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NAMIBIA 2021

My travelling companions Rod and Linda had planned this trip to take place in May 2019, and of course, that was when the world paused, so the trip was postponed for 2 years. Finally we got the go-ahead, and set off on our adventures. Simon Wearne from Route Africa Expeditions led the trip, with Rod and Linda making up the "sweeper" unit - the guys at the back who help those of us who get stuck on the top of a dune!

FEATURED PHOTO

Elim Dune at Sossusvlei, Namibia

Elim Dune,
Sossusvlei

Elim Dune is one of the dunes making up the Namib Desert, thought to be the oldest desert in the world. The dune is named after the farm that was here before the area was proclaimed as a nature reserve. Elim dune is relatively small at about 100m when compared to Big Daddy Dune, which towers to 325m, and Dune 7 which reaches 388m.

The view south-west from Elim Dune is quite spectacular. There is a vast plain covered in yellow grass, with mountains in the distance. The best time to visit Elim Dune is at sunrise or sunset - the colours are jawdropping! It is also a great place for a sundowner, as it is only 5km from the gate at Sesriem.

Click here for more information on Sossusvlei



We entered the desert through a non-descript gate and for what seemed like hours we drove on a terribly corrugated twee-spoor track until we finally came upon the dunes - how magnificent!
The Gate, entering the desert
The Gate, entering the desert
the vehicles lined up and ready to go
Drivers, start your engines!
view of the campsite with a windbreak and a campfire
A very relaxing evening
sunset - orange sun rays on the clouds with distant mountains silhouetted
The sunsets are spectacular
This is where the serious driving starts. I had heard stories of dune driving, but I'd never done it before, so this was going to be an experience and a half! It took a while for me to master the fine line of stopping on the top of a dune, rather than either careening over the other side, or stopping too soon and getting stuck and having to be towed off to try all over again.
view of vehicles driving down the slipface of a dune
Slipface driving - when you drive down the other side of the dune, the sand gathers some speed and the dune roars with the sound of the slipping sand
view of vehicle with bonnet open
Just some running repairs
view of very old and weathered wood
Well weathered wood
The veld on the drive to the dunes
The scrubby veld on the drive to the dunes
Namibian desert
There is no relief from the sun
Fulgurite
Fulgurite - the result of lightning hitting sand
view from the crest of a dune with the vehicles in the distance
Let the fun begin!
the temperature gauge inside the vehicle showing 43 degrees at 16:20pm
The heat was intense on the whole trip - here it is still 43 degrees at 4:30pm
Rocks in the foreground with desert dunes in the background
More desert vistas
blue sky with clouds and shipwreck in the dune
Shipwreck
view of Sandwich Harbour with sunset in the background
Sandwich sunset
Namibian Desert
The view from the loo, on our first night
Namibian Desert
The vistas are just breathtaking!
view of the mountains with my Pajero in the foreground
My trusty steed
We were so lucky to happen upon a fulgurite, which is a natural tube of fused sand which forms when lightning discharges into the ground. I was fascinated by this clump of solid rock, with a hollow inside. Unfortunately, it is part of the natural heritage of Namibia so I couldn't bring it home with me!
Fulgurite
The fulgurite is a hollow tube
Margie Viljoen with her vehicle in the far background
Selfie in the desert
view from the crest of a very tall dune
The view out of my left window when I was stuck at the top of my first ever dune! I was somewhat freaked out, and way too scared to get out of the vehicle - I thought any slight movement would cause the car to roll down the dune. I was, however, stuck up to axle in sand - the vehicle wouldn't have moved an inch!
view of desert sands with mountains in the background
More desert vistas
view of rocky mountains in the background, dunes in the foreground
More desert vistas
view of the campsite at Sandwich Harbour with sea in the background
Sandwich Harbour campsite
selfie of me sitting on a sand dune
Sand dune selfie
Namibian desert
The sun sets on our first day
Namibian desert
Sculpted sand
Fulgurite
Read more here: Fossilised lightning
the view down the slipface of a very tall dune
You want me to go down there??!! The view down into the valley of the dune - if you look hard enough you can see Simon's car just above my bonnet on the left hand side
view of the sunset over the desert with people sitting in the foreground
Sundowner time
view of the sunrise over the desert
More desert vistas
view of the campsite at Sandwich Harbour with stormy clouds above
Sandwich Harbour with stormy clouds - that night my tent proved its waterproofness
view of my Pajero with sea in the background and storm clouds out to sea
A little bit of beach driving