Road Trip Rules
ROAD TRIP
RULES
Many of my fondest childhood memories begin on a Friday afternoon. My self- employed parents would bid the office farewell at lunch time and the next two hours were spent chaotically collecting all the necessities, stuffing my father’s Hilux bakkie to the brim with tents, cooler boxes and bedding. The last stop at the supermarket always had my dad grumbling between drags of a cigarette, as he itched to get out of town and hit the long road.
Text Ron Swilling | Photographs Katja Wittneben
From the Autumn 2024 issue
Everyone I know has a road trip story or twelve. Almost all of them are retold with nostalgia and enthusiasm. The road trip is a tale as old as time and long precedes the invention of the car. Perhaps road trips are one of humankind’s first manifestations of the desire for travel.
A thorough visit to Namibia inherently implies spending extended hours with your legs at a 90-degree angle. Once you have made peace with that, the fun begins. And since we have mastered the art, I hope to instil a love for long drives in our visitors with this list of road trip rules.
SNACKS
Colloquially referred to as padkos (road food), the best snacks for a road trip are homemade, wrapped in aluminium foil or packaged in a Tupperware, and stored in a cooler bag nestled between the front-seat passenger’s feet. Childlike excitement would reach fever pitch on our backseat whenever my mom bent over to dig out hard-boiled eggs, chicken drumsticks and meatballs.
However, if you are staying at lodges while visiting Namibia, preparing padkos is not always an option. Luckily, the very best Namibian road trip snacks are droëwors and biltong, which can be bought from any roadside padstal. I urge you not to purchase these pre-packaged dried and cured meats from a supermarket. Droëwors and biltong were never intended to be sealed in a plastic bag and hung for months in the chip aisle. These taste rather stale and tarnish our reputation as the country producing the best droëwors and biltong in the world.
I also highly recommend requesting a breakfast or lunch pack from the accommodation establishment where you are staying. These are always a lucky packet, often including a wholesome sandwich or wrap, fresh fruit and, if you’re lucky, a hard-boiled egg.
MUSIC
Listening to your favourite songs in a car with your favourite people while driving leisurely on a gravel road through Namibia is arguably the epitome of holiday. In the previous edition of Travel Namibia (then still known as Travel News Namibia) we shared the ultimate Namibian road trip playlist. Before embarking on a 400 km drive, download it from Spotify, then hit play and your journey will become an extended music video. Sing-along songs have a gift for making kilometres feel just that little bit shorter.
Music, much like scent, has a magical way of safeguarding precious memories. A few months on from your road trip through Namibia, a single song can rekindle the sights, sounds and experience in uncanny ways.
PIT STOPS
Stopping occasionally is essential for a road trip through Namibia. So much so that, all around the country, road signs will announce a picnic spot one kilometre in advance, and in the shade of a camelthorn tree a cement table and bench will await. The very best pit stops, however, are at the spontaneous ones.
When a beautiful view beckons – and it will – pull over for a moment. This is a great opportunity to stretch your legs, drink a leisurely cup of coffee, and photograph your unforgettable Namibian road trip. These pit stops also serve as a reminder of the luxuries of travelling by air-conditioned car, as the warm outside air and a few sweat droplets on your nose will quickly bring you back to the Namibian reality.
Here you are, in the middle of what feels like nowhere, overlooking an untouched, rugged landscape. There is no one else around for as far as you can see.
You are on the journey of a lifetime, and suddenly the destination does not feel so important. What matters is the here, the now, the heat, the view. Remember to stop and smell the dust.
GETTING LOST
Few things stir conflict quite like mistaken navigation. And while all roads lead to somewhere, in Namibia, veering off your path could mean being stranded without fuel, as many of our roads don’t see civilization for up to 300 km. Planning your route the night before departing is a simple way to avoid getting lost and potentially spending the night on the roadside, waiting for another car to pass you by, because cell phone reception is also rather scarce.
Once your route is established, factor in extra time for the pit stops and corrugated gravel roads that require a little more patience. It is impossible to be in the moment, appreciate the scenery, snack thoroughly and enjoy the music while being in a rush.
If you look back at your holiday in Namibia and count all the hours spent in the car, the ratio will be high compared to the hours spent sightseeing, sleeping and exploring.
The stories of your journey through this country might highlight standing at the foot of a dune, drinking a boot beer in Swakopmund, or taking a dip in an infinity pool on the Waterberg plateau. Yet, the time spent in your rental car will probably go unaccounted for, even though it is often more. With a simple mindset shift, the right snacks, music, pit stops and navigation, Namibia is every bit as scenic and spectacular during the journey as it is at the destination. TN
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