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Namibia is a big but very sparsely populated country in Southern Africa. Hitchhiking is pretty common simply because the public transport network is not very efficient and many places (such as [[Luderitz]] are accessible almost exclusively by thumb or your own vehicle. Having that said many hitchhikers actually hitchhiking as buses and pay for the ride. So bear in mind that some drivers might expect money but a quick question such as "is this lift for free" clarifies things. Normally most people will take you anyway, especially if you look like a ewestern western backpacker/.
When hitchhiking in Namibia the distances are huge and towns aswell as villages are generally small and very far in between which means that getting a short lift is very rare and a "average" lift is going to be something like 300-400 kilometers.
=== Get in ===
When coming from [[Botswana]] or [[South Africa]] border procedures are generally quick and painless. If you arrive from [[Zambia]] or [[Angola]] they might check you more cautiously though.
Generally most nationalities are allowed a 90 day visa to the country but bear in mind that some border (such as the border zith South Africa close to [[Upington]]) will actually ask you for how long you intend to stay in Namibia and then give you a visa valid for the nu,ber of days you request. Just say your intending to stay for longer than your actually intending to stay so you have the oppertunity to prolong your stay if you would like to later.
Generally a lot of the traffic at the border is heading to [[Windhoek]] or past [[Windhoek]] en-route to the un-official german colony of [[Swakupmund]] so you are likely to get a long and direct lift from the border.
=== Get around ===
Basically the road-network works like this;
''B''-roads are good quality asphalt roads.
''C''-roads are well-maintained gravel roads where many locals will go in up to 130 kilometers per hours (although tourists tend to go slower)/
''M''-roads are sometimes as good as ''C''-roads although sometimes a bit bumpy.
On some gravel roads there is quite a steady amount of traffic and people always seem to stop on those roads while some asphalt roads (such as the ''B4'') has very little traffic. Although it seems like someone always shows up to take you wherever you wanna go, even if it's far out of their way.
=== Bear in mind ===
¤ Distances are big
¤ It's sunny and warm 300 days per year
¤ Almost no conveniant hitchhiking-spots have any shadow
¤ Sometimes there seems like there are no vehicles
As an effect of these factors you should;
'''1''' Bring plenty of water.
'''2''' Have some protection from the sun, even if you consider yourself to be immune.
