Travel information Namibia for motorcycle tours

When Namibia is at its best for safari and motorcycle: dry or wet season, climate month by month, plus visa, vehicle papers and fuel planning before you leave.

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The essentials on Namibia at a glance

Updated: September 2026

Visa: Visa-free for up to 90 days (DE, AT, CH, EU); The 90-day stamp is issued automatically on arrival, no advance application needed
Passport: At least 6 months valid beyond your departure date, at least 3 blank pages
Best season: May to September (dry season, cool nights, clear tracks)
Currency: Namibian dollar (NAD), pegged 1:1 to the rand, ZAR accepted everywhere
Time zone: CET +1 (no separate daylight-saving shift relative to Germany in summer)
Traffic: Drive on the left
Helmet & gear: Helmet mandatory for rider and passenger
Main route: B1 (north-south axis) and B2 (Windhoek-Swakopmund) are paved, everything else is mostly gravel
Fuel: Unleaded available in all larger towns, plan petrol stations deliberately on gravel stages
Intl. driving permit: International driving permit recommended, since the German licence isn't issued in English

Entry

Visa and Entry Requirements

German, Austrian and Swiss nationals enter visa-free, but the passport must remain valid beyond the departure date.

Tourist stamp on entry

Stay: 90 days
Cost: free
Where to apply: Any border crossing / airport
Validity: Per entry, max. 90 days per calendar year

Extension of the stamp

Stay: At the authority's discretion
Cost: Fee payable
Where to apply: Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, Windhoek
Validity: Must be applied for before the 90 days expire

Temporary Import Permit (own motorcycle, land border)

Stay: Usually tied to the 90 days
Cost: Fee payable, paid at the border
Where to apply: Border crossing (NamRA counter)
Validity: Valid for the imported vehicle, non-transferable

Visa types for Namibia with length of stay, cost and where to apply
Visa type	Stay	Cost	Where to apply	Validity
Tourist stamp on entry	90 days	free	Any border crossing / airport	Per entry, max. 90 days per calendar year
Extension of the stamp	At the authority's discretion	Fee payable	Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, Windhoek	Must be applied for before the 90 days expire
Temporary Import Permit (own motorcycle, land border)	Usually tied to the 90 days	Fee payable, paid at the border	Border crossing (NamRA counter)	Valid for the imported vehicle, non-transferable

Your own bike

Entering with Your Own Motorcycle

Namibia belongs to the SACU, so a Temporary Import Permit is enough overland; a Carnet de Passages is only required if you ship the bike.

Checklist for the border

Passport (valid at least 6 months, 3 blank pages)
Original vehicle registration document for the motorcycle
Driving licence + international driving permit
Notarised power of attorney for a borrowed/rented motorcycle
Cash (NAD or ZAR) for the TIP fee and the Cross Border Charge
Address of your first night's accommodation for the entry form

No Carnet needed at a land border within the SACU, but it is mandatory if you ship the bike. Without a notarised power of attorney, a motorcycle not registered to the rider is often turned away at the TIP counter.

Documents

Driving Licence and Documents

A valid motorcycle licence is legally sufficient, but an international driving permit is the more practical choice at checkpoints.

National driving licence
International driving permit (IDP, Vienna Convention)
Vehicle registration document for the motorcycle
Temporary Import Permit (after crossing the border)

Season

Best Time to Travel by Region in Namibia

The south is rideable practically all year round; in the northeast, the rainy season decides between muddy or flooded tracks.

Best season: May to September (dry season)

Rideability by month and region
Region	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Namib and the South (Sossusvlei, Fish River Canyon, Lüderitz)	Jan: Rideable, with limits	Feb: Rideable, with limits	Mar: Best riding window	Apr: Best riding window	May: Best riding window	Jun: Best riding window	Jul: Best riding window	Aug: Best riding window	Sep: Best riding window	Oct: Best riding window	Nov: Rideable, with limits	Dec: Rideable, with limits
Centre and North (Damaraland, Etosha, Windhoek axis)	Jan: Rideable, with limits	Feb: Rideable, with limits	Mar: Rideable, with limits	Apr: Best riding window	May: Best riding window	Jun: Best riding window	Jul: Best riding window	Aug: Best riding window	Sep: Best riding window	Oct: Best riding window	Nov: Rideable, with limits	Dec: Rideable, with limits
Zambezi Region / Caprivi Strip (Northeast)	Jan: Rideable, with limits	Feb: Rideable, with limits	Mar: Rideable, with limits	Apr: Rideable, with limits	May: Best riding window	Jun: Best riding window	Jul: Best riding window	Aug: Best riding window	Sep: Best riding window	Oct: Best riding window	Nov: Rideable, with limits	Dec: Rideable, with limits

Best riding window
Rideable, with limits
Not rideable

Cool, clear dry season with the best track conditions nationwide; nights in the south and on the highland can drop below 0°C.

Matching departures in Namibia The best window is May to September (dry season). See the tours that start within it. Tours in Namibia

Roads & tracks

Tracks and Route Segments at a Glance

Namibia has one of the best gravel road networks in Africa, but the rule of thumb still applies: slow down, and take fuel planning seriously.

Windhoek - Sesriem/Sossusvlei (C24/C19)

320 km

Condition: Well-graded gravel track (C-class), wide enough for oncoming traffic
After rain: Briefly slippery after heavy rain, no structural closures known
Daily distance: 320 km, approx. 5-6 hours riding time
Fuel: Next petrol station right in Sesriem, none before that
Passes & altitude: none
Permits: NWR park fee at the Sesriem Gate for Namib-Naukluft National Park

Sesriem - Solitaire - Walvis Bay/Swakopmund (C19/C14)

340 km

100 % Gravel

Condition: Continuous gravel track, washboard in places
After rain: Some sections soften after rain, reduce speed significantly
Daily distance: up to 340 km feasible in one day, but counts as a long day's stage
Fuel: Only fuel stop en route: Solitaire at km 83 from Sesriem, then 257 km with no petrol station to the coast
Passes & altitude: none
Permits: none

Lüderitz - Aus (B4)

200 km

100 % Paved

Condition: Paved, good condition, little traffic
After rain: uncritical
Daily distance: 200 km, approx. 2.5 hours
Fuel: Petrol stations in Lüderitz and Aus
Passes & altitude: none
Permits: Restricted-area permit if visiting Kolmanskop/Diamond Area 1 off the through-route

Aus - Fish River Canyon (C13/C10/C12)

260 km

100 % Gravel

Condition: Gravel track, well maintained, washboard in places
After rain: Fords on the Fish River can briefly swell after heavy rain
Daily distance: 260 km, approx. 4 hours
Fuel: Only in Aus, no petrol station at the canyon itself
Passes & altitude: none
Permits: NWR permit for viewpoints and hikes at Fish River Canyon

Spitzkoppe - Uis - Twyfelfontein/Brandberg (D and C tracks)

Condition: Mix of C and narrower D tracks, heavily washboarded in places
After rain: Some D tracks and riverbeds (Ugab, Aba-Huab) can be washed out or carrying water after rain
Daily distance: 150-200 km already counts as an ambitious day's stage here
Fuel: Only in Uis and Khorixas, none in between
Passes & altitude: none
Permits: Entry fee/mandatory guide for the rock engravings at Brandberg (White Lady) and at Twyfelfontein (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Windhoek - Etosha, Anderson Gate (B1/C38)

430 km

93 % Paved · 7 % Gravel

Condition: Almost entirely paved, last 28 km before the Anderson Gate is gravel in good condition
After rain: The 28 km of gravel can be slippery after rain, otherwise uncritical
Daily distance: 430 km, approx. 5 hours of riding time
Fuel: Along the B1 every 100-150 km (Okahandja, Otjiwarongo, Otavi)
Passes & altitude: none
Permits: NWR park fee at the Anderson Gate for Etosha

Sections with length, surface, condition and daily distance
Section	km	Surface	Condition	After rain	Daily distance	Fuel	Passes & altitude	Permits
Windhoek - Sesriem/Sossusvlei (C24/C19)	320	–	Well-graded gravel track (C-class), wide enough for oncoming traffic	Briefly slippery after heavy rain, no structural closures known	320 km, approx. 5-6 hours riding time	Next petrol station right in Sesriem, none before that	none	NWR park fee at the Sesriem Gate for Namib-Naukluft National Park
Sesriem - Solitaire - Walvis Bay/Swakopmund (C19/C14)	340	100 % Gravel	Continuous gravel track, washboard in places	Some sections soften after rain, reduce speed significantly	up to 340 km feasible in one day, but counts as a long day's stage	Only fuel stop en route: Solitaire at km 83 from Sesriem, then 257 km with no petrol station to the coast	none	none
Lüderitz - Aus (B4)	200	100 % Paved	Paved, good condition, little traffic	uncritical	200 km, approx. 2.5 hours	Petrol stations in Lüderitz and Aus	none	Restricted-area permit if visiting Kolmanskop/Diamond Area 1 off the through-route
Aus - Fish River Canyon (C13/C10/C12)	260	100 % Gravel	Gravel track, well maintained, washboard in places	Fords on the Fish River can briefly swell after heavy rain	260 km, approx. 4 hours	Only in Aus, no petrol station at the canyon itself	none	NWR permit for viewpoints and hikes at Fish River Canyon
Spitzkoppe - Uis - Twyfelfontein/Brandberg (D and C tracks)	–	–	Mix of C and narrower D tracks, heavily washboarded in places	Some D tracks and riverbeds (Ugab, Aba-Huab) can be washed out or carrying water after rain	150-200 km already counts as an ambitious day's stage here	Only in Uis and Khorixas, none in between	none	Entry fee/mandatory guide for the rock engravings at Brandberg (White Lady) and at Twyfelfontein (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Windhoek - Etosha, Anderson Gate (B1/C38)	430	93 % Paved · 7 % Gravel	Almost entirely paved, last 28 km before the Anderson Gate is gravel in good condition	The 28 km of gravel can be slippery after rain, otherwise uncritical	430 km, approx. 5 hours of riding time	Along the B1 every 100-150 km (Okahandja, Otjiwarongo, Otavi)	none	NWR park fee at the Anderson Gate for Etosha

Fuel

Fuel and Petrol Stations

Unleaded is standard - the real issue is range: on the southern routes, up to 340 km lie between two petrol stations.

Unleaded 95

Availability: Standard, available at all B-road stations

Diesel

Availability: Just as widespread as unleaded

Fuel grades, prices and the longest legs between stations
Fuel	Availability
Unleaded 95	Standard, available at all B-road stations
Diesel	Just as widespread as unleaded

Safety

Safety and Emergency Numbers

112 doesn't work reliably everywhere - the national numbers are the more reliable choice.

Emergency numbers

Police (NAMPOL) 10111
Ambulance service 10177
Central emergency number (mobile, all networks) 112

Health

Health and Vaccinations

Malaria risk in the north and northeast; standard travel insurance often doesn't cover larger engine capacities.

Travel health consultation 4-6 weeks before departure
Clarify malaria prophylaxis/emergency medication for the north and northeast
Booster for tetanus, hepatitis A/B as recommended by your travel doctor
First-aid kit incl. dressings for grazes/burns
Travel insurance with explicit cover for motorcycling over 125cc and medical repatriation

Most standard travel insurance policies exclude riding motorcycles over 125cc. Before booking, check whether medical repatriation and motorcycling are explicitly covered.

Packing list

What Namibia Adds to Your Standard Kit

Not a generic motorcycle packing list rehash, but what this route specifically demands.

5-10 litre reserve canister for the 200-340 km fuel gaps in the south
Tyre pressure gauge and pump for lowering/re-inflating on washboard
Spare air filter or dust mask for longer gravel stages
Enough drinking water (at least 3-4 litres) for stages with no towns in between
Satellite communicator with SOS function for routes with no mobile network
Warm layers for winter nights in the south/highland (below 0°C possible)

Motorcycle Tours Through Namibia

From guided group tours through Damaraland to the great round trip via South Africa, Namibia, Botswana to Victoria Falls.

All tours in Namibia