Itinerary
We meet in Swakopmund at 07h45 with full tanks where we hand out in-car radios and organise the convoy for departure at 08h00.
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Day 1
We travel north along the coast line to Terrace Bay, where we need to refuel once more. Bring your own lunch box for today. Petrol vehicles need at least 260ltrs fuel and Diesel vehicles 220ltrs from here for the trip. From Terrace Bay we travel to Möwe Bay where the official road ends and enter the beach (tide depending). Just North of Möwe Bay we will seek shelter near the beach and camp for the night.
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Day 2
+/- 150kmToday we will travel along the beach (tide depending) to the Hoarusib river mouth, view the wreckage left-over from the rescue involved Ventura bomber. Here we venture inland up the river bed where one can expect to see plenty of wildlife in the desert, beautiful geological formation like the clay castles. Drive through desolated valleys to the Khumib River, where we will camp on the river bank. Here one occasionally see Brown Hyena. Driving this route will depend on how dry the riverbed is in the rainy season.
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Day 3
+/- 120km After breakfast we venture towards Kunene-mouth. This involves purely beach travelling past the famous ‘Dunedin Star’ wreck site and huge salt pans. Camping at Bosluis Bay area in the Dunes, here we will stay for 2 nights.
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Day 4
+/- 40 kmToday we will reach the Kunene River mouth. 72 different bird species use these wetlands, and the Leatherback Turtle and the Green Sea turtle. Nile crocodile also take shelter here (NO swimming!) The rest of the day will be spent at leisure.
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Day 5
Kunene-mouth to Hartmann Valley +/- 65km Today will be challenging dune-driving day in a easterly direction all the way to Hartmann Valley (No prior dune driving experience is necessary). We will stay as close to the thundering Kunene River as possible, with beautiful, scenic spots along the way. At the end of the day we will set up camp in Hartmann’s valley.
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Day 6
Kunene to Oropembe Campsite +/- 120km We will travel down Hartmann Valley until we reach green drum. We will spot wildlife, such as zebra, along the way, as well as plenty oryx and springbok. The routes are slow and scenery can therefore be enjoyed to its fullest. Camping wild close to Orepembe.
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Day 7
Orepembe to sesfontein+/- 200kmTravel down the Kumib river and through mountain valleys towards Hoarusib River. Today will be a slow drive and elephants are on the ‘scenic menu’ as we will definitely encounter them. The river is lushly vegetated with Mopani trees and large Makalani palm trees. The drive will vary from sandy riverbeds to rocky ‘twee spoor’ and we will call today the ‘elephant drive day’. The drive will take the whole day until we reach area of Sesfontein, where we will camp amongst the mountains in the wilderness. This is our last evening together.
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Day 8
The last day After one last breakfast everybody will travel by themselves to their own destinations – Etosha Pan is nearby, or you can continue via Caprivi to Botswana or merely travel via Kamanjab to Windhoek or optionally via Khorixas (Damaraland) back to Swakopmund.