Google Maps was primarily designed for inner-city travel, where roads are well-marked and relatively smooth. I doubt the app’s developers envisioned users navigating gravel roads in the heartland of South Africa. So, it’s unsurprising that the app becomes far less useful once you hit the dirt. However, where Google Maps falls short, OsmAnd excels.
OsmAnd is a free, open-source app on the Play Store and F-Droid. It draws data from various sources, primarily relying on OpenStreetMap, which volunteers with local knowledge worldwide maintain. This gives it broader coverage of lesser-known routes that Google Maps often overlooks, providing OsmAnd a significant advantage when things get dusty.