Driving in Southern Africa can be quite different to what you're used to back home, so be weary on the road! Here are a few interesting facts and tips about driving in our home land.
  • Southern Africa drives on the left.
  • The maximum speed on highways is 120km/h unless otherwise specified.
  • Within urban areas the speed limit is 30 to 60km/h.
  • South Africans call traffic lights: robots.​
  • The emergency lane on highways is separated from the road by a yellow solid line in South Africa, in contrast to a white solid line as is the case in Europe and Namibia.
  • When traveling through Namibia, re-fuel when you have the chance. The next petrol station will probably come along the way before you need it, but they can occasionally be out of fuel. In Botswana, petrol stations are often only open between 8am and 8pm.
  •  An intersection where each on-coming traffic lane has a STOP sign is called a four-way stop. Often this has a number 4 below as in the picture.​ The first person to stop is the first to go again and everyone waits their turn.
  • When crossing a border into Botswana and at other disease fence borders, vehicles will be required to pass through a pit with disinfectant solution to prevent carrying over foot-and-mouth disease into Botswana. You may even be required to get out of the vehicle and walk across a disinfected area. 
There is a saying in Southern Africa: Lines on the road are here for decoration only! Officially nonsense of course, but there is some truth in it... Be very cautious when driving in Southern Africa and adapt your driving to what is happening around you. When in Rome...
  • Many local cars are so old they have the maximum speed of a tractor, you are likely to witness many drivers crossing solid white lines just to overtake them.
  • ​Although you are generally not supposed to drive on the emergency lane, a lot of drivers use this lane when faster cars are trying to overtake them. They will then temporarily drive on the emergency lane so the faster car can easily pass by.
  • Often a driver that wants to overtake will show his intentions by flashing his bright lights behind you. This is not rude, but part of the local culture. People ask simply "Mind if I overtake?" If you give them space by moving temporarily on the emergency lane, you’ll even receive a Thank you! as the overtaking vehicle switches on his hazards lights for a moment. You can in turn reply by flashing your bright lights, effectively saying You’re welcome!
  • Roads are rarely lit at night, especially in rural areas, limiting visibility to 40 meters ahead of your vehicle.. They don’t call it darkest Africa for nothing. At 50 meters, you could encounter a cow, a gas cylinder, a flat tire, a pothole or even a pedestrian. Would you be able to break in time? Do yourself a favour, do not drive in the dark!

Traffic Police

If stopped by traffic police, stay calm and polite. You will never have to pay a fine on the spot in cash in South Africa or Namibia (note, this can happen in Swaziland and Botswana). If South African or Namibian Traffic Police officers say that you have to pay on the spot, they are likely trying to fool you. Simply mention that you have made a contractual agreement with your travel agent and car rental company.

In South Africa: Accept the issued fine, but don't pay anything and keep it safe. The car rental company will pay the traffic fine using internet banking and bill you afterwards. 
In Namibia: You will receive an invoice from the Namibian Traffic Police officer, this invoice can be taken with cash to any police station in the country, before the due date. It is a prosecutable offence to not pay a fine.

Please feel free to contact us if you need advice on how to deal with this. Often, it can help to politely tell the traffic officer that you are required to call your travel agent/car rental company to discuss the matter. In nine out of ten cases the traffic officer will gesture you to carry on driving as if nothing ever happened.