Advice - damaraland - desolation valley and Doros crater

[Poisell]

Good day everyone!

i am planning my January 2022 trip to Namibia and some parts pose problems planning wise..

one stretch after Etosha will be from Grootberg to Twyfelfontein. As I obviously don’t want to stay only on tarred roads I would like to check out Desolation valley and/or divorce pass and/or Doros crater ...

is it possible starting early morning in Grootberg lodge then Bergsig, Fonteine, Slangpos, desolation valley, gai as fountain, rhino Ugab, divorce pass, Doros crater, and to arrive in the evening at Mowani camp ?

i do not realize the distances and the necessary time to travel... same for the trails: sand or gravel?

thanks for your help

[mike morrison]

We did a similar reverse trip - Mowani, Aba-Huab river to Slangpos, Fonteine, Bergsig and on to Khowarib - and this took the better part of a full day. What you propose may be possible but you will be going through an amazing area and don't feel one day will do it justice

[Poisell]

Thanks for the quick answer! Of course I know it may be a bit of a rush through.... but there are sooo many things to see !

additional question: is the river section usually drivable during January? Or does it still depend on how much rain will fall ?

could you please share your waypoints ?

i am based on T4A...

thanks

[Tony Weaver]

Stay right out of the river beds in January - they may be driveable where you are, but a rain storm many kilometres away upstream can cause a flash flood and you won't even know it happened until the water hits you. And be prepared for extreme heat in January - 40degC plus is the norm once you are away from the coastal fog belt area.

[Mike N]

Agree with Tony, do not drive long distance in the riverbeds in January. You can cross a river if its dry, like at Ugab Rhino. From there you can go via the old mine to the crossing and short stint along the river to Divorce Pass.
The whole trip is 285km, and an 11 hour drive according to T4A. I would break it at Ugab Rhino.

[HugoNotte]

Thanks for the quick answer! Of course I know it may be a bit of a rush through.... but there are sooo many things to see !

additional question: is the river section usually drivable during January? Or does it still depend on how much rain will fall ?

could you please share your waypoints ?

i am based on T4A...

thanks

January is certainly NOT the time to drive in river beds. Unless you would know for sure there is no chance of rain upstream, you might get a nasty surprise, as Tony said.
Crossing a dry river bed is fine.
Google "Divorce Pass" and "Desolation Valley". Among the results will be threads on this forum giving you a bit of information about both.
Have a look at this youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1e...ChkhGAYGGijNCA
There are videos on both.

[Poisell]

Thanks to all of you!
that also answers another question concerning my car rental : Landcruiser 79 or Hilux 3.0 automatic