normal to any US driver, excepting the fact that they drive on the left.
Even smaller gravel and sand roads are well packed down and safe. And
since Namibia is so sparsely populated, there are hardly any other
drivers to worry about. The primary road hazards of Namibia are the
various forms of wildlife that jump or run in front of vehicles. As in
the states, prime time for wildlife is dawn and dusk.
Kudus are agile, deer-like, moose-sized animals with long curly horns.
For some reason, it is the kudu's instinct to jump in front of, or into
moving vehicles. Combined with their size, this makes them the number
one wildlife road hazard in Namibia. Crashes with Kudu are so common in
Namibia that almost every Namibian I've spoken to has had this
experience. I have been in a car which only just clipped a kudu's tail,
thanks to our Peace Corps driver's reactions and 6th sense for detecting
kudu.
Oryx are slightly smaller than kudu but look very similar. Their main
distinguishing feature is perfectly straight horns. I was told it is
their instinct is to jump parallel with moving vehicles so it is more
rare for them to be involved in accidents, but their size still makes
them a danger.
Springbok are about the size of deer in the US, and look very similar to
deer, except that the males don't have the distinctive antlers of bucks
in the US. I have yet to get a good look at one, and it seems like they
are very wary of moving vehicles. That said, I ate springbok meat for
dinner today so they must get hit once in a while.
Warthogs in Namibia are about the size of large cats, but they are often
grazing by the side of the road in groups. I'm told they're hit
relatively often when they wander into the road. Because of their small
size, they're not a major hazard, although I'm told that they have more
mass than it seems.
Dik dik look exactly like deer sans antlers except they are the size of
a large dog. Yes, they are absurdly cute and the subject of many
inappropriate jokes. Unfortunately, they share instincts with the kudu
and are hit often. Due to their size and mass, they are not a major
hazard. They also fit conveniently into a large plastic bag (pictured)
and are delicious.
In Namibia, it is technically against conservation laws to personally
transport, prepare, and eat roadkill. People are supposed to report
roadkill so it can be donated. I can understand that this is to prevent
people from trying to hit things for a free meal, but the culture of
Namibia seems to be that it is acceptable to keep roadkill as long as
you share it. Practically speaking, nobody would purposely hit even a
dik dik because of possible damage to the vehicle.
