This depends on what you want on your trip. You have three options: a 4x4 car, a basic 4x4 jeep with a rooftop tent, and a more 'luxurious' kinda 4x4 jeep with a rooftop tent. Let's start with option 1.
OUR TOP PICK: Toyota land cruiser double cab V8
If you plan to camp a lot, as we did, and drive through Botswana and Namibia, this jeep is a must on your adventurous road trip. Botswana is much wilder than Namibia. The roads are less accessible, so you'll appreciate a good 4 x 4. Also, considering that the animals in the national parks roam free in Botswana, I liked having a rooftop tent with a ladder inside the car. The extra space in the sleeping area is just a big bonus! This way, putting off and on your clothes and shoes inside the van is easy. A major Mimi's tip: don't leave anything outside. Because wild animals are curious creatures, there's a chance that the animals will investigate everything you left outside the car. Because this van is spacious, we created a little toilet inside our sleeping 'cabin.' If you have to pee during the night, DON'T go outside. Because the most dangerous animals are active when the sun sets. The price per day builds upon how long you rent. We paid around 120 euros/day. If your budget can handle this, go for this one, it won't disappoint.
THE I-DON'T-WANNA-CAMP OPTION:
If you're not into camping, you don't need a car with a rooftop tent. But I recommend taking a car with 4 x 4. We didn't need the 4 x 4 many times in Namibia (for Botswana, it's a different story), but when you need it, you will be happy to have it!
THE BASIC OPTION:
Assuming that you like to switch between lodging and camping, take the Toyota Hilux. It's around 90 euros a day, and it's fully equipped. From coffee mugs to a fridge to store your food. It's all there. If you're not as scared as me, go for this one. To me, the Toyota land cruiser double cab V8 was a safer option. I always think about the worse scenarios that could happen, so I wanted a strong tent with a ladder inside and some space to move around. Many people camp with a tent on the ground and manage just fine. But be aware that animals visit your camp space every night when camping in Botswana. (; Therefore, I felt much safer in our Toyota Land Cruiser, and I enjoyed every animal visiting us.
Want to learn more about sharing your camping with wildlife? Check it out here. (still working on this one)
What about the tire pressure?
Changing your tire pressure is expected in Namibia because of the road conditions. To be specific:
Deep sand: 1.6 bar
Gravel road: 1.8 - 2 bar
Normal road: 2.4 bar
Changing your tire pressure means having more grip on the road and having fewer problems with flat tires. This is a common problem on your road trip. Don't panic. Your car will be fully supplied with the tools you need. When we arrived at 'Autovermietung Savannah,' they took their time to explain everything. Lucky for us, we had no tire problems for five weeks.
Mimi's tip: If you drive in deep sand, for example, the last 4 km to the Deadvlei. We recommend you to put the tire pressure lower than two, keep your gear shift at two and keep going. Never touch your breaks. If you do this, it will be an easy drive to Deadvlei. If this scares you, you can take a shuttle bus for the last 4 km. My fiance is adventurous and likes to do this, and he managed pretty well. On our way back, we saw some vehicles that didn't make it through. (: It's sad to say, but you can't help the stuck cars in this area because if you stop, you'll probably get stuck too. And another tip, don't drive too close to the jeep in front of you. Because when he gets stuck, you need some space to get around it. Drive safe. (;
Extra Mimi's tip: if you hire a jeep with the spare wheel underneath the van, you'll get stuck easily when driving through deep sand. This is extremely important if you want to drive through Botswana.
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