Innehållsförteckning för ROUTES THAT ROCK 2 2023 från Go! Drive & Camp

EDITOR’S LETTER ROUTES THAT ROCK 2023 In this second edition of Routes that Rock 2023, we take lengthy trips through regions such as the Kunene, the Khomas Highland, the Central Kalahari, Bushmanland, Namaqualand and the Great Karoo. Our GPS software indicates a distance of 8 128 km through these arid regions, but our journalists have certainly travelled far beyond that to compile these travel tales for you. After our previous issue appeared, a reader lamented that he didn’t have enough money to embark on such epic trips, but he becomes so engrossed when reading the stories that it feels like he’s joining us on a trip. As an editor, I can wholly relate to that. I was fortunate enough to personally drive one of the delightful routes in this collection,…

Can I do it alone? You can, but it’s much better to tackle the experience with someone, just in case something goes wrong. (And it probably will!) How long is it? The alternative route the Rally for Rangers convoy rode was about 2 000 km long. If you’re in a sturdy 4×4 vehicle, you can breeze through it quite quickly. The 125 cc motorcycles kept a top speed of around 80 km/h, and the group spent 10 days on the route, with plenty of stops in between. It’s much better to take it slow… then you can at least smell the flowers along the way. What should I drive? A rugged 4×4 vehicle, one that will cope with Kaokoland’s thorns and rocks. How much fuel should I take along? Enough…

Namibia’s summer rains don’t occur only in the south. The whole country has been getting good rains for the past two years, but the farther north you travel off road, the wilder it gets. This year, the Damaraland and Kaokoland rivers flooded, and a few roads were impassable for days. (Travel with an experienced guide and in a convoy.)The south is more accessible and enchanting when wet. Choose dirt roads where possible – these are not only the most beautiful routes but also the most exciting in your off-roader. We recommend the D316 past Ai-Ais and the D324 (rather than the B1 through Grünau) once you’ve crossed the border at Vioolsdrift and heading for the Fish River Canyon. Keep north on the C12, and take a look at the Naute…

What did you drive? Everyone in our convoy drove 4×4 vehicles, but apart from Kubu Island and the Makgadikgadi pans, the route is mostly good tar road. Which travel documents do I need? As a South African you only need your passport to enter Botswana, Namibia or Zimbabwe, but for certain foreigners, visas are compulsory. Is fuel readily available? Yes. You can fill up with petrol and diesel in Letlhakane, Maun, Shakawe, Katima Mulilo, Kasane and Nata. There are also supermarkets, butcheries and mechanics in all of these towns. Where can I sleep? A room in Granny’s Lodge in Letlhakane varies from P570 to P795 (about R750-R1 000) per night, depending on its size. Contact +267 297 8246. To camp on one of Kubu Island’s 14 camp sites will cost…

Bushman's Desert Camp Contact 00 264 81 294 3755 (Boesman) sossusft@afol.com.na Price R180 pp for camping, and from R900 pp in the spacious chalets. Donkerhuk West Contact 00 264 81 217 5757 (Christiaan) donkerhuk.com.na Price From R180 pp for camping, and from R500 pp sharing in the tented camp (breakfast available). Omandumba Guestfarm Contact 00 264 81 217 0879 (Harald/ Deike) omandumba.de Price R200 pp for camping, and from R1 535 pp sharing in the bungalows (breakfast and dinner included).…

Be prepared to get wet if you want to camp in Namibia’s summer rainy season, but the rewards are great. The south is full of campsites with beautiful views – they become even more spectacular during a thunderstorm. Here is a list of the campsites with the very best views. Mount D'Urban C14 Each of the 10 stands at the foot of the mountain of the same name has its own bathroom, canopy, and braai area. The sunset from your camp chair or one of the lookout points near the camp is exceptional. Contact 00 264 81 547 3532 or mountdurban.com.na Namtib D707 There’s a reason why this campsite is a firm favourite among 4×4 travellers: from the camp you can watch gemsbok graze on the plains with the dunes…

Can I travel solo? Yes, even the back roads are fairly busy (given their remoteness) this time of year because people come from afar. How long? The route as we describe it here is 900 km in length and requires at least three days to experience just a bit of the Namaqualand. What type of vehicle? The roads are quite good, but occasionally, like at Goegab, you’ll need to engage fourwheel drive. How much fuel? The longest distance between fuel stops is 300 km (Kamieskroon to Nieuwoudtville). Can my dog join me? Goegap Nature Reserve and Namaqualand National Park unfortunately don’t allow pets. What emergency equipment? Always a tyre repair kit, and maybe a tow rope and jumper leads. May I ride my motorcycle? Indeed! Namaqua National Park will allow…

Lake Oanob Resort Contact 00 264 62 52 2370 oanob.com.na Price Camping from R110 pp for a stand without shade to R180 pp if you’re by the water with shade and grass (off-season price). Power points are available. Self-catering chalets from R2 070 pn for two. Kalahari Farmhouse Contact 00 264 61 42 7200 gondwana-collection.com Price Camping R259 pp and cottages from R1 769 pp sharing (breakfast included). DuneSong Breathers Contact 00 264 81 777 6333 (Marianne) dunesong.net Price A minimum of two nights’stay is required here. Camping costs R175 pp with your own tent (maximum 12 people and three vehicles; you book the dune camp exclusively) or R275 pp in their tents (you sleep on a bed). Hot water, power points (solar) and firewood are available. The cottages cost…

There were exceptionally good rains in Namibia (and other parts of southern Africa) this past summer because of the La Niña weather cycle. When there’s a largescale cooling of sea temperatures over the central parts of the Pacific Ocean, it creates La Niña (Spanish for “little girl”). La Niña is the opposite of the El Niño cycle, which occurs when sea temperatures warm up. Both cycles have an impact on weather conditions worldwide. So, if you see La Niña in the weather forecast, you know Namibia is going get soaked. Usually, we see La Niña conditions every three to seven years, but in 2021 and 2022, the cycle brought heavy rains to southern Africa. If you want to chase the rain in Namibia next year, block out your calendar between…

Red Rock River Camp Contact 083 660 7798 (Adelaine) redrockrivercamp.co.za Price R200 pp for camping – luxuries including hot showers included. A day’s rowing on the Orange River starts from R750 pp. Verneukpan Wild Camping Contact 083 227 2239 (Carol) verneukpancamping.co.za Price R75 pppn for camping plus R200 per vehicle. This is a bush camp with no water or amenities. Soutpoort Contact 072 623 7926 (send a WhatsApp to Melissa) thirionm@gmail.com Price R400 per stand for four (then R90 pp) and R200 per caravan or off-road trailer.…