Who has not felt the secret urge to go somewhere, where no one else has been before ?
A trip through the previous Diamond Sperrgebiet, which was closed off hermetically for the public for over a hundred years, is such a possibility: travelling for a few days through the wide open, yet varied planes and valleys of the Eastern Tsau//Khaeb National Park.
As this piece of desert is pristine and has barely been touched by human interventions, the maintaining/upkeep of this status is of utmost importance, which unfortunately necessitates strict rules and regulations for selfdrive visitors.
Therefore staying on the tracks is one of the most important preconditions to be allowed into this area and it is our endeavour to leave NO footprints behind.
This trip begins at Rosh Pinah
All participants gather around 9 h 00 at the Rosh Pinah Shopping Centre Complex in the centre of town, cars packed and fuelled – ready to go.
A visit to the Geo Centre is highly recommended, where Gisela, a retired geologist from the mining fraternity in and around the area shows and explains the many hidden gems, sheltering in the depths of the Namibian soil.
Duration approx. 1 hour
From here we proceed some two kilometers to the Obib Gate, the official entry point into the Park, where each vehicle will be issued with a radio.
The first stop will be at the Obib Fountain, a relic from the early 60`s when the Government allowed selected drought-stricken farmers to apply for grazing rights in the forbidden Diamond Sperrgebiet at various emergency water points.
In an northerly direction we pass the impressive mine dumps of the now closed down Scorpion Zinc Mine, relics of 18 years of mining activities.
The pump installation at Borehole 5 gives an insight into the mechanics the farmers of yesteryear utilized to supply their animals with water.
The Roter Kamm Impact Crater ist the best preserved crater of its sort, because it is covered with red dune sand. This impact caused by a foreign object from outer space, happened some 2.5 million years ago – with other words pretty recently in geological terms … !
Here the first encounters with a bit of dune sand driving could be experienced.
Depending on the weather (wind) we proceed to a camping spot in the dunes next to a huge Nara bos. If the wind is dictating otherwise, a different spot will be utilized.
From either camping site the route proceeds eastwards to the Aurus Viewpoint, a circular walkway through rare flora, culminating in the strangely shaped Africa Rock. The surrounding area forms one of the 34 Bio-diversity hotspots of the world, meaning that plants which occur here, are found nowhere else around the globe.
Borehole 4 is presently a waterpoint for game and folklore will have it that in the sixties there were occasionally up to 11 000 sheep herded around this waterpoint.
The officially allocated camping spot in the Uguchab River with its clusters of tick-infested Camelthorn trees, is best viewed from a moving vehicle than experiencing the hospitality of the Desert Tampans. (nasty ticks)
The camping spot for the day is in the vicinity of a MEFT rondavel, offering some protection from the wind.
This day will take us past the huge Anib claypan into the Tsaus Mountains and beyond to Borehole 1, another waterpoint for the game of that area.
We might encounter large roaming herds of game, namely Oryx, Springbuck and Ostrich.
The overnight spot for this day is situated in a riverbed amidst camelthorn trees with a beautiful view of the desert below in the Tsau Khaeb National Park.
Alternative 1 – The group exits the park via the Garub entry point, thereby passing the Old Oxwagon Trail. A visit to the hide at the Garub waterpoint for the Wild Horses of the Namib can be arranged with the guide, before everyone disperses into the blue yonder.
Alternative 2 – We will move back in a south easterly direction past Borehole 1 into the Tsaus Mountain and exit the park through the Grens Exit point, accessing the Aus – Rosh Pinah Tar Road for everyone to decide north or south.
No tour will commence under at least 10 participants.
Prices on request, depending on number of persons.
A 50% deposit will be applicable upon booking confirmation.
Final settlement to be effected one month prior to departure date.
Should a cancellation result in non-commencement of the tour, the cancelling party will be refunded according to the cancellation policy.
The remaining participants will be refunded in full, less the applicable park fees.
Any cancellations within one month prior to departure, will be non-refundable.
If cancelled with a valid reason, credit can be used for any future tour.
Please check with your insurance company that your vehicle is covered for an off-road trip through Namibia or the country you are intending to visit.
Breakdown assistance will be rendered onsite if practicable, at own costs.
Clients need to take out their own travel insurance and emergency evacuation cover in case of an emergency.
Option A Aus: Bahnhof Hotel (Owner B Roemer & D Curschmann); Aus Selfcatering Units (Owner B Roemer); Namib Garage, Klein Aus Vista;
Option B Rosh Pinah: Four Seasons Lodge (Owner Wiehan Köhler); There are no camping facilities in town.