Every route on this site is made up of stages, and every stage has a page of its own. It lists the road numbers in the direction of travel, the distance, how much of it is tar and how much gravel, a realistic driving time, where to refuel and where to stay at the end.
The distances come from a route planner and are rounded. The driving times do not, because route planners are far too optimistic on gravel. Where no source gives a time, the planning rule applies: 80 km/h on tar and 60 km/h on gravel, stops not included. As of October 2026.
- Stages
- 25from Cape Town to Kasane
- Longest
- 559 kmCape Town to Springbok, tar
- Most gravel
- 371 kmTwyfelfontein to Opuwo
- Slowest
- 155 kmOkaukuejo to Namutoni, 4 to 5 hours
The south
Heading south on the B1 it is tar all the way. Gravel only starts at the Fish River Canyon, and after the floods of April 2026 the C12 was passable only with four-wheel drive.
| Stage | km | of which gravel | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windhoek to Mariental | 267 | 0 | 3 to 3.5 hours |
| Mariental to Keetmanshoop | 229 | 0 | 2.5 to 3 hours |
| Keetmanshoop to Fish River Canyon | 159 | 125 | 2.5 to 3 hours |
| Fish River Canyon to Aus | 291 | 111 | 4 to 4.5 hours |
| Aus to Lüderitz | 124 | 0 | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Windhoek to Keetmanshoop | 496 | 0 | 5.5 to 6.5 hours |
| Fish River Canyon to Ai-Ais | 65 | 65 | 1 to 1.5 hours |
Namib and coast
This is where the gravel roads that define a trip lie: Aus to Sesriem on the D707, Sesriem to Swakopmund via Solitaire and the Kuiseb. From Windhoek you can also reach Swakopmund entirely on tar.
| Stage | km | of which gravel | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aus to Sesriem | 342 | 338 | 5.5 to 6 hours |
| Sesriem to Swakopmund | 350 | 313 | 5 to 6 hours |
| Windhoek to Swakopmund | 360 | 0 | 4 to 4.5 hours |
| Windhoek to Sesriem | 342 | 246 | 5 to 5.5 hours |
| Swakopmund to Omaruru | 316 | 66 | 4 to 4.5 hours |
Damaraland, Etosha and the north
Almost every road into Damaraland is gravel. Etosha is tar all the way from Windhoek; inside the park you drive slowly on gravel.
| Stage | km | of which gravel | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swakopmund to Twyfelfontein | 336 | 190 | 4.5 to 5.5 hours |
| Twyfelfontein to Etosha (Andersson Gate) | 330 | 100 | 4.5 to 5 hours |
| Okaukuejo to Namutoni | 155 | 155 | 4 to 5 hours |
| Etosha (Von Lindequist Gate) to Windhoek | 531 | 0 | 6 to 7 hours |
| Windhoek to Etosha (Andersson Gate) | 415 | 0 | 4.5 to 5.5 hours |
| Otjiwarongo to Waterberg | 89 | 17 | 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Twyfelfontein to Opuwo | 371 | 371 | 6 to 7 hours |
Kavango and Zambezi
The northeast means long stretches of tar. Rundu to Katima Mulilo is 517 kilometres in one go, and travellers report plenty of potholes as far as Divundu.
| Stage | km | of which gravel | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etosha (Von Lindequist Gate) to Rundu | 432 | 0 | 5 to 6 hours |
| Rundu to Katima Mulilo | 517 | 0 | 6.5 to 7.5 hours |
| Katima Mulilo to Kasane | 125 | 0 | 1.5 to 2 hours |
Via South Africa
If you start in Cape Town or return via Upington, you need your rental company's permission to cross the border.
| Stage | km | of which gravel | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town to Springbok | 559 | 0 | 6.5 to 7.5 hours |
| Springbok to Ai-Ais | 242 | 82 | 3.5 to 4 hours |
| Keetmanshoop to Upington | 475 | 0 | 5.5 to 6.5 hours |
Our tipDriving times are time at the wheel. Add a good hour a day for fuel, photos and a break, and plan to arrive before sunset.
How the stages fit together into round trips is shown in the five routes, and gravel driving technique is covered under practical tips.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive 300 kilometres of gravel in Namibia?
For 300 kilometres of gravel in Namibia, allow about five hours at the wheel using the planning rule of a 60 km/h average. Aus to Sesriem, with 338 kilometres of gravel, takes five and a half to six hours without stops.
Which stage in Namibia has the most gravel?
Among the stages on namibiareise.de, Twyfelfontein to Opuwo has the most gravel at 371 kilometres, all of it unsealed. In the south, Aus to Sesriem via the D707 follows with 338 of 342 kilometres.
Why does driving through Etosha take so long?
Okaukuejo to Namutoni is only 155 kilometres, but you drive slowly, stop at waterholes and may not leave the road. Four to five hours is realistic, and you must be back in camp before sunset.