Driving in Africa

Negotiating road conditions and wildlife can get tricky in the bush

Driving

As with driving anywhere, safety is the main concern and so we follow a couple of guidelines while travelling the roads in Africa:

• Do not drive at night.  This is the number 1 rule in Africa.  It is dangerous, and we try to plan to make sure we're off the main roads by dusk.  If you find yourself on the road at night rather pull off and try to find somewhere to stay. 

  

  Rather not deal with this in the dark!

• There are too many people walking along the roads, the roads are too unpredictable, and in some places you could literally run into animals.  The most notorious we've come across - the Tanzania to Zambia highway near the Mikumi NP, and the Nata to Kasane road in Botswana.  Both have elephants (and other animals) crossing at night - you would not see them until it's too late!  In Botswana especially, there are a lot of cows and donkeys on the roads who won't hesitate to cross just because there's a car bearing down on them or stand in the middel of the road despite the vehicles on the road!

Overtaking an overloaded vehicle across double lines!

•  Do not speed (guess I don’t need to say this) but with roads where the road surface is not reliable, hitting a pot hole at high speed could become a problem. Also other road users don’t necessarily stick to the rules which, could be negotiated at lower speeds (especially buses!) 

Hit this at high speed and you will struggle to keep to the road

•  When doing a long drive, try to leave at dawn - something simple like leaving at 6AM as opposed to 9 AM can make a huge difference.  Don't make the drive too challenging, because there are so many things that can turn up unexpectedly and make you late for your destination (from plenty of road blocks to accidents). If possible, rather break up the journey and find a nice place to stay.

The Botswana - Zambia border crossing 
requires negotiating the Zambezi river crossing

• Study the map and familiarize yourself with the route beforehand and always check the map en route (or get a GPS) – don’t expect clear signs or correct directions!

• If you don’t have a GPS our tip is to make sure your odometer works to allow you to follow a map.  We don't use a GPS, so that's how we keep ourselves orientated and ensure your map is reliable.

A convoy in the bush is usually the best way to stay out of trouble

Bush driving

• Always familiarize yourself with the map of the area and get all available local knowledge before going in. Often its up to you to ask the right question about critical road conditions. Don't expect locals to warn you of a washed out bridge or flooded road.

• In particular ensure you are aware of ‘current’ road conditions which can change drastically over time and between seasons. Most roads in Africa are a totally different proposition in and after the wet. 

If the bridge is down you're not getting through
 - ensure you know current road conditions

• Always maintain a keen sense of direction in the bush (study the map before hand) and know where the sun is relation to your base and direction of travel (or get a GPS).

• Don’t ever drive off road in the bush – you could be scarring the natural world for ever and no one has that right. Often the impression a tyre leaves on the ground is sufficient to change the landscape by seeds collecting in the tyre track or erosion from rain water.

The featureless Kalahari - you can get lost quickly!

• Never speed in the bush (unless you’re being chased by an elephant!) you cannot hit an animal in the bush - its the ultimate sin if you destroy what you come to enjoy.

• If you need to get off the track beware of sharp stumps off the track (sure way to get two flat tyres in one shot) and large holes or rocks that may be covered by grass. 

Stick to the track!

• If you come across a water crossing DO NOT even think about checking the depth or under tyre conditions by wading in – this is dangerous (crocs, hippos and water borne deceases). Look for fresh tyre marks on the opposite side – if someone got through it’s probably the best path. The best information is from other travellers provided you have studied the map and ask the correct questions.

4th Bridge Moremi GR - checking depth & 
under tyre conditions is not an option

• The rule of thumb for water and mud is stick to the main track no matter how awful it looks. The main track will be the best compacted ground under the tyre (and usually deepest) and ‘new’ diversions are often soft and bog down fast. If in doubt wait for the next car or turn back!

Turning back is sometimes the only option

Recovery

Recovery is something you would rather not be faced with especially when traveling alone in the African bush with wild animals around. 

Two snatch straps will be required to pull a car out of a long water crossing

Our general attitude is we would rather avoid a tricky situation rather than take a chance and get in to a recovery situation. If however we were to get stuck the following is recovery gear we carry:

• Snatch strap x2 (ensure it’s a genuine ‘stretch’ snatch strap – others will break under extreme pressure)
• Axe
• Spade
• High lift jack
• High lift jack buddy (this is a device with two claws that fits in to the wheel rim and lifts the vehicle from the wheel. This is a lot more effective than lifting the car from the chassis as the wheel remains on the ground till the shock is fully extended)
• Base for high lift jack (the high lift jack can become extremely dangerous if not stable)   
• Sand mats (attach anchors to these so they can be dragged along when the vehicle is comes free – else you have to walk in relatively soft sand or mud to retrieve the mats with the possibilty of wild animals between you and the car)

Solo driving in the African bush is the ultimate driving experience