Drive yourself through namibia
Land Cruisers are kind, but the Hilux 4x4 comes equipped
Namibia Car Rental equips tourists with everything they need for that awesome self-drive holiday.
Namibia Car Rental specialises in 4x4, off-road, camping equipped and other vehicle hire for self-drive tourists visiting the country.According to company owner Howard Sivertsen, since its establishment in 2008, it has grown to employ 21 Namibians and prides itself as a local company that finds solutions for customers.
He says that people who visit and make use of the company’s services tend to like to get back to nature.
“Our target market is Europe, mainly Germany and the Benelux countries, and many people want to get close to nature, so they camp. They combine lodging with camping but they like camping. Camping in Namibia is quite safe. Most of the campsites are fenced, which means they won’t be disturbed by animals during the night, so this appeals to visitors with families. When travelling with families, lodging becomes expensive, so camping is a great alternative for families with kids and where cost is an issue,” he said.
With regard to Covid, Sivertsen says it was tough. “We had to sell vehicles and we were burning capital to stay alive. Unfortunately, we had to retrench some of our staff. However, we have hired most of them back. Now things are picking up, “and while we are still trying to fill the gaps created by Covid, we can say we have grown since then.”
This year the company looks forward to moving into a new home. “We are moving offices. We recently acquired new business premises which we have to renovate. This year is around making sure that we are productive, and that we have a facility where we can turn cars around quickly and properly, and it’s all about consolidation to make sure we get our office sorted this year to enlarge our fleet next year,” he says.
The Namibia Car Rental fleet includes Suzuki Jimny compact 4x4 manual and automatic versions, Toyota Fortuner automatic vehicles, Toyota Hilux double cab 4x4 vehicles, double cab 4x4 Toyota Land Cruisers and single cab Isuzu KB250 and other similar vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with roof tents and an assortment of camping gear. Furthermore, Namibia Car Rentals also offers compact and Eco Suzuki S-presso models for city vehicle rentals.
According to office manager Juanita Beukes, the Land Cruisers are the most popular among foreign tourists, calling them ‘kings of the jungle’. However, it is a Toyota Hilux double-cab which was unpacked by driver Jevin Naruseb to show off all the accessories that can be included to make that self-drive holiday so much more pleasurable.
When kitted for four people, the Hilux comes equipped with two rooftop tents, a 12/220V fridge/ freezer with an extension lead, a table, four chairs and a fitted braai attached to a gas cylinder. Kitchen trunks come with crockery sets, side plates, dinner plates, dessert plates, mugs, tumblers, forks, knives and spoons. Also, pots and pans, braai tongs, washbasins, a kettle, a tin opener as well as a broom and dustpan, dishcloth and sponge, matches and a tablecloth are all provided. Bedding for use in the tents includes pillows and sleeping bags, fitted sheets and blankets.
Additionally, the 4x4 vehicles come fitted with two spare wheels, a Garmin GPS loaded with Tracks4Africa, booster seats or baby seats, extra fuel and extra water canisters, a 12v compressor, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, camping tools and a satellite phone.
The Hilux 2.4 GD6 is capable of providing up to 110kW of power and generating up to 400Nm of torque, enough to pull you out of any unforeseen sticky situation. The vehicle is surprisingly fuel efficient, with manufacturer specifications claiming it can cover 100 km on 7.6 litres of diesel. At Namibia Car Rentals, the Toyota double-cabs are fitted with an extra fuel tank, and each 80-litre tank provides more than 1 000km of range to get you to all your desired Namibian destinations. The fuel gauge will only show the level of the second tank once the first tank is depleted.
Though Namibia offers a variety of incredible places to visit, some tourists find the long and well-maintained open Namibian roads to be the most rewarding. In the words of Nicki Wambolt, who recently completed his holiday with the help of Namibia Car Rental: “The driving is the fun part; the scenery in itself is like in a movie; you are passing through a movie. A driving movie!” he says.
4x4 Hilux 2,4 GD6 Double Cab:
- Two roof tents
- All accessories packed
- 110kW of power, 400Nm of torque
- Double fuel tanks fitted