African roads can be a concern for self-drive tourists who are not familiar with them. Slade Thompson, Executive for Commercial and Licensees at Avis Budget Southern Africa offers some helpful tips.
Check your credit cards
Always ensure that the country you are visiting accepts your credit card. While most credit cards are accepted, it’s no fun to make it all the way to your destination only to have your card declined at the doorstep.
Yellow fever
It is always a good idea to check the yellow fever requirements for each country. It is a cautionary measure taken by a lot of nations and it is wise to know how stringent the country you’re visiting is in this regard. This information can be easily sourced online, so make sure to do your research on requirements.
Don’t worry about airports
Africa may be considered part of the Third World but travellers can be pleasantly surprised by the quality of airports, especially in Southern Africa. Many regions have new airports under construction.
Watch the roads
There are varying degrees of road quality between regions. Whether it’s potholes, road signs or dirt roads, travellers need to be aware. Don’t be afraid to ask your rental agent to advise you on travelling in the country you are driving in. If the roads are considered dangerous, consider renting a larger vehicle like an SUV. Always stick to the speed limit. These regulations exist for a reason and on uncertain roads it pays to have the time to swerve out of the way of oncoming obstacles that could lead to an accident.
Sign your waivers
It is for the above reasons that we always recommend you sign any extra waivers offered in your country of rental. Each country will have different options but rather be safe than sorry as you don’t want to be stuck without cover.
The language barrier
One of the complaints we often get is that our representatives are not fluent in English. The fact is that English is not spoken in some countries and all our staff will try their best to help you in English. We do try to hire people with multilingual capabilities, but they are few and far between in the African service industry.
Keep your tank full
Try to ensure that your petrol tank is always topped up wherever possible. Quite often, you have to travel long distances without a filling station.
Book in advance
Rental fleets tend to be smaller in African countries, so don’t expect there to be availability at the door. You need to book well in advance, especially during peak seasons, which is generally from August to October.
Prepare to pay more
The cost of renting could differ substantially between countries. Every region has different levies on vehicle purchases and the availability of parts is often a problem, meaning it costs a lot more to get parts to that country.
Do your research
If you are going to be travelling in a country that you are not familiar with, you need to get up to speed on the political and social climate. Driving in some of these countries can tend to be overwhelming for some drivers as road etiquette can be wildly different and ruthless compared with the seemingly tough streets of a busy South African city.
Crossing borders
If you rent a vehicle and intend to cross borders, it could create some complications. At Avis, cross-border travel options can be made available upon request. Local rental agents can advise on the best options are for border posts.
