Faces of the Namib

This unique trip takes place in the vast sand sea of the Namib Desert south of Walvis Bay. It offers the ultimate challenge for thrill seekers with off-road endurance skills and a taste for adventure.

Time-wise there are various options to choose from when planning your trip – there are options of 4 days/3 nights but some of the sections can be done in isolation, thus allowing the participant to do some of the sections in as little as 2 days. The rest of the trip can then be done on a more convenient time. Each of the sections offers its own unique experience and scenery. For this reason it is possible to break the whole route into shorter tours with very little overlapping on any of the highlighted points in the itinerary.

Pro Namib.
(Starting point for 4 day tour – Solitaire)

Sossusvlei is not included in the itinerary as many of the group members might have been to Sossusvlei before. As it is one of the highlights of Namibia, it might be a good idea for those who have not visited Sossusvlei before to plan for an extra day there before our trip starts.

Depart from Solitaire and enter into the Namib Naukluft Park approximately 30km North of Solitaire. This is the start of a unique adventure offering you aspects of the Namib not generally experienced by the normal ‘tourist’. We cross the Namib plains more or less on the same route that was followed by the earlier settlers and and German ‘Schutztruppe’ in the late 1800’s. The route leads to the Kuiseb River and then the area is slowly changing from the typical Namib Plains into a colourful landscape of red sand dunes separated by grassy plains.

The Kuiseb Canyon offers unique scenery with the southern bank formed by massive red sand dunes, the northern bank by pitch black rock formations and in the riverbed massive trees and the dry sand bed creates a kaleidoscope of green and white. We proceed westwards along the edge of the canyon until we reach a spot were the dunes falls right into the river near Homeb. Here we will ‘slip’ into the river enjoying its unique eco system of trees and abundance of birds. We will cross over onto the Northern bank of the Kuiseb Canyon, enjoying the absolute breathtaking views once again offered by the contrast created by the rock formations edged against the red sand dunes.

Desert Crossing

(Starting point for 3 day trip – Rooibank)

The Namib Desert follows the coast of Namibia for approximately 2000 kilometres. It varies in width from 80 to 200 kilometres where it meets the Namib Escarpment. The

most important climatic feature of the Namib Desert is its sparse and highly unpredictable annual rainfall. The annual mean ranges from 5 mm in the west to about 85 mm along its eastern limits. Our aim with this trip is drive ‘across’ the desert from East to West experiencing the dramatic change in the environment. Heading southwest into the “sand sea” we make our way towards Conception Bay. On the way to Conception Bay massive dunes are negotiated and once again ever-changing scenes of beautiful landscapes are experienced. Driver skills are improving as the dunes offer more and more challenges. The Dune straits are massive, and the dunes are even more impressive. Some of the dunes are in excess of 150m high!! The night is spent under the desert sky!! (Overnight at “Olifantsbad”-camp)

It is in this area between Conception Bay and Meob Bay the mining settlements were established and no form of engine-driven transport was available during the first 15 years of exploration.

Transporting of supplies and mine equipment was effected mainly from Swakopmund by ship and the cutter Viking via Sandwich Harbour, Conception Bay and Meob Bay. Various shipping casualties occurred, such as when the Eduard Bohlen intended to off-load mining equipment and was consequently lost at Conception Bay (1909). During 1912/1913 a light railway from Conception Bay to Conception Water and an 80-kilometer pipeline linking the settlements were constructed. It is not totally clear as to how many pre-fabricated buildings were erected at the various settlements, as only the foundations of some of these are today still visible.

“Langewand” and Sandwich Harbour

The dune belt opens up between Meob Bay and Conception Bay, but immediately after Conception the dune belt stretches right onto the beach. From Conception Bay you will be driving on the beach with magnificent scenery. You will experience freedom – BIG TIME!! We are heading northwards towards Sandwich Bay. En route the wrecks of the Eduard Bohlen & Shawnee are visited. Passing ‘Langewand’ where massive dunes end in the sea, given a very limited time span to negotiate this stretch of beach. After Langewand the trail once again leads into the dunes, circumnavigating the Salt Pans ‘extensions’ of Sandwich Harbour. The dunes are still getting progressively larger to offer an ever-changing new experience of ultimate dune driving. The night is spent approximately 1.5km from the sea close to Sandwich Bay.

It is our last night in and amongst the dunes!!! Treasure this – you will never ever forget it!!

From Sandwich the trail enters the ‘Roller Coaster’, a series of massive ‘roaring’ slip faces, not only giving you a new thrilling experience but also offering breathtaking views of Sandwich Harbour and a panorama of sandscapes.

The trail ends at Walvis Bay at approximately noon.