Away from the cities and towns most main roads will look like this - well hardened red soil. The grip on this sort of road is about half that you get on a tarmac surface- something to bear in mind if you are driving over it. Your braking distances will be in excess of twice what you'd normally expect- possibly three or four times what you'd be used to on a good tarmac surface.

This type of surface naturally develops regularly spaced ruts and ridges, sometimes giving the surface the look and feel of giant corrugated cardboard. The corrugated cardboard effect can lead to uncomfortable travel as your vehicle is vibrated up and down, but it is usually possible to find a speed at which the vibration magically vanishes.

After rains the surface becomes slick with mud and, apart from being like an ice rink, has a habit of staining everything with dark red mud!