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 tour starts in Aus.
All participants gather around 09h00 at the Bahnhof Hotel, packed and fuelled, ready to go. All vehicles will be issued with a radio.
The first leg takes us about 40 km on the C 13 tar road towards Rosh Pinah, where we turn off onto farmland which constitutes the Namib Huib Plateau Park, a private game park in the making.
Venturing westwards past a treacherous killer waterhole, which has claimed many lives of thirsty Oryx antelopes over the years to an abandoned windmill, which used to nurture a fig tree in its shade. The water supplying windmill is gone for many years, the figtree not!
Interesting geological formations and mountain passes are lying on the route, which takes us to an overnight spot in the Boomrivier.
The day kicks off with a 4×4 challenge for those who have taken in enough energy and courage during breakfast to tackle an slightly more than normal obstacle. The reward is a stunning 360 degree view over the desert and the adjacent farmland.
Abandoned, desert-like farmland with interesting geological features will be traversed, passing many sorry sights of abandoned homesteads where memories of previous lifestyles can be pondered about.
The overnight spot for this day has to be conquered, as it lies about 400 meters above the land we travel on, yet 100 meters lower than its immediate environment, at the foot of a massive natural waterfall phenomenon.
Getting out of the mountain awards stunning views over the endless desert landscapes, while descending to the below in low range gear.
From here we travel directly westward to an entry gate into the Tsau//Khaeb National Park, the previous Diamond Sperrgebiet.
The track leads us past Borehole 2, a relic of erstwhile emergency farming activities of the early 60`s into the Tsaus mountains and the huge Anib clay pan.
Once again we venture westwards to Camp Gabuseb, an barely used MEFT rondavel which affords some protection from possible winds, at the same time awarding stunning views in an easterly direction.
The route takes us southwards past the Uguchab River to the Aurus Viewpoint, which culminates in a 2 km circular walkway to Africa Rock through vegetation which entails plants which are nowhere else to be found in the world.
The Roter Kamm impact crater is the best preserved site of its kind, because it is covered with red dune sand. The impact of a foreign object from outer space occurred some 2.5 million years ago.
Depending on wind and weather we are heading for a camping spot in the dunes next to a huge !Narabos or alternatively for a windsheltered valley.
Depending on the locality of the overnight spot, we either start off in the dunes directly in a northerly direction or alternatively venture back for about 15 km and enter the dune field from here, also moving north.
Upon exiting the dune field the track takes us along the Uguchab River past Borehole 4 to Borehole 5, a beautifully intact water installation of yesteryear.
The overnight spot lies in a riverbed under camelthorn trees, offering some shelter against wind.
The track takes us past the impressive mine dumps of the closed down Scorpion Zinc Mine, relics of 18 years of mining activities.
The furthest leg south will be the Obib Fountain, likewise at remnant of emergency farming operations in the 1960`s.
From here we exit the Tsau//Khaeb National Park via the Obib Park Exit Gate at Rosh Pinah.
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
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.