Trip advice Namibia June/July 2010

[tritontitan]

We are 3 families with young kids from 6 to 13, planning a 4 week trip through Namibia during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
We have made all our accomodation bookings already to ensure availability, so I am not specifically looking for advice on accomodation, although, if you feel we have made poor choices it would be good to know now.

1. Rather I am looking for advice on the intended routes, and whether they can be comfortably traversed by 3 late model 4x4 double cabs - my 2007 Triton 3.2DiD and 2 x 2007 Hilux 3.0D4D's (all with low range and rear diff locks - one with HT tyres). The trick here is that the two Hilux's will be pulling Conqueror Comfort trailers, so thick sand may be a problem. I am particularly intersted in the sections to Spitzkoppe, Ugab Save The Rhino camp and the Doros Crater 4wd Trail.

2. I am also trying to ensure that our chosen routes are not through restricted areas that we cannot go without a guide. Also need to know if we require permits or special permission on any of the routes.

3. I have the distance and trip duration from Mapsource using T4A but have no idea how accurate the information is. Some assitance here would be great.

4. Also looking for advice on which of our chosen camp sites could have elephants or predators visting that we need to worry about! We are all camping at every destination.

5. What are the expected average day and nightly low temps we should expect in the different regions?

6. Any problems we should expect with Diesel at the listed refueling points.

Please see attached Excel Itinerary. I could not upload the Garmin gdb file for some reason.

Your help will be much appreciated.

[touchthewild]

Bit of a rush in some places, like from Ugab to Warmquelle. I would suggest you fit in one night at Aba Huab and do just one night at Warnquelle, after all there is not much there besides the spring. Aba Huab is very nice and has Twyfelfontein etc. From Ugab, leave by desolation valley route then go east behind the crater, not the western route; T4a is very acurate. Don't take divorce pass, you won't get up it with trailers. There is no deep sand on your route but some loose rocks on desolation but you could assist with the Triton if need be. The Ugab Rhino staff will tell you that it isn't doable, only because they don't want you in there. There is nothing to stop you but is good to respect the area by staying on the tracks and leaving no trace.....It is slow though

[MR2-BLUE]

The roads from Upington to Lüderitz - Spitzkoppe is just a few kilometers before Lüderitz - are mainly tared or very good conditioned sand tracks. No deep sand.

The watchout is - if you want to go further north, you need to return quite a long distance from Lüderitz towards Aus before the road goes north. With trailers the beautiful trip through the desert to Walvis Bay is a "no go"....

We used a TomTom in Namibia - it worked very well, no need for any extra stuff. An actual roadmap from Info-Map does it as well....there is not many roads in Namibia.

PS- don't think you can escape from soccer there....too many Germans still left in Namibia - and they all love soccer

[Spook]

Tritontitan, the trip looks good, but if it was me, I would definately not stay 3 days at Hippo Pools. One day would be my max if I ever plan to stay there again. Been there in April this year and decided that next time I would rather try and find an alternative.

[Stuart]

Klein Aus Vista is lovely. Ask for campsite number 10 under the weaver birds. It is a bit more private and you should get all your vehicles together in this site.

I agree with “touchthewild” in breaking the journey around Aba Huab area except I would do at least 2 nights there. We stayed at camp Xaragu (Co-ordinates: S20 24.473 E14 20.054 / http://www.xaragu.com/index.html). The camp was lovely with nice pool and pub and lots of shade. It is also run by locals. Ask for campsite number 5. The desert elephants roam around this area and we managed to find them after a 4 hour drive down the dry Huab river. Stunning scenery, great camp and the ellies were a HUGE surprise. Let me know (PM) if you intend to go here and I will give you more info on finding the elephants.

I am also in agreement with “Spook” regarding Hippo Pools and I would not stay here. Further down the river (about 5k’s) you will find a camp called Kunene River Island Camp. We had a stunning campsite with great views over the river. We loved it and will definitely be back there. This is also a great place to meet the Himba tribes and see their villages and you will easily loose 3 enjoyable days here.

I was a little disappointed with Okaukuejo. Very crowded, expensive and as a result we stayed at Etosha Safari Camp just south of Anderson Gate and we will definitely do this again. The only disadvantage is that we missed the flood lit watering hole in at night.

Enjoy you trip and if you wish to have a look at our planning, please send me a PM.

[Stuart]

Klein Aus Vista is lovely. Ask for campsite number 10 under the weaver birds. It is a bit more private and you should get all your vehicles together in this site.

I agree with “touchthewild” in breaking the journey around Aba Huab area except I would do at least 2 nights there. We stayed at camp Xaragu (Co-ordinates: S20 24.473 E14 20.054 / http://www.xaragu.com/index.html). The camp was lovely with nice pool and pub and lots of shade. It is also run by locals. Ask for campsite number 5. The desert elephants roam around this area and we managed to find them after a 4 hour drive down the dry Huab river. Stunning scenery, great camp and the ellies were a HUGE surprise. Let me know (PM) if you intend to go here and I will give you more info on finding the elephants.

I am also in agreement with “Spook” regarding Hippo Pools and I would not stay here. Further down the river (about 5k’s) you will find a camp called Kunene River Island Camp. We had a stunning campsite with great views over the river. We loved it and will definitely be back there. This is also a great place to meet the Himba tribes and see their villages and you will easily loose 3 enjoyable days here.

I was a little disappointed with Okaukuejo. Very crowded, expensive and as a result we stayed at Etosha Safari Camp just south of Anderson Gate and we will definitely do this again. The only disadvantage is that we missed the flood lit watering hole in at night.

Enjoy you trip and if you wish to have a look at our planning, please send me a PM.