From Springbok you drive about 120 kilometres north on the N7 to Vioolsdrif. Noordoewer lies on the other side of the Orange River. According to the South African Revenue Service the crossing is open around the clock, but check before you go, as of October 2026. Your rental car needs the company's cross-border permission, and you pay a road fee in cash at the border. Since April 2025 you need a visa for Namibia.
Refuel in Noordoewer. It is worth it: like other state-run camps, the station at the Ai-Ais resort had supply failures in 2025. After Noordoewer you drive just under 40 kilometres north on the tarred B1, then turn onto the C37, which together with the last stretch of the C10 makes about 80 kilometres of gravel to Ai-Ais. A longer option with more tar stays on the B1 further north and then takes the C10, a little over 70 kilometres of gravel.
Allow three and a half to four hours of actual driving for the 240 kilometres, plus time at the border. After the 2026 floods, the Ai-Ais resort has reported itself fully open again since 25 June 2026. At Vyf Myl Poort, about ten kilometres before the border, a flood closed the N7 in July 2023.
Our tipKeep cash in rand or Namibian dollars for the road fee. Both currencies are accepted in Namibia.
The route at a glance
- Roads
- N7, B1, C37, C10
- Distance
- 242 km
- Surface
- about 160 km tar, 82 km gravel
- Driving time
- 3.5 to 4 hours
- Fuel on the way
- Noordoewer
Distances and times as of October 2026, driving time without stops or detours.
Routes that use this stage
Springbok to Ai-Ais: frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Springbok to Ai-Ais?
Springbok to Ai-Ais is about 240 kilometres via the Vioolsdrif and Noordoewer border, a little over 80 of them on gravel. Allow three and a half to four hours of actual driving plus time at the border.
When is the Vioolsdrif/Noordoewer border open?
According to the South African Revenue Service, the Vioolsdrif/Noordoewer border post is open around the clock. Check before you travel that this still applies.
What do I need to cross at Noordoewer in a rental car?
To cross at Noordoewer you need cross-border permission from your rental company, a visa for Namibia and cash for the road fee at the border.
Where can I get fuel before Ai-Ais?
The best place to refuel before Ai-Ais is Noordoewer, just across the border. The fuel station at the Ai-Ais resort had supply failures in 2025.