Toyota RAV4 and the Toyota Fortuner.

• Namibia only recognizes foreign driver’s licenses if you are visiting on a short trip and if they are written in English. If you’re residing in Namibia permanently, you need to obtain a local driver’s license.
• If your driver’s license is printed in another language than English, you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) too.
• Similarly, if your driver’s license doesn’t show your photograph, you might be required to have an IDP.
• Even if you have an IDP, you also need to keep your original license on you as you will be required to provide both.
• You must carry your driver’s license, not a copy, with you at all times. 
• You need to have had your driver’s license for at least two years.
• Some rental car suppliers charge a young driver fee for drivers between the ages of 22 and 25 and a senior driver fee for drivers over the age of 65.
• There may be additional requirements depending on the car supplier and category, so make sure to check the rental conditions before booking.

Namibia borders Zambia, Angola, Botswana, and South Africa. Each of the countries has its own visa policy, so depending on your citizenship, you may or may not need a visa for visiting them. Generally speaking, citizens of most western nations can visit Botswana and South Africa visa-free, but it’s still a good idea to check this in advance.

Due to insurance and border-crossing issues, most car rental companies do not permit crossing borders in a rental car (there are a few exceptions for cross-border trips to South Africa — you can look for the companies that allow this by entering your car pickup and dropoff locations and dates on our search or checking the rental conditions).

The most popular rental car type in Namibia is a fullsize, followed by standard and compact. Large parts of Namibia’s terrain can be challenging, especially the nature areas away from the main highways, so  it might be a good idea to choose a powerful vehicle fit for the challenge.

1. Windhoek - Walvis Bay (395 km / 245 mi) The distance between the two main cities of Namibia can be done in just about four hours if you drive the highways B1 and B2. Another option is to travel along highway C28 which will take about an hour longer, but will let you stop at Tsaobis Nature Park and Namib-Naukluft National Park on the way.
2. Windhoek - Cape Town (1,479 km / 919 mi) Traveling by car from Windhoek to Cape Town, one of Africa’s most famous cities, takes at least two days, but many travelers still choose to do it as it lets you truly see and experience what Southwest Africa is about. Note that you’ll have to cross a national border, so check with your car rental provider first to make sure they allow it. Also, make sure if the citizens of your country need a visa to enter South Africa.
3. Windhoek - Victoria Falls (1,427 km / 887 mi) The long drive will be justified not only in that you’ll get to see the Victoria Falls on Zambezi river at the finish line, but also because a long part of it will take you through Namibia’s northeastern corridor and the Bwabwata National Park. 

You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in Namibia:

• Compare rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Namibia is the cheapest in May when renting a car is about 24% cheaper than the yearly average and about 50% cheaper than renting a car in August, the year’s most expensive month.