Transport in Namibia
Encyclopedia
Road
Namibia's road network is regarded as one of the best on the continent; road construction and maintenance adheres to international standards. It consists of 25,000 km of gravelGravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
roads and 9,000 km of earth-graded roads. Due to low traffic volume only about 6,000 km are tarred.
The major highways in Namibia are:
- B1B1 road (Namibia)The B1 is one of the most important roads in Namibia, passing through the centre of the country in a north-south direction. It connects Noordoewer on the South African border with Oshikango in the north on the Angolan border...
from NoordoewerNoordoewerNoordoewer is a town in southern Namibia. Its name means 'North Bank' in Afrikaans, in reference to the north bank of the Orange River, on which it is located...
(South African border) to OshikangoOshikangoOshikango is a village in northern Namibia and a border post to Angola. Since 2004 it is part of the town of Helao Nafidi but still maintains its own village council. It is the district capital of the Oshikango Constituency...
(Angolan border), 1694 km - B2B2 road (Namibia)The B2 is a major road in Namibia. The highway runs east-west between the major sea port of Walvis Bay and the nation's capital Windhoek....
from Walvis BayWalvis BayWalvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
to OkahandjaOkahandjaOkahandja is a town of 14,000 inhabitants in Otjozondjupa Region, central Namibia, and the district capital of the Okahandja electoral constituency. It is known as the Garden Town of Namibia. It is located 70km north of Windhoek on the B1 road...
, 285 km - B3B3 road (Namibia)The B3 is a national highway of Namibia. It passes through the Karas Region of Namibia in the south for 160 kilometres, connecting Nakop near South Africa to the B1 at Grünau.-References:*http://www.hentiesbaytourism.com/touristinfo.htm...
from NakopNakopNakop is a small town and border post in southeastern Namibia, on its border with South Africa. It lies ten kilometres north of the Orange River....
(South African border) to GrünauGrünau, NamibiaGrünau is a settlement in southern Namibia, west of Karasburg in the Karas region. It is linked to the South African border posts near Noordoewer via the B1 and Nakop via the B3. Grünau belongs to the Karasburg electoral constituency.-References:...
, 324 km - B4B4 road (Namibia)The B4 is a national highway of Namibia. It passes through the Karas Region of Namibia in the south-west in a West-East direction for 330 kilometres, connecting Lüderitz on the coast to Keetmanshoop....
from LüderitzLüderitzLüderitz is a harbour town in south-west Namibia, lying on one of the least hospitable coasts in Africa. It is a port developed around Robert Harbour and Shark Island.- Overview :...
to KeetmanshoopKeetmanshoopKeetmanshoop is a city in Karas Region, southern Namibia, lying on the Trans-Namib Railway from Windhoek to Upington in South Africa. It is named after Johann Keetman, a German industrialist and founder of the city....
, 351 km - B6B6 road (Namibia)The B6 is a national highway of eastern-central Namibia. It is part of the Trans Kalahari highway route, with a length of 290 kilometres and connects Windhoek with Botswana....
from WindhoekWindhoekWindhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
to BuiteposBuiteposBuitepos is a small settlement in the Omaheke Region in eastern Namibia. It is one of the border posts between Namibia and Botswana....
(Botswana border), 335 km - B8B8 road (Namibia)The B8 road often known as the Golden Highway is one of the national highways of Namibia. It leads from the capital Windhoek to the Caprivi Strip, in the Otavi triangle....
from OtaviOtaviOtavi is a town of 4,000 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is the district capital of the Otavi electoral constituency. Most of the area is dolomitic and the district was in the past renowned for its mineral wealth...
to Katima MuliloKatima MuliloKatima Mulilo is the capital of the Caprivi Strip, Namibia's far north–east extension into central Southern Africa. It comprises two electoral constituencies, Katima Mulilo Rural and Katima Mulilo Urban...
(Zambian border), 837 km
There are more than 237,000 cars registered in Namibia, about half of them in the capital Windhoek.
Railway
- In 2005, a line to Ondangwa near the Angolan border was under construction.
Railways in Namibia are operated by TransNamib
TransNamib
TransNamib is the railway parastatal of Namibia. Organised as a holding company, it provides freight by rail and road as well as passenger services. Its administration is located in Windhoek.-History:...
.
Total track:
2,382 km
Total narrow gauge track:
2,382 km gauge; single track
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
(2002, 1995)
Railway links to adjacent countries
Angola - There is currently no rail connection to Angola, although an agreement has been signed for link. Angola uses the same as Namibia. gauge (Rail transport in AngolaRail transport in Angola
Rail transport in Angola. There are three separate unconnected lines - the Luanda Railway , the Benguela Railway and the Moçâmedes Railway A fourth system once linked Gunza and Gabala....
) 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 rail link between Botswanan coal fields and Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
was expected to begin in a year and a half. (Rail transport in Botswana) South Africa
Transport in South Africa
-Roads:Approximately ten thousand people die on roads in South Africa yearly.The national speed limit is between 40 or 80 km/h in residential areas and 120 km/h on national roads/freeways/motorways....
- There is a rail connection to South Africa; the two countries use the same gauge. (Rail transport in South Africa
Rail transport in South Africa
Rail transport in South Africa is the most important element of the country's transport infrastructure. All major cities are connected by rail, and South Africa's railway system is the most highly developed in Africa...
) 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. (Rail transport in Zambia
Rail transport in Zambia
Rail transport in Zambia is primarily provided by two companies:* TAZARA Railway* Zambia Railways Limited-Railway links with adjacent countries: DR Congo - yes, Ndola to Sakania then Lubumbashi - , freight only. . The current operating status of Chililabombwe-DR Congo link not known...
)
Infrastructure
- GobabisGobabisGobabis is a town in eastern Namibia. It is the regional capital of the Omaheke Region, and the district capital of the Gobabis electoral constituency. Gobabis is situated down the B6 motorway from Windhoek to Botswana. The town is from the Buitepos border post with Botswana, and serves as an...
- proposed dry port 227 east of WindhoekWindhoekWindhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
Maps
Towns served by rail
- OshikangoOshikangoOshikango is a village in northern Namibia and a border post to Angola. Since 2004 it is part of the town of Helao Nafidi but still maintains its own village council. It is the district capital of the Oshikango Constituency...
- (Angola-Namibia border) - Ondangwa
- TsumebTsumebTsumeb is a city of 15,000 inhabitants and the largest town in Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Tsumeb is the home of the world-famous Tsumeb mine, and the "gateway to the north" of Namibia. It is the closest town to the Etosha National Park...
- railheadRailheadThe word railhead is a railway term with two distinct meanings, depending upon its context.Sometimes, particularly in the context of modern freight terminals, the word is used to denote a terminus of a railway line, especially if the line is not yet finished, or if the terminus interfaces with... - OtaviOtaviOtavi is a town of 4,000 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is the district capital of the Otavi electoral constituency. Most of the area is dolomitic and the district was in the past renowned for its mineral wealth...
- junction for GrootfonteinGrootfonteinGrootfontein is a city of 14,200 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is one of the three towns in the Otavi Triangle, situated on the B8 national road that leads from Windhoek to the Caprivi Strip... - GrootfonteinGrootfonteinGrootfontein is a city of 14,200 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is one of the three towns in the Otavi Triangle, situated on the B8 national road that leads from Windhoek to the Caprivi Strip...
- branch terminus. - OutjoOutjoOutjo is a city of 6,000 inhabitants in the Kunene Region of Namibia. It is the district capital of Outjo Constituency...
- railheadRailheadThe word railhead is a railway term with two distinct meanings, depending upon its context.Sometimes, particularly in the context of modern freight terminals, the word is used to denote a terminus of a railway line, especially if the line is not yet finished, or if the terminus interfaces with... - OtjiwarongoOtjiwarongoOtjiwarongo is a city of 20,000 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia. It is the district capital of the Otjiwarongo electoral constituency and also the capital of Otjozondjupa....
- junction for OutjoOutjoOutjo is a city of 6,000 inhabitants in the Kunene Region of Namibia. It is the district capital of Outjo Constituency... - Omaruru, Namibia
- KalkfeldKalkfeldKalkfeld is a settlement in the Otjozondjupa region of Namibia. It is situated halfway between Omaruru and Otjiwarongo on the national road C33 and belongs to the Omatako electoral constituency. The place normally receives an annual average rainfall of , although in the 2010/2011 rainy season were...
- SeeheimSeeheimSeeheim is a settlement in Karas Region, southern Namibia. The only notable structures in Seeheim today are the hotel and the railway station; only a handful of people live there. Seeheim belongs to the Keetmanshoop Rural electoral constituency.- History :...
- junction - GobabisGobabisGobabis is a town in eastern Namibia. It is the regional capital of the Omaheke Region, and the district capital of the Gobabis electoral constituency. Gobabis is situated down the B6 motorway from Windhoek to Botswana. The town is from the Buitepos border post with Botswana, and serves as an...
- railheadRailheadThe word railhead is a railway term with two distinct meanings, depending upon its context.Sometimes, particularly in the context of modern freight terminals, the word is used to denote a terminus of a railway line, especially if the line is not yet finished, or if the terminus interfaces with... - Karibib -
- UsakosUsakosUsakos is a city on the banks of river Khan, 140 kilometres north-east of Swakopmund in the Erongo Region of Namibia. It is located on the B2 , the main road between the Walvis Bay and Johannesburg. The town has 3,000 inhabitants and owns of land...
- junction TsumebTsumebTsumeb is a city of 15,000 inhabitants and the largest town in Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Tsumeb is the home of the world-famous Tsumeb mine, and the "gateway to the north" of Namibia. It is the closest town to the Etosha National Park...
v WindhoekWindhoekWindhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
. - Arandis, NamibiaArandis, NamibiaArandis, Namibia is a town in Erongo Region, Namibia. It is also a crossing loop on the Trans-Namib Railway. It has been called the Uranium Capital of the World as it is located just 15 km outside the world's largest open-pit uranium mine, the Rössing Uranium Mine.Established for the workers of...
- crossing loop - SwakopmundSwakopmundSwakopmund is a city on the coast of northwestern Namibia, west of Windhoek, Namibia's capital. It is the capital of the Erongo administrative district. As a seaside resort, the weather is cooler here in December to January so the territorial administration moves to Swakopmund for these months...
- port - Walvis BayWalvis BayWalvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
- the most efficient port on the African continent. - KarasburgKarasburgKarasburg is city of 4,000 inhabitants in the Karas Region of southern Namibia and the district capital of the Karasburg electoral constituency. It lies at the heart of the southern Namibian sheep farming industry.- Location :...
- near South Africa border - OkahandjaOkahandjaOkahandja is a town of 14,000 inhabitants in Otjozondjupa Region, central Namibia, and the district capital of the Okahandja electoral constituency. It is known as the Garden Town of Namibia. It is located 70km north of Windhoek on the B1 road...
- WindhoekWindhoekWindhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
- capital - junction - RehobothRehoboth, NamibiaRehoboth is a town of 21,000 inhabitants in central Namibia just north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Located on the B1 road, 90 kilometres south of the Namibian capital Windhoek, Rehoboth lies on a high elevation plateau with several natural hot-water springs. It receives sparse mean annual rainfall...
2007
- December - Progress
- 26 October - Talks between Namibia and Angola regarding a link between Namibia and ChamuteteChamuteteChamutete is a town in southern Angola. Chamutete is also spelled Techamutete. It lies in Huíla Province.- Transport :It is currently terminus for a branch railway from Dongo on the Southern Railway system. In 2007, talks between Angola and Namibia were considering the interlinking of their...
in AngolaAngolaAngola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
.
- 18 October - According to an Engineering News report, a 700 km extension of the GrootfonteinGrootfonteinGrootfontein is a city of 14,200 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is one of the three towns in the Otavi Triangle, situated on the B8 national road that leads from Windhoek to the Caprivi Strip...
branch is planned, to Katima MuliloKatima MuliloKatima Mulilo is the capital of the Caprivi Strip, Namibia's far north–east extension into central Southern Africa. It comprises two electoral constituencies, Katima Mulilo Rural and Katima Mulilo Urban...
on the Zambian border. A feasibility study by March 2008. Walvis Bay Corridor Group says "Our focus is on trade facilitation through a cheaper and faster route. We are targeting the copper mines in Zambia. Katima MuliloKatima MuliloKatima Mulilo is the capital of the Caprivi Strip, Namibia's far north–east extension into central Southern Africa. It comprises two electoral constituencies, Katima Mulilo Rural and Katima Mulilo Urban...
is about 130 km from the nearest railway in Zambia as the crow flies, once the Zambesi has been bridged. The lightly laid MulobeziMulobeziMulobezi is a small town in the Southern Province of Zambia, and the centre of its timber industry. Timber extends into Southern Province with which the town is economically linked....
branch from LivingstoneLivingstone, ZambiaLivingstone or Maramba is a historic colonial city and present capital of the Southern Province of Zambia, a tourism centre for the Victoria Falls lying north of the Zambezi River, and a border town with road and rail connections to Zimbabwe on the other side of the Falls...
( 80 km or so ) would need upgrading, although a shorter and straighter route might be considered.
2008
- Proposed electrified line through Kalahari DesertKalahari DesertThe Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa extending , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. The Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert...
to PalapyePalapyePalapye is a large town in Botswana, situated about halfway between Francistown and Gaborone . Over the years its position has made it a convenient stopover on one of Southern Africa's principal north–south rail and road routes...
in BotswanaTransport in BotswanaA sparsely populated, arid country, Botswana has nonetheless managed to incorporate much of its interior into the national economy. An "inner circle" highway connecting all major towns and district capitals is completely paved, and the all-weather Trans-Kalahari Highway connects the country to...
.
Airports
135 (2002, 1999 est.)Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport
Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport
Although Hosea Kutako International Airport is the main international airport of Namibia, yet there are no direct flights from/to this airport to/from countries other than its neighbouring countries , Zimbabwe, Ghana & Germany. Therefore most of the passengers flying into / out of Namibia must have...
is the main international airport in the country.
Airports - with paved runways
total:
21 (2002), 22 (1999 est.)
over 3,047 m:
2 (2002, 1999 est.)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
2 (2002, 1999 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
13 (2002), 15 (1999 est.)
914 to 1,523 m:
4 (2002, 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total:
114 (2002) 113 (1999 est.)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
2 (2002, 1999 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
22 (2002 est.), 21 (1999 est.)
914 to 1,523 m:
71 (2002), 69 (1999 est.)
under 914 m:
19 (2002), 21 (1999 est.)
See also
- NamibiaNamibiaNamibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
- TransNamib
- Namibian Airports - History, data, airlines, parking, car rental, photos, planespotting,...