En route: nifty navigation accessories for road trips

Tracks4Africa Navigator App, now also available on Android, requires no Internet connection but your device needs a built- in GPS. The app includes coverage of remote routes and tracks throughout Africa, so when you are exploring don’t leave this one at home.

The Dash-Dock is a simple and affordable piece of kit consisting of magnetic rounds which are used to make your device (GPS, two-way radio or cell phone) stick to the car dash. It’s small and discreet, but you can’t angle the cell-phone screen so you need to find a suitable placement for easy viewing.

To plan your Namibian holiday, use MapStudio’s Road Tripping Namibia by Fiona McIntosh. It’s a must- have guide that covers 15 iconic road trips ‒ all manageable in a sedan. With each route, Fiona includes driving distances and times, highlights, places to stop and tips on when best to go.

If you prefer to use old-school paper maps for navigation, this Escape Gear cotton canvas Overland Map Holder will keep them neat and clean. There’s also one for important documents such as passports and vehicle-registration papers for border crossings. Both holders feature a see-through inner sleeve for quick and easy reference.

The lightweight Joby GripTight Auto Vent Clip holds a smartphone vertically or horizontally, enabling you to read the map and navigate while you drive. It grips the vehicle’s air vent and works well in most cars, but some vents are too loose to hold the weight of the clip and phone (such as my Ford’s), so check this before making the purchase. It’s an easy-to-use, stand-in option that requires no adhesives and comes in regular and extra large.

You can use heavy-duty, double- sided stick-on Velcro tape to make your own mount to hold your navigation device. Cut the tape to size, stick it to any surface and then to your gear. From R200 per metre at most hardware stores.