Namibia 2018
- Gramps
- Jan 20
- 5 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Perched on the lip of an enormous dune in the iconic Namib-Naukluft National Park looking down an almost vertical 100 metre drop you start to doubt the sanity of the decisions that led you to this point.
You are behind the wheel of a growling 4x4 with the responsibility of getting the 4 occupants to the bottom of the abyss and your palms are sweating while there is a slight trembling in your legs.
The radio crackles and you get the go ahead to start the descent. You think back to the instructions you received earlier in the day. Engage low range/diff lock, put the car into 1st gear, make sure you are pointed straight down the face of the dune and slowly move forward until the front wheels drop below you, take your foot off the clutch and let the vehicle drive itself down the steep decline with sand falling away as you move.
Alison and I were incredibly lucky to be invited on a corporate getaway to Namibia in 2018.
We met up with the rest of the participants in Johannesburg and flew into the very distinctive Walvis Bay. Surrounded by desert sands, the cold Atlantic Ocean crashing into the coastline and towering dunes it is a unique African destination.
From Walvis it was a quick 50 minute transfer to the quaint holiday town of Swakopmund, and our hotel for the trip, the excellent Strand Hotel.
The hotel overlooks the beach and many hours can be spent enjoying holiday vibes in and around Swakopmund.
We consumed a hearty buffet breakfast before being whisked through to the sand dunes on the edge of the town for some Quad bike ATV excitement.
After a quick but thorough instruction and safety briefing we secured our helmets and followed our leader out on to the desert sands.
On the wide, seemingly endless desert tracks we opened up the throttle and negotiated several dunes before stopping at a vantage point overlooking the rolling sands where the desert falls away to the cold, vast Atlantic Ocean.
We were surprised with sparkling wine and sparkling ocean vistas.
There is something thrilling about charging through the desert on your 4 wheeled steed. The vast landscape a vivid reminder as to where you are in the world and how privileged you are to be there.
We returned to the base sandy, salty, and with sweaty helmet hair but also with a happy glow of a memorable day.
That evening the event coordinators arranged a magical beach event complete with violins, white tablecloths and warm fires.
The following day we were up early making our way south after breakfast into the Namib-Naukluft National Park.
This is home to the iconic "movie set" desert dune fields and, on the way, we pass the world renowned Dune 7, at around 380 metres the highest and most famous of all. Climbing one of the tallest dunes in the world is a popular excursion for the adventurous traveler.
Our 4x4 route is deep in the dunes where special permits are required and the tour is managed by responsible and experienced guides.
We meet the team and they take us through a very important safety briefing and an overview of the vehicle we have been allocated. Alison and I are joined by a colleague and his wife, and the anticipation rises, along with the nervous banter over the 2-way radio, as we line up in convoy and edge forward.
We take it in turns to drive and follow the guidelines given to us over the radio as we tackle each challenge. Wait for the car in front to complete and the instructor has given the all clear, approach the dunes at right angles, maintain your momentum.
This part of the world is truly spectacular and timeless. This is, after all, one of the oldest deserts in the world. The route crosses picture perfect desert landscapes, missing only the camels and palm trees.
One by one we tackle, with mixed success, a series of sandy tracks and dunes. Our support team quickly and efficiently freeing us when we get stuck.
So we are lulled into a comfort zone until one of the vehicles misreads the instructions and narrowly avoids driving into the back of the preceding vehicle before cresting the dune at a dangerous speed, launching the bakkie into the air and disappearing from sight.
It looks bad and we fear the worst as there is no answer to the worried calls of concern over the radio.
Eventually the occupants respond with adrenalin and shock-fueled laughter. The bakkie had landed safely and everyone is fine, to our relief.
Midway we stop for a break and to stretch our legs in the surreal surroundings.
One of the party took a run to the top of the dune and as with most journeys the first steps were easy, the last short climb a struggle, but the view made it worthwhile.
There were plenty of photo opportunities and we took advantage of them, but looking back, I feel we could have taken a lot more given the beauty of the location.
After the break we head on, and it was at this point that we approached the huge dune descent, which once again shocked us out of our relaxed comfort zone.
Trusting in the vehicle, the guidelines we had been given, and the limited experience we had just gained, I pushed us over the edge into a near vertical decline and let the car edge us down in first gear.
I needn't have worried as we descended safely and the elation and relief coursed through my veins. What an experience and I realise how privileged we are to have had this opportunity.
All good things must come to an end and with many memories we headed back to a restaurant on the coast for a farewell dinner. Alison drove us along the beach, past seals and flamingos, for yet another once in a lifetime experience.
There is so much to do in and around Walvis and Swakopmund that it really is a destination that needs to be on your bucket list.
Even if you don't get to drive the trail that we did, there are so many opportunities to explore the dunes and the ocean.
That goes for the whole of Namibia. A place of open roads and very few people with destinations like the Fish River Canyon, Etosha, the Skeleton Coast, ghost towns and the wild Caprivi Strip.
We will definitely be back.
