Riding the Trans-Kalahari Highway (A2) will not only take you through Botswana, it will actually take you through three countries – South Africa, Botswana and Namibia; the single-laned road connects Windhoek in Namibia with Johannesburg in South Africa. While the road is tarred all the way there is plenty of scope for adventuring off the beaten track, as the road passes through some of the wildest and most uninhabited regions of Southern Africa, and you’ll be treated to vast landscapes untouched by man, whether they are the bush and scrub of Botswana, or the great dunes and endless sands of the Kalahari and Namib Desert in Namibia. For those intending to explore as much of the Southern African region as they can, this road will provide some unforgettable scenery.
Planning Your Ride on the Trans-Kalahari Highway The Trans-Kalahari Highway is around 1300km long, so while it could technically be done in two days, riding at such a pace through it would mean that you would miss out on a lot of scenery, and scenery is, after all, one of the major reasons you’d be riding this road. Also, because of various places you might want to make detours to, it would be wise to set aside a couple of days, or even a week or longer, to really explore the countries this road will take you through. You could either start in Walvis Bay or Windhoek and head to Johannesburg, but considering that your port of arrival in Southern Africa is likely to be in South Africa, it may be better to start in South Africa and work your way up to Windhoek. From there you may also want to meander down the west coast, all the way to Cape Town in South Africa.
Highlights
In Botswana, you may well want to take the road that goes off the Trans-Kalahari Highway at Ghanzi and head to Maun. There you’ll be on the doorstep of one of the most magnificent wild regions in Africa, the Okavango Delta, which is a must-see in Botswana. Swakopmund in Namibia is an attractive tourist hub that will allow you to explore the picturesque dunes of the desert, and the coast as well. Gobabis in Namibia is not only a convenient stopping place, it is bustling with cultural diversity and showcases the cultures of the region. Etosha Pan is a vast salt pan, and one of the oldest wildlife preserves in the region.
Fuel, Accommodation, Weather and Other Concerns Generally the fuel you get in either Namibia, Botswana or South Africa will be of a high quality. The concern here, though, is availability. As theTrans-Kalahari Highway passes through large stretches of uninhabited territory, it would be wise to fill up wherever you can and possibly carry backup fuel just in case. Accommodation is varied in quality, from very basic to expensive resorts, but these are also spread thinly, so check distances beforehand.
Driving at night or in low light conditions on this road can be very dangerous because of wild and domestic animals wandering onto the road, so don’t ride outside of daylight hours. Weather, in summer, is very hot and dry in the region, although thunderstorms with torrential rain may strike in the afternoons. You’re unlikely to encounter rain, but at night temperatures can drop significantly, particularly once you’re in the desert. Also, many places in Botswana and Namibia do not accept credit cards, so it is advisable to bring enough cash to cover your expenses.
