Namibia road closure update: MR118 – Rosh Pinah to Oranjemund! [update #2]

update (12 May 2025): The water levels along MR118 (Oranjemund-Rosh Pinah road) have subsided. Hence, the affected section on MR118 got officially reopened to traffic on 10 May 2025.

update (09 May 2025): The Namibian Roads Authority (RA) has informed the public that a section on the MR118 (Oranjemund-Rosh Pinah road) remains closed as there is still water along the sides, making it unsafe to reopen at this stage.

The Namibian Roads Authority (RA) has announced the closure of Main Road 118 (MR118), connecting Rosh Pinah and Oranjemund, effective from the evening of 07 May 2025. This precautionary measure is due to the rising water levels of the Orange River, which are expected to overtop the road overnight. Only emergency vehicles will be permitted passage under strict supervision.

Motorists are advised to use the following detour routes:

• Via Aus and Lüderitz (Namdeb Road):
• From Keetmanshoop, proceed via Aus and Lüderitz.
• Take the gravel road to Oranjemund.
• Operating hours: 07:00 – 15:00 daily.
• Important: Access is subject to NAMDEB's regulations. Travel is at motorists’ own risk.
• Only Light Delivery Vehicles (LDVs) and trucks are permitted; sedans and light vehicles are not allowed.
• Via Noordoewer and South Africa:
• From Keetmanshoop, travel via Grünau and Noordoewer.
• Cross into South Africa and proceed to Steinkopf, then Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay.
• Re-enter Namibia through the Oppenheimer Bridge to Oranjemund.

Motorists are urged to exercise caution, adhere to road regulations, and stay updated on further announcements from the Roads Authority.

Stay safe and plan your journey accordingly!

Namibia: MR118 (Rosh Pinah to Oranjemund) has been reopened!

The Namibian Roads Authority (RA), whose core business is to construct and maintain Namibia's road sector, has informed the public that the MR118 (Rosh Pinah to Oranjemund) has been reopened for public use on 08 March 2023. The water levels of the Orange River have subsided significantly to re-establish the traffic on affected sections. However, motorists are kindly reminded to exercise extreme caution and strictly adhere to the erected road traffic signs at all times.
The MR118 was closed for public use due to safety reasons, as water from the Orange River is covering the entire affected section.

Namibia: Rosh Pinah to Oranjemund road temporarily closed! [update]

update (01 February 2022): The Roads Authority (RA) is pleased to announce that MR118 (Rosh Pinah <> Oranjemund) has been re-opened for public use on 01 February 2022.

Namibia's Road Authority (RA), whose core business is to construct and maintain the country's road sector, has informed the public that the MR118 (Rosh Pinah <> Oranjemund) has been closed, with immediate effect, until further notice. This is a precautionary measure due to the rising water levels of the Orange River. Access on this route will be provided to emergency services vehicles only. The RA advises road users to use the Oranjemund <> Luderitz route in the interim. However, this road will be open to the public between 06:00 and 15:00 only. We'll keep you posted!

Namibia: FlyWestair to introduce new domestic routes!

Namibian privately-owned passenger airline FlyWestair is planning to introduce scheduled operations between Eros Airport (ERS) in Windhoek and Katima Mulilo Airport (MPA) in Katima Mulilo, Rundu Airport (NDU) in Rundu, Lüderitz Airport (LUD) in Lüderitz and Oranjemund Airport (OMD) in Oranjemund. The airline already has the ability to operate these routes, however, the launch date for these new routes is currently pending due to procedural delays caused by the Transportation Commission of Namibia being unable to call for a hearing to approve the routes. FlyWestair is in contact with the Ministry of Transport on the matter and trust it will be resolved soon. We'll keep you posted!

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Namibia: The Roads Authority has released an update on the conditions of roads in southern Namibia! [update]

update (08 March 2021): Namibia's Road Authority (RA), whose core business is to construct and maintain the country's road sector, has announced that that the following roads in the //Karas Region are now open to traffic:

• District Road D212/C13: Aussenkehr-Rosh Pinah
• Main Road M30 /C17: Keetmanshoop-Koës

Namibia's Road Authority (RA), whose core business is to construct and maintain the country's road sector, has released an update on the status/condition of roads in southern Namibia (as of 12 February 2021):

• Main Road M118 : Aus to Oranjemund road / section between Rosh-Pinah and Oranjemund
• Due to the Orange River in flood, the eastern road shoulder at kilometer 192 (25 km from Rosh-Pinah or 75 km from Oranjemund) has been affected and cracks have developed in the shoulder pavement. However, the road is open to all traffic and we have erected road signs to warn road users about the affected section. The road is narrow, kindly drive slowly, exercise extreme caution and comply with erected warning signs. We will keep monitoring the situation and give updates accordingly.
• District Road  D212 or tourist Route C13: From Noordoewer to Rosh-Pinah (Section between Aussenkehr and Rosh-Pinah)
• The Orange River has flooded and damaged some spots on this road and it is currently not safe to drive this road. The gravel section between Aussenkehr and Rosh-Pinah is thus still temporarily closed to traffic.

Namibia: FlyWestair to increase fligths on both local and regional routes!

Namibia's first private scheduled passenger airline, FlyWestair, is set to increase the number of weekly flights on both local and regional routes. Effective 17 February 2020, the airline will operate two additional weekday flights per week to Ondangwa, Oranjemund (Namibia) and Cape Town (South Africa). This will increase FlyWestair's flight frequency from 30 to 46 flights per week. According to the airline, these new flights are being added in response to market demand.
FlyWestair launched operations on 24 June 2019 with scheduled flights between Eros Airport (ERS) in Windhoek and Oranjemund Airport (OMD) in Oranjemund in southern Namibia. Flights between Eros Airport (ERS) and Ondangwa Airport (OND) in Ondangwa were added in July 2019 and flights between Eros Airport (ERS) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town in October 2019.

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Namibia: Air Namibia to operate flights to Lüderitz and Oranjemund from Eros Airport!

Namibia's flag carrier, Air Namibia, has announced that effective 29 July 2019 its domestic flights to Lüderitz Airport (LUD) in Lüderitz and Oranjemund Airport (OMD) in Oranjemund will be operated from Eros Aiport (ERS) in Windhoek and no longer from Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH). The airline will continue to operate both routes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Eros Airport (ERS) is located about 5km from Windhoek's central business district and a secundary hub for Air Namibia. Facilities at the airport include services such as car rentals, retail and food and beverages. 

Airport Transfer from Windhoek to Eros Airport >>

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Air Namibia to introduce flights between Ondangwa <> Walvis Bay!

Namibia's flag carrier, Air Namibia, is set to introduce flights between Ondangwa Airport (OND) in Ondangwa in northern Nambiia and Walvis Bay Airport (WVB) in Walvis Bay on 19 November 2017. The airline will operate three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Air Namibia will also change the days of operation for flights between Windhoek's Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) and Lüderitz Airport (LUD) in Lüderitz as well as for flights between Windhoek and Oranjemund Airport (OMD) in Oranjemund. Effective 19 November 2017, the days of operation will change from Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays to Sundays, Mondays and Fridays.

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Namibia: Oranjemund opens to the public!

The Namibian town of Oranjemund, located on the northern bank of the Orange River mouth at the border to South Africa, is set to become a "normal" open town. According to the town council, which was only proclaimed in 2011, the public will be able to visit the town of Oranjemund without acquiring an access permit to enter from 14 October 2017. As of now, access to and settlement in the town is restricted to employees of Namdeb and their relatives. 

Oranjemund has been a closed privately owned town since it was established in 1936 by the then Consolidated Diamond Mines (CDM). The successor of CDM, Namdeb, owns almost all the infrastructure and property in the town and residents have been provided with free housing, water and electricity from the beginning till to date. This is going to change next month. Effective September 2017, residents of Oranjemund will have to pay for municipal services to support council development plans, as well as to normalise the operation of the town.