If you don’t just want to see Namibia, but also travel across the border to one of our beautiful neighbouring countries too, please have a look at the information on border crossing with Kalahari Car Hire cars below.
You are generally allowed to drive to South Africa, Botswana and areas just beyond the border of Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls and Hwange Park), Zambia (Victoria Falls). See details further down.
We do not charge extra for border crossing. However, please note that there are country-specific border and liability costs at the respective borders that have to be paid additionally by yourself. See cost estimates for each country below.
You do not need a specific permit from us to take our vehicles across the border. However, please make sure to mention to us that you intend to cross the border and to which countries. This way we can ensure that you have the necessary vehicle registration papers for your rental car, the permission to cross the border on your rental agreement is signed by us and country-specific paperwork (see for example police clearance necessary for Zambia) is applied for on time.
Unfortunately we do not allow any of our vehicles to travel into Angola at this stage. Thank you for your understanding.
If you plan to travel to Botswana, please contact us with your tentative route plan. Ensuring you and your fellow travelers have a safe, enjoyable, and stress-free driving experience is our top priority.
Botswana is a beautiful country, but not all areas of Botswana are suitable for self-drives. Roads in and around national parks such as Chobe, Moremi, and the Okavango Delta can be quite challenging—sandy, muddy, submerged, or blocked by fallen trees—and are often located in remote areas without mobile coverage. These conditions demand meticulous preparation, advanced off-road skills and put both drivers and vehicles under significant strain. Standard 4×4s, even with careful driving, are not ideal for some of Botswana’s routes. To avoid vehicle damage, delays, and additional costs to you, it’s important to plan your trip carefully.
We strongly recommend staying on main registered roads and considering the season. To safely experience the Delta, consider a fly-in safari or traveling with an experienced guide. Exploring Botswana’s national parks by air or with a guided 4×4 is by far the most enjoyable and stress-free option. Also consider that local guides know the area and wildlife’s hide out spots like the back of their hand, so you’ll almost definitely see more of nature’s beauty on a guided trip than on your own. And if you really want to explore remote areas on your own, rather drive in a group of at least two vehicles so as to have a helping hand and a back-up vehicle to call for help with if need be.
Please note that when driving through Botswana the Insurance Excess can only be reduced to a minimum of N$ 20 000.
You are welcome to explore South Africa with our vehicles. Apart from it being a lovely country (almost as beautiful and diverse as Namibia ;)), the roads and cellphone reception are generally good and mechanics and spare parts are easier to come by should the need for them arise.
You are welcome to enter Zambia to just behind the border / up to the Victoria Falls. Further driving into Zambia is prohibited. Due to the special police requirements and the extremely high costs for spare parts and repairs, accidents or repairs in Zambia are simply unsustainable under current circumstances.
IMPORTANT: For the entry into Zambia you need a so-called “police clearance certificate” of the car. The cost is approximately N$ 400. Since this certificate is only valid for a short period of time, it has to be reissued for each renter. If you want to enter Zambia with our vehicle, please let us know at least 1 week before picking up your car, so that we can organize this certificate in time.
You are allowed to enter Zimbabwe with our rental vehicles until just behind the border / up to the Victoria Falls or Hwange park. Further driving into Zimbabwe is prohibited. Due to the special police requirements and the extremely high costs for spare parts and repairs, accidents or repairs in Zimbabwe are simply unsustainable under current circumstances.
IMPORTANT: If you intend to enter Zimbabwe with our vehicle, please let us know before rental start so that we can prepare the vehicle accordingly, because local police require certain extras (e.g. fire extinguisher and safety vests).
Costs to be expected at Zimbabwe border when entering with a rental vehicle = U$120:
Carbon tax U$ 10
3rd Party Insurance U$ 50
Road Access Fee U$ 10
Commercial Vehicle Guarantee (C.V.G) U$ 50
Plus Visa per person: U$ 30
NOTE: When crossing the border at the Kazongula border post (from Botswana to Zimbabwe) we recommend the support of TINADY Clearing and Forwarding Company. Contact Themba a few days BEFORE crossing the border by whatsapp or mail so that he can prepare the necessary documents – this will speed up the border crossing from Botswana to Zimbabwe considerably.
Mr Thembalami Mkandabili
tmkandabili@gmail.com
+263 777 814 257
+267 74770 254
Please note that you have the same insurance cover as in Namibia but with the following exceptions.
Recovery costs from neighboring countries / outside Namibia are NOT covered. Accordingly, the call-out fee for a mechanic or towing costs in a neighbouring country have to be paid by yourself. Even in the case of a damage covered by the insurance, the insurance will only cover the call-out fee or tow-in costs in Namibia (the renter has to pay for the costs from wherever his/her rental vehicle is in the neighbouring country up until the Namibian border).
The renter has no insurance cover and is driving at completely own risk when
– driving on unregistered roads
– driving in national parks such as Chobe, Moremi, Central Kalahari, Kgalagadi, Nxai Pan, Madgadikdagi, Khuts etc. as well as the areas surrounding these national parks.
Please see rental agreement for details.
