View source for Transport in Namibia

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This article deals with the system of '''transport in Namibia''', both public and private.

==General==
===History===
The beginnings of organised travel and transport routes in the territory of [[South West Africa]], today [[Namibia]], have not yet been established. This is due to the lack of any written records relating to roads prior to the twilight of the 19th century.{{sfn|Dierks|2001|loc=[https://www.klausdierks.com/Namibian_Roads/1.htm chapter 1 - Introduction to the History of Roads in Namibia]}} Archaeological work has dated one stretch of road in the south-western [[Brandberg Massif]] to {{circa}} 1250 [[AD]]. Although no other such early examples have been found, it is certain that this road was not the only one of its kind.{{sfn|Dierks|2001|loc=[https://www.klausdierks.com/Namibian_Roads/2.htm Chapter 2.1 - The Pre-historic era circa 1250 - circa 1770]}}

The first permanent road, established for [[ox wagon]]s, was built at the initiative of [[Heinrich Schmelen]], [[Rhenish]] missionary in [[Bethanie, Namibia|Bethanie]] in the early 19th century. It led from Bethanie to [[Angra Pequeña]], today the town of [[Lüderitz]], and was intended to serve the natural harbour there in order to become independent of the [[Cape Colony]].{{sfn|Dierks|2001|loc=[https://www.klausdierks.com/Namibian_Roads/2.htm Chapter 2.1 - The Pre-historic era circa 1250 - circa 1770]}}

== Road ==
[[File:Sandstorm_while_driving_from_Swakopmund_to_Walfish_Bay,_2005.jpg|thumb|The [[B2 road (Namibia)|B2]] between [[Walvis Bay]] and [[Swakopmund]]. Windy conditions and the proximity of sand dunes lead to reduced visibility, and sand covering the tarmac]]
[[File:Road near Luderitz in Namibia.jpg|thumb|[[B4 road (Namibia)|B4]] highway near [[Luderitz]]]]
[[File:Road to Sossusvlei 2019.jpg|thumb|Point of view on the D826 road to [[Sossusvlei]].]]
Namibia's road network is regarded as one of the best on the continent; road construction and maintenance adheres to international standards.<ref name="NE">{{cite news
 |url          = http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=39848
 |title        = RA needs over N$1 billion
 |last         = Heita
 |first        = Desie
 |date         = 27 July 2011
 |newspaper    = [[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]]
 |access-date  = 27 July 2011
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120509214408/http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=39848
 |archive-date = 9 May 2012
 |url-status     = dead
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref> The country's 48,875.27&nbsp;km roads (2017) are administered by the ''Roads Authority'', a state-owned enterprise established by Act 17 of 1999. Due to low traffic volumes the majority of roads are not tarred. The distribution of road surfaces is:<ref name="RA">{{cite news
|title=Get to know Namibia's National Road Network
|date=March 2012
|work=supplement to several Namibian newspapers
|publisher=Namibia Roads Authority}}</ref>
* {{convert|6,664|km}} standard [[bitumen]] road
* {{convert|412|km}} low-volume bitumen road. These roads have the same base layer as gravel roads but are covered with a thin layer of bitumen to reduce maintenance cost and dust formation.
* {{convert|25,710|km}} standard [[gravel]] road, covered with imported gravel.
* {{convert|11,460|km}} earth-graded road. These roads are built by clearing the vegetation and blading the surface. Compaction is achieved by the traffic using the road. Some of these roads are not graded at all but just consist of earth or sand tracks separated by vegetation. These tracks are in use where a daily usage of less than five vehicles is expected. 
* {{convert|288|km}} salt road. These roads consist of concentrated salt water and [[gypsum]]-rich material. They are only built near the Atlantic coast inside the mist belt.

=== Roads by region (2017) ===
{| class="wikitable sortable zebra" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Region
! Bitumen<br /><small>(km)</small>
! Gravel<br /><small>(km)</small>
! Salt<br /><small>(km)</small>
! Earth<br /><small>(km)</small>
! Others<br /><small>(km)</small>
! Total<br /><small>(km)</small>
! Kilometers<br />per 1000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Erongo]]
| 466.9 
| 1748.3
| 269.9{{0}}
| 1025.7
| 14.2
| '''3524.98'''
| 55.5
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Hardap]]
| 654.7
| 4566.4
| 0,0
| 1358.9
| 0.0
| '''6597.95'''
| 59.9
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Karas Region, Namibia|Karas]]
| 1314.7
| 4989.0
| 5.0
| 1347.9
| 2.1
| '''7658.62'''
| 47.6
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Kavango East]]
| 344.4
| 465.9
| 0.0
| 673.2
| 82.5
| '''1656.95'''
| 64.7
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Kavango West]]
| 428.0
| 218.8
| 0.0
| 629.3
| 24.3
| '''1300.41'''
| 56.0
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Khomas]]
| 361.8
| 1729.0
| 0.0
| 666.2
| 70.9
| '''2827.85'''
| 76.8
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Kunene Region|Kunene]]
| 515.5
| 2644.1
| 25.0
| 1524.5
| 186.6
| '''4895.68'''
| 33.9
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Ohangwena]]
| 359.2
| 316.9
| 0.0
| 350.2
| 303.5
| '''1329.71'''
| 125.4{{0}}
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Omaheke]]
| 445.4
| 2974.1
| 0.0
| 2055.0
| 33.6
| '''5508.09'''
| 73.8
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Omusati]]
| 726.4
| 486.8
| 0.0
| 750.6
| 261.8
| '''2225.58'''
| 163.2
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Oshana]]
| 129.2
| 261.7
| 0.0
| 178.2
| 182.6
| '''751.78'''
| 141.8
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Oshikoto]]
| 513.3
| 934.2
| 0.0
| 328.9
| 12.6
| '''1789.06'''
| 67.3
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Otjozondjupa]]
| 1137.6
| 4454.0
| 0.0
| 1702.6
| 66.1
| '''7360.35'''
| 69.9
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Zambezi Region|Zambezi]]
| 504.7 
| 257.4
| 0.0
| 697.4
| 79.8
| '''1539.26'''
| 78.8
|}

The major highways in Namibia are as follows:
* {{Jct|country=NAM|A|1}} ([[freeway]]) from [[Windhoek]] to [[Okahandja]], {{convert|74|km|mi|abbr=on}}.
* {{Jct|country=NAM|B|1}} in two discontinuous sections, first running {{convert|802|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Noordoewer]] (South African border) to the southern terminus of the A1 in [[Windhoek]], then resuming at the northern terminus of the A1 in [[Okahandja]] and running {{convert|665|km|mi|abbr=on}} to [[Oshikango]] (Angolan border).  Combined, the two sections have a length of {{convert|1467|km|mi|abbr=on}}.
* {{Jct|country=NAM|B|2}} from [[Walvis Bay]] to [[Okahandja]], {{convert|320|km|mi|abbr=on}}.
* {{Jct|country=NAM|B|3}} from [[Ariamsvlei]] (South African border) to [[Grünau, Namibia|Grünau]], {{convert|179|km|mi|abbr=on}}.
* {{Jct|country=NAM|B|4}} from [[Lüderitz]] to [[Keetmanshoop]], {{convert|334|km|mi|abbr=on}}.
* {{Jct|country=NAM|B|6}} from [[Windhoek]] to [[Buitepos]] (Botswana border), {{convert|318|km|mi|abbr=on}}.
* {{Jct|country=NAM|B|8}} from [[Otavi]] via [[Katima Mulilo]] to [[Ngoma, Namibia|Ngoma]] (Botswana border), {{convert|929|km|mi|abbr=on}}.
* {{Jct|country=NAM|B|10}} from the [[Ohangwena Region]] to [[Rundu]], {{convert|439|km|mi|abbr=on}}.
* {{Jct|country=NAM|B|11}} from [[Nkurenkuru]] to [[Katwitwi]] (Angolan border), {{convert|14|km|mi|abbr=on}}.
* {{Jct|country=NAM|B|14}} from [[Grootfontein]] to [[Gobabis]], {{convert|389|km|mi|abbr=on}}.
* {{Jct|country=NAM|B|15}} from [[Tsumeb]] to [[Mpungu]], {{convert|133|km|mi|abbr=on}}.

===Road accidents===
In 2018, there were about 393,062 cars registered in Namibia (169,911 in the capital Windhoek).<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.mvafund.com.na/index.php/shortcode/accordion/tab?download=116:road-crash-and-claims-report-2018| title = ''Crash and Claims Reports 2018.'' Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, 2018, p. 46.}}</ref> Namibia has a relatively high prevalence of road accidents, compared to its sparse population. In 2011, 491 people died in 2,846 crashes.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=28&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=91709&no_cache=1
|title=Road accidents claim 60 lives
|last=Smith
|first=Jana-Mari
|date=3 January 2012
|work=[[The Namibian]]}}</ref> Causes are often speeding and reckless driving, as well as general non-observance of traffic rules.<ref>{{cite news
 |url          = http://www.economist.com.na/general-news/22-general-news-2011/319-road-accidents-claim-more-lives
 |title        = Road accidents claim more lives
 |last         = Khobetsi
 |first        = Lorato
 |year         = 2011
 |work         = [[Namibia Economist]]
 |access-date   = 27 November 2012
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20151017170615/http://www.economist.com.na/general-news/22-general-news-2011/319-road-accidents-claim-more-lives
 |archive-date = 17 October 2015
 |url-status     = dead
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref> Stray animals are also a major cause of accidents, particularly in the [[Kavango Region]].<ref>{{cite news
 |url          = http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=41884&title=Gang%20attacks%20herders
 |title        = Stray animals major cause of accidents
 |last         = Matali
 |first        = Mutonga
 |work         = [[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]]
 |access-date   = 27 November 2012
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120527150857/http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=41884&title=Gang%20attacks%20herders
 |archive-date = 2012-05-27
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref>

== Railway ==
Rail transport in Namibia is operated on a 2,687-kilometre network by [[TransNamib]].
[[File:Namibia rail network map.svg|thumb|Map of the rail network of Namibia]] 
[[File:TransNamib near Kolmanskop.jpg|thumb|[[TransNamib]] train near [[Kolmanskop]].]]
{{main|Rail transport in Namibia}}

=== Railway links to adjacent countries ===

* [[Transportation in Angola|Angola]] - There is currently no rail connection to Angola, although an agreement has been signed for a link. Angola uses the same gauge,{{RailGauge|1067mm}}, as Namibia.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.afrol.com/articles/14973| title = Gauge}}</ref> ([[Rail transport in Angola]])
* [[Transportation in Botswana|Botswana]] - There is currently no rail link with Botswana, though the two countries use the same gauge. As of February 2011, construction on a [[Trans-Kalahari Railway|Trans-Kalahari rail link]] between Botswanan coal fields and [[Walvis Bay]] was expected to begin in a year and a half.<ref name="Expansion">[http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=133585 BusinessLive], retrieved February 17, 2011</ref> ([[Rail transport in Botswana]])
* [[Transport in South Africa|South Africa]] - There is a rail connection to South Africa; the two countries use the same {{RailGauge|1067mm}} gauge. ([[Rail transport in South Africa]])
* [[Transportation in Zambia|Zambia]] - There is currently no rail-link with Zambia, though the two countries use the same gauge. As of February 2011, there has been some talk of extending rail to the Zambian border.<ref name="Future expansion">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110208180603/http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2011/february/article/transkalahari-railway-to-steam-ahead-in-2012/ TransKalahari Railway to steam ahead in 2012], retrieved February 17, 2011</ref> ([[Rail transport in Zambia]])

== Ports and harbours ==
=== Atlantic Ocean ===

* [[Walvis Bay]] - [[railhead]]
* [[Lüderitz]] - [[railhead]]

== Merchant marine ==
none (2002, 1999 est.)

== Airports ==
[[Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport]] is the main international airport in the country. Two others international airports are [[Walvis Bay Airport]] and [[Eros Airport]] in Windhoek.
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Airports - with paved runways
|-
!rowspan="2"| Passengers !!colspan="2"| Number
|-
! 2002 !! 1999 est.
|-
| over 3,047 m || 2 || 2
|-
| 2,438 to 3,047 m || 2 || 2
|-
| 1,524 to 2,437 m || 13 || 15
|-
| 914 to 1,523 m || 4 || 3
|-
! Total !! 21 !! 22
|}

{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Airports - with unpaved runways
|-
!rowspan="2"| Passengers !!colspan="2"| Number
|-
! 2002 !! 1999 est.
|-
| 2,438 to 3,047 m || 2 || 2
|-
| 1,524 to 2,437 m || 22 || 21
|-
| 914 to 1,523 m || 71 || 69
|-
| under 914 m || 19 || 21
|-
! Total !! 114 !! 113
|}
{{Col-End}}

==References==
===Notes===
{{reflist}}

===Literature===
* {{Cite book | title=Namibian Roads in History from the 13th Century till Today | last=Dierks | first=Klaus | author-link=Klaus Dierks | publisher=Institut für Wirtschafts- und Sozialgeographie, [[Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität]] Frankfurt/Main | year=2001 | url=https://www.klausdierks.com/Namibian_Roads/index.html }}

{{Economy of Namibia}}
{{Africa in topic|Transport in}}
{{Highways of Namibia}}

[[Category:Transport in Namibia| ]]