Rental Conditions

GENERAL POINTS

In Namibia we drive on the left-hand side of the road!
Speed limits:
National tarred roads: 120 km/h
City or towns: 60 km/h
Gravel roads: 80 km/h
Remember to drive only as fast as you feel comfortable with!
It is mandatory to wear safety belts.
You are required to carry your driver’s license at all times.
The use of cellular phones is prohibited while driving.
Tyre pressure is very important and should be checked regularly. The pressure should be:
Single Cab/Double Cab:                 Front: 1.8 Bar                     Back: 1.8 Bar (Tar Road)
Single Cab/Double Cab:                 Front: 1.8 Bar                     Back: 1.8 Bar (Gravel Road)
Single Cab/Double Cab:                 Front: 1.6 Bar                     Back: 1.6 Bar (Sand/Mud)
Please note that this is the cold tyre pressure. When you have driven the vehicle and the tyres are warm, the tyre pressure may increase. Please also take note at the handover briefing in case of severe soft sand and getting stuck explained by rental agent. (Tyre pressures)
When you plan your trip, you should plan your travelling time as suggested below:
National Tarred roads: 90-100 km/h
Gravel roads: 30-50 km/h

All drivers must comply with our specific speed limits, which are established for your safety and based on current road conditions. These limits take precedence over posted speed signs.

RATES & RENTAL

Our current rates include maintenance, oil, and Value Added Tax, Insurance and Unlimited mileage (except if shown differently in our rate schedule).
Not included in our rates: Fuel, windscreen damage, sandblast damage, underbody damage, damage to lights and windows, tyres, damage to the rims, insurance excess, personal insurance and personal property or any damage or loss of any property or freight transported on the vehicle.
Windscreen and tyre insurance are available.
Please note that the tyre/windscreen insurance is limited to:
Two (2) tyres and one (1) Windscreen. Damage to rims is not covered by any excess.
The full replacement value of the damaged rims will be charged.
African Tracks 4×4 Car Hire is not liable for death, injuries, personal damages and/or loss of whatever nature.
Our rates include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Loss Waiver (TLW).
Rates are calculated from pick-up to the time of return of the vehicle and are quoted in Namibian Dollars. We apply a 24-hour cycle.
The rental is payable in advance. We accept Visa and Master Cards. These are especially suitable for the security of the excess amount which must be produced.
Vehicles are hired subject to standard rental agreement (RA).
The minimum rental period is 24 hours, unless otherwise indicated in our rate schedule.
Monthly and one-way rentals are available on request only.
Extensions of the rental period or notice of advanced termination must be arranged with us no later than 2 days prior to the originally agreed date of termination. We will try to accommodate all extensions, but it is not always possible.
If renter needs to return the vehicle earlier as planned, due to medical reason and can provide proof thereof, we will provide a 40% refund for the days returned earlier.
Any other reason with no proof of medical emergency – NO REFUNDS.

EXCESS

The motor vehicle carries comprehensive insurance. However, in the event of an insurance claim arising, the lessee will be held liable for an excess amount, security for which must be provided by the lessee to African Tracks 4×4 Car Hire. In the event of the rental period exceeding 7 days, such excess may be reduced by payment of an additional premium (AEDW – Additional Excess Damage Waiver). This premium is not refundable.
We use a Master or Visa card to secure the excess amount. We do not bank it but only block it. You must have credit on your card to cover the excess amount. There is no cost, such as service fees or exchange rate fees involved. The excess amount cannot be used until you return the vehicle in good order, and we have cancelled the block. It takes between 24 and 48 hours to remove the block. If you are involved in an accident, our excess is taken whether you are liable or not. Should you not be liable and the other vehicle is insured, you get the excess back after some time. If the other vehicle is not insured, you will lose your excess. Most vehicles in Namibia are insured, not by government law, but by bank law, this means that if you finance a vehicle, you must have insurance. Please be aware of taxis in Windhoek. They are not insured and drive like the taxis we all know.
If on the return of the vehicle there is any damage for which we are unable to get a proper quote due to business hours or time constraints, we will not cancel the excess until we are able to do so.
The excess will also be held back when a vehicle is returned over a weekend/public holiday for a mechanical inspection to take place on Monday during normal business hours.
There are no hidden costs in this contract. The renter is already aware of the costs of rent and deposit before the start of the journey.
Excluded from any insurance are damages and accidents caused by gross negligence, in which case the full value of the damage is due. Damage caused by gross negligence includes:
1. Speeding
2. In contravention of the law and insurance policy
3. Driving in areas disallowed by African Tracks 4×4 Car Hire
4. When the vehicle is taken outside the borders of Namibia without prior written permission
5. When the original rental termination date has expired
6. When a driver not mentioned in the rental agreement is driving
7. When driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol and medication
8. When driving through deep waters
9. Incorrect use of the clutch, gears and engine of the vehicle.
10. Failing to exercise extra caution when driving through standing water, where the condition of the road surface cannot be ascertained, resulting in vehicle damage due to hidden potholes.
Please note that getting stuck in the sand and burning out the clutch or driving with your foot on the clutch and burning the clutch or leaving the road, damaging the radiator to lose water, and continuing to drive until the engine is damaged, are not mechanical failures and you will have to bear the cost of the repairs.

Only Namibian laws are applicable. Jurisdiction is Windhoek, Namibia.

ZERO EXCESS

Only applies in case of an accident, tyre & glass damage, or theft.
However, if any damages are caused to the vehicle due to negligence on the part of the renter, the renter will be responsible for the cost of such damage and repairs arising.
If damages occur to the vehicle’s engine or body whilst driving through water, zero excess does not apply. The renter will be responsible for all cost arising due to water damage.
(Negligence: Applies when accidents or damages occur with still-standing objects, i.e. Tree, pole, etc.)
Please Note: Only two tires and one windscreen are covered under the zero excess option.
(Price per tyre, not more than N $ 2500.00)

Zero Excess option cannot be compared with the European “Vollkasko” or “All Risk” insurance, where all damages are covered independent of the cause or the guilt.

SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENTS:

Single Vehicle Accidents include, but are not limited to, loss of vehicle control, reversing into a tree or post, collision with an animal, or any other accident not involving a third party. Irrespective of speed or road conditions, the renter shall be liable for damages up to N$100 000.00, including recovery costs.

Please make sure you are always alert and drive according to the speed limit within the parks as well as in areas with high volume of animal activity crossing or alongside the roads.
Always be aware of your surroundings and handle the vehicle as if it were your own.

WARNING:

Be aware of illegal and reckless overtaking of other/oncoming vehicles.
Be aware of the correct tyre pressure on challenging stretches, as it is explained to you, to avoid unnecessary recovery and costs thereafter.

REQUIREMENTS

A valid, unendorsed international driver’s license and passport or I.D. must be produced by the lessee or authorized driver. The minimum age of the applicant/lessee’s driver is 23 years. We do not charge any additional driver’s fee. There can be a total of 3 additional drivers. Please note that drivers not listed on the rental agreement are not insured.
The vehicle must be returned in a clean state as the check-in can only be done on a clean vehicle. By this we do not mean you have to give the car back as clean as you get it, but it must not be covered in mud and have half the Namib Desert on the inside. All you need to do to keep the dust out of the vehicle is set the vent on outside air, keep the fan on and the windows closed. If you are driving a Single/Double Cab, also open the window of the canopy on the one side to form an air circulation. Please note we do charge N$400.00 for sticker removal.
Cars are delivered with an empty fuel tank, and the lessee returns the vehicle with an empty fuel tank on termination. All our vehicles use Diesel.
Vehicles may not be taken outside the borders of Namibia without prior written approval of the Lessor.
Also note that our insurance covers South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia
Other counties have to be pre-arranged with our Insurance Company. Please enquire ahead of time.
You will be required to purchase third party insurance at the Zambian/Zimbabwean border as well as pay for carbon tax.
The renter may under no circumstances pick up hitchhiker or any other people along the road or use the vehicle for transporting goods or move freight.
The client will be responsible for the towing costs to the closest Namibian border should an accident/collision occur in Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe and the vehicle cannot be driven further.

REPLACEMENT & SUBSTITUTE VEHICLE

The contract is for the rented vehicle only. If you should have an accident and the vehicle is damaged in such a way that you cannot continue your journey, it is a new contract and excess for a new vehicle. Please note that 90% of non-Namibian accidents do not involve another car. People run off the road, drive into ditches, hit animals, roll the vehicle, etc.
In the case of an accident/breakdown where the lessee is liable, the lessee will be liable for all the tow-in and related costs of the vehicle and the recovery of the vehicle to the lessors place of business.
In the event of any booked vehicle not being available, African Tracks 4×4 Car Hire reserves the right to provide a substitute vehicle.
Renter is liable for the total replacement cost for loss of car keys/remote, number plates, wheel caps and mud flaps.

BREAKDOWN BACKUP

Our vehicles are well maintained, but in the case of a *mechanical breakdown we use the following procedure: You phone our 24-hour breakdown number (+264 81 128 0266) and we will ask you to go to a specific person or garage to establish whether they can fix the vehicle. The vehicle is under warranty so there is no cost involved for a mechanical failure. It should be noted that damage to the clutch due to incorrect driving style, loss of coolant that leads to engine damage is at the expense of the lessee.
When we have established that the vehicle cannot be repaired, we will send a replacement vehicle from Windhoek, and the time this will take depends on where you are situated. Never abandon the vehicle, as you will be held responsible if the vehicle gets stripped.
*Mechanical breakdown can also be caused due to reckless driving maneuvers on the renter’s part, causing stress on the engine and other mechanical parts. If this has been established, by a licensed mechanic, the renter will be held liable for all costs involved.
This also includes any damages caused to a vehicle and/or its engine by driving in/through deep water and will be entirely the renter’s responsibility and the renter will be charged for the full amount of the damages.

Only B, C and D road may be driven with the vehicles. The latest Namibian maps will be available in our office. No off-road driving is allowed.
No dune, beach or water driving (rivers, swamps, and sea) is allowed where the water level reaches higher than the axle of the car. No Fishing. No backup will be provided and renter is reliable for all breakdown costs (towing etc.)
Areas with no or limited backup or where no technical backup can be guaranteed within 24hrs, like Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kaokoland and Bushmanland within Namibia, the renter enters at own risk. Backup can only be provided through third parties. The renter is liable for all costs resulting from damages, tow-ins, transfers and repairs except in case of costs resulting from a mechanical breakdown, which is covered.

MED RESCUE

Medical rescue is not included in the rental, but is available should you wish to contact them directly.
Please call the medical rescue service only if the injured person needs medical attention.
Please advise our office as soon as possible when an accident has occurred.

The relevant emergency numbers are:

Swakopmund: 064 – 400 700
Walvis Bay: 064 – 200 200
Other regions: 061 – 230 505 / 061 – 249 777

The supplier of this service is SOS International (Namibia) and is used to bring the injured from the scene of the accident to the nearest hospital.

If you phone SOS International (Namibia) to collect you, all expenses made by SOS International (Namibia) will be for your own account.

NAMIBIAN ROADS

We have 3 (Three) kinds of roads in Namibia:
B-Roads
C-Roads
D-Roads
B-roads are our main asphalt roads. They are normally in a good condition although you can find potholes from time to time. The speed limit on these roads is 120km/h.
C-roads are some asphalt and some gravel roads. The gravel C-roads are where the most accidents happen and there is usually only one reason – ‘SPEED’. The speed limit on these roads is 80km/h, but sometimes even 40km/h is much too fast.
The D-roads are the minor gravel roads and hardly get maintained at all, so they are bad.
Accidents normally occur during the first part of the rental due to unfamiliarity or during the last part due to over confidence.
Basic road manners on the dirt roads are, in the case of oncoming cars, slow down and move as far left as the road allows you to (not off the road), so as to give each other space. Should someone want to overtake you, the same procedure applies – move left and slow down. When you want to overtake another vehicle, make sure that they know you are behind them, use your headlights and hooter if necessary. Overtaking maneuvers can cause flying debris. Never overtake when the dust of the vehicle ahead clouds your vision. In very dusty conditions switch on your headlights for better visibility to other road users.
Driving late in the afternoon, at night or early mornings can be very dangerous due to animals crossing the roads. Please avoid it at all costs. Drive only from sunrise to sunset on any B or C roads! Driving outside of these times is very risky and will be at own risk! This does not include driving within Parks or around towns. Any incidents that occur outside of these times will be the client’s responsibility and cost.
Always keep the vehicle in the tracks. Changing tracks safely on a gravel road can only be performed at very low speed.
Avoid abrupt swerving maneuvers, as they will inevitably lead to the vehicle leaving the road and overturning.
Never apply full brakes or attempt to over steer the vehicle back on track. Be on the lookout for potholes, sand risings and thicker gravel. In bright daylight most of these obstacles are only visible at very close range. A river, which is in flood, should never be crossed. Gravel road driving is ‘Slow Motion Driving‘, i.e. do nothing quickly.
Gravel roads are extremely slippery after rain. Also watch out for places where water has damaged the surface of the road.

TRACKING:

Our vehicles are fitted with a tracking device. Should you have an accident and this device shows that you were over the indicated speed limit your excess waiver will not cover the damages on the vehicle.

Do not be alarmed. The tracking device will sound a warning alarm if you exceed the speed limit. Driving over the speed limit will be cause for contract breach which will make all insurance cover null and void.

NORMAL WEAR & TEAR

We regard small stone chips at the lower part of the vehicle and normal tyre wear as fair wear and tear and will not charge for that. Tyres where the tread is broken due to high speed and wheel spin will be for your account. Tyres that are cut on the side of the wheel are very dangerous, so please don’t fix – rather replace. Normal punctures from nails or other sharp objects on the tread can be repaired as long as they are not too big. Please note that 90% of flat tyres are due to speed and incorrect tyre pressures. Potholes and objects cannot be avoided when the speed is too high.
Sandblasting occurs mostly along the western side of Namibia. Driving through sandstorms damages the glass and paint and will be for your account (up to the excess amount). To avoid damage just stop the car.
If you pick up a chip on the windscreen and it is not too big we will repair the chip instead of replacing the whole windscreen.
PLEASE NOTE: African Tracks has the right to decide whether to repair or replace any damages done to the vehicle or its equipment.

RETURNING THE VEHICLE:
AT THE END OF YOUR RENTAL PERIOD, MAKE SURE YOU RETURN THE VEHICLE AT THE PRE-ARRANGED TIME. IF YOU THINK YOU WILL BE DELAYED, PLEASE INFORM US IN ADVANCE, OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE FINED N$450.00.