The Adventure

The Namib Desert is a unique part of Southern Africa, which on first impression looks dangerous, uninviting and devoid of any life.

This impression, however, is very deceiving, as the Namib is full of surprises, with a rich treasure of discovery for those fascinated by its unique beauty.

This area has been off limits to tourists in the past due to the extensive mining activity that has taken place there during the last century.

Fortunately, for off-road enthusiasts, the government is now allowing limited access into this area to environmentally controlled groups. For this reason a maximum of only ten vehicles will be allowed to participate in this tour.

With the Bhejane 4x4 Adventure Team, you will enter the desert north of Aus for a desert and coastal dune experience, conducted in a safe and environmentally sensitive manner.

On this specific tour:

• You will need a four-wheel drive vehicle with good ground clearance and low range.

• The tyres on your vehicle cannot be low profile road tyres but must be high profile floating tyres with off road capabilities.

• You do not need any previous sand driving experience.

• You will need to carry at least three days' worth of personal washing and drinking water.

• Petrol vehicles will need at least 200 ltr of fuel and diesel vehicles 160 ltr (this is inclusive of what is in your on-board fuel tanks)

• Bhejane provides all the tents and camping equipment, and sets up and takes down the camps.

The Team

Your tour leader is an experienced nature conservationist and adventure guide. He will be in radio contact with you at all times and impart a wealth of biological, cultural, historic and four-wheel drive knowledge.

Three meals a day will be prepared by our experienced bush chef in his mobile kitchen, with fresh salads, potjiekos, braais and many other surprises appearing on the menu. The good old “koffie pot” will be on the fire from six till late.

Though this self-drive adventure can get “exciting” and is sometimes not a “walk in the park”, we will at all times practice safe off-road driving techniques and should you experience any difficulty, the Bhejane crew have the “know how” and recovery equipment to assist with off-road problems.

Some of our overnight stops will be rustic and unusual, but you will never the less at all times be safe, the crew will spare no effort to make you comfortable, provide you with good wholesome food and, most importantly, see that you have a good time.

Adventure itinerary

Day 1:

The group will meet in one of two places in the late afternoon: either on a private game farm 120km north of Aus, or at a campsite close to the town of Aus. This is due to the fact that our entry point into the desert can be changed due to prevailing winds. Our camp for the night has formal ablution facilities and is on the eastern boundary of the Naauwkloof National Park. In the evening, whilst being treated to a good meal, your tour guide will elaborate on what lies ahead over the next few days.

Day 2:

An essential safety briefing follows an early breakfast. This is not intended to intimidate, but rather to ensure that everyone is comfortable with the challenges that lie ahead. Then it’s time to begin our incredible journey.

After negotiating a vast expanse of rugged quarts stone valleys the driving conditions gradually become sandier, allowing the group to adjust to the different driving techniques.

We leave the farm and make our way via a private entrance gate into the Naauwkloof National Park. The area that we will enter has only recently been made available to the public and is the most uncommercialised four-wheel drive concession area in the Namib Desert.

We start heading westwards and move past petrified dunes that are over a million years old. At first the sand driving is relatively easy and this allows all participants the opportunity to find their "sand feet" slowly. As this is not a competition or a challenge, there is ample time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and learn your and your vehicle's abilities.

Like the Bushman before us, we stop to rest at a rocky overhang where the Awasib fountain used to flow and enjoy a picnic lunch.

We then move on into the bigger dunes but not before seeing numerous ostriches and gemsbok who will not be concerned about our presence at all.

Our rustic camp site for the night is in the vicinity of the Urihauchab Mountains and the precise location is determined by wind direction.

The camp sites for the next three nights will all have long-drop toilets and bucket shower facilities - rustic, but we will ensure your comfort and needs are met.

Day 3:

Today, our destination is the coast and the 30km wide, massive dune belt bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the dunes we will cross will be in excess of 100m high but, do not fear, we'll get you there safely. There will be time for some dune boarding antics for young and old and lunch is enjoyed at the base of the 30km long Langewand Dune.

For the not so faint-hearted, there is the opportunity to take a swim in the chilly Atlantic Ocean.

Tide permitting, we stay driving on the beach moving down the coast via a very large seal colony, to our campsite on the beach near Sylvia Hill.

Tonight, we will be treated to one of Africa's most beautiful sunsets.

Day 4:

Another early start after a hearty breakfast, and we leave the coast, heading back inland via a number of old mining relics. These are a reminder of the harsh conditions. We will be on the constant look out for the elusive Namibian Desert Sidewinder and the Large Neck-flapped Chameleon, both endemic to this area. We will, of course, at all times, especially after dark, be serenaded by the desert's Black backed Jackals and, if lucky, we'll catch a glimpse of the elusive Strandwolf.

We spend our last night in the desert paradise.

Day 5:

We unfortunately have to leave the desert, but our adventure is still far from over. Today we move through the lunar like landscape of bit red dunes bordering the Koichab Depression with its massive quartz rock beds and dead camel thorn trees. En route we will pass Dik Willem, a prehistoric volcano, and will also travel into the area well known for sightings of the wild horses of the Namib Desert.

Our camp site for the night is on the outskirts of the town of Aus and, once again, has formal ablution facilities. There will be time in the late afternoon to refuel vehicles for the homeward journey the next day.

Day 6:

Sadly, after breakfast, it we must bid you farewell as we all head for home and back to the “grindstone”, that is until your next Behjane 4x4 Adventure experience.