Gamin-less Navigation?

[Kausie]

Good day,

I’m planning a trip to Namibia next month and it will be my first cross-border travel of any kind. I don’t own a GPS but would like to make use of the T4A maps (or any similar maps) for navigation. I do however own the T4A guide app on my phone and have been using the GPS co-ordinates from the app and pasting into Google maps for the actual route, but only for local trips thus far. Is it possible to replicate this method in Namibia? Should I maybe supplement with the guidebook? I currently don’t have the funds to purchase a new Garmin GPS with the T4A maps loaded hence trying to look for an alternative.

TIA

Kausie

[eagle eye]

Use t4a paper maps

[dph]

OP - You get Namibia and NAMIBIA. Are you planning on venturing far off the beaten track? Or are you visiting the main sights and attractions? You can get very far with a road atlas and/or a good map.
Having a phone gives you GPS capability, but remember that you will not always be online, so unless you download a mapping app, you will have to augment with a map.

Literally millions of people have travelled across Southern Africa without a GPS, so you'll be perfectly fine.

[TRON]

Have you tried Maps.me?

[KobusDJ]

On Sunday I was in Khutse Game Reserve (Botswana) with an Android device with OsmAnd preloaded maps.

It had all the roads and info I needed. (Nothing more, nothing less than on the T4A map.)

It should work just as well for Namibia.

EDIT: Photo added. Montana was on a different zoom level but the info/map was exactly the same.

[KobusDJ]

Browse the OpenStreetMap Map for Namibia. https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=7/-21.703/16.315

If you can find the roads/route you plan to travel on this map, any of the free android map apps will work. They all use OpenStreetMap data. All preloaded offline maps.

Maps.Me, HereWeGo, OsmAnd, Sygic ....

.

[Kausie]

On Sunday I was in Khutse Game Reserve (Botswana) with an Android device with OsmAnd preloaded maps.

It had all the roads and info I needed. (Nothing more, nothing less than on the T4A map.)

It should work just as well for Namibia.

EDIT: Photo added. Montana was on a different zoom level but the info/map was exactly the same.

Thanks for the advice. Haven’t used OsmAnd before but will definitely have a look.

[Tumbleweed]

On Sunday I was in Khutse Game Reserve (Botswana) with an Android device with OsmAnd preloaded maps.

It had all the roads and info I needed. (Nothing more, nothing less than on the T4A map.)

It should work just as well for Namibia.

EDIT: Photo added. Montana was on a different zoom level but the info/map was exactly the same.

Great help and advice. Didn't want to use data- fed Google maps and gatvol of Garmin so was ready to blast money on a new Android console radio/ gps / phone/ blue tooth system to play phone music then realised the big screen position is always in direct sun and requires loosening seat belt, moving your face to the centre of the screen and shielding the sun rays with one hand whilst driving.

Never a gadget fundi but used a phone bracket which slides into air vent fins- perfect positioning- visible and out the glare, secured my old Iphone in, opened my newly downloaded OsMond- Open Street app with local maps and plotted my course.

A bit slower to load but simple, user-friendly, but the track appeared as per the Utube videos. Removed direction commentary, replaced with Pink Floyd and Rolling Stones live via Iphone blue-toothed to my ancient telefunken- still takes CD's, and all my questions were answered.

Suddenly, road rage evaporated and remembered how lekker a road trip should be.

[Kausie]

OP - You get Namibia and NAMIBIA. Are you planning on venturing far off the beaten track? Or are you visiting the main sights and attractions? You can get very far with a road atlas and/or a good map.
Having a phone gives you GPS capability, but remember that you will not always be online, so unless you download a mapping app, you will have to augment with a map.

Literally millions of people have travelled across Southern Africa without a GPS, so you'll be perfectly fine.

Haha, yes I’ve never been one to plan ahead but since this will be the most isolated travel I’ll be doing thought to cover my bases. But your perspective definitely holds truth. Navigation is an option not a necessity.

[mikealan]

What about doing a route, or even a track on Basecamp? do it on your PC then export it (KML format) to your phone ( Email attach)If you download the Maps.me App , when you search over an area it automatically asks you if you want to download the offline map of that area.

so on your phone open the route in Maps.me and it will show it on the map.. ( just a red line to follow through the bush.... which is great when you have no reception )


Hope this helps

[DC Polokwane]

Use t4a paper maps

Use t4a paper maps + download Google maps of the area for offline use + Gaia maps with Premium subscription

[Kausie]

Use t4a paper maps + download Google maps of the area for offline use + Gaia maps with Premium subscription

Thanks, this was my idea to download the maps for offline use. I will have a look at Gaia and what additional subscription has to offer and likely supplement.