Namibia | Kaokoland Desert Rivers

Meet in Ruacana at the Ruacana Eha Lodge between 13:30 and 14:00. After completing the necessary indemnity forms, we do a quick radio check and ensure that the vehicle fuel tanks are full. Drive in convoy to the Kunene River Lodge. If time allows we will make a quick stop at the Ruacana Falls and visit the site of the old Ruacana power station, an area of great significance during the Angolan Bush War. After settling in, get to know your fellow travellers and crew whilst your guide will enlighten you as to what expect over the next few days.

Depart early after breakfast for our next campsite destination at the foot of Van Zyl’s pass. Travelling south through the Okangwati village and then west into Kaokoland heartland. The Bhejane team would have prepared dinner which you can enjoy under big Ana trees whilst discussing the next day’s rocky drive over Van Zyl’s Pass.

The rustic campsite offers toilets and shower facilities but the water availability is limited. We will however ensure that your stay will be as comfortable as possible and that all your requirements are met.

Today’s exciting journey will be to conquer the Van Zyl’s Pass. Stop at the top of the Pass to marvel at the breathtaking views of the Marienfluss followed by the exhilarating Pass descent which will be an absolute adrenaline rush. Thereafter we head north through the grass fields of the Marienfluss valley towards the Kunene River.

Our campsite for the next two nights is on the banks of the Kunene River and has toilets and shower facilities. Spend the next day exploring the Marienfluss at your leisure or just relaxing at the campsite.

Sadly, after breakfast, we have to leave the banks of the Kunene River behind and drive down through the beautiful Marienfluss to our next destination.

We will be stopping for lunch at a famous landmark in Kaokoland called the Red Drum. The original drum was a red Caltex 45 gallon drum that Mr Ben Van Zyl left there after using it as a petrol stash. In those years you could actually leave petrol like this there without it being stolen!! In the end he used it as a marker and called it Rooidrom. The original drum at Rooidrom was taken by Hereros who would fill it with river water and take it to their cattle in the Marienfluss. This is one of the reasons why the area about 20km from Otjinungwa is so badly overgrazed. Chris Eyre, who was the nature conservator there, replaced it with a new drum that he painted red and it was immediately taken again. The last and third drum, he made full of holes and put gravel inside. It is still standing

After Lunch we will stop at the best little shop in Kaokoland, in a small village called Oropembe, for an ice cold beverage. We then follow the Khumib River for most of the afternoon, keeping a lookout for possible sightings of Desert Elephants and other wild life. We will enter the Hoarusib River which takes us all the way to Puros and our campsite. We will spend the next 2 nights here, enjoying the surrounding areas and the silence of nature in the evenings around the camp fire.

The camp sites for tonight will have toilets and shower facilities - again rustic, but we will ensure your comfort and needs are met.

An early start at around 7am finds us heading down the Hoarusib River, crossing over to the Hoanib River at Amspoort and heading to our next destination, the Khowarib schlucht. A long but beautiful day will see us searching for elephants, rhino and other wildlife and experiencing the ever changing landscapes of Kaokoland.

We will have the opportunity to refuel at Sesfontein that afternoon before heading for our campsite.

Our final day of driving will also see us driving in our last river in the Desert Rivers tour, leaving the Hoanib River behind and entering the Ombonde River. We will be spending most of the day in the river, driving in thick sand and through big dust holes and earning our 4x4 driving badges - a great way to finish off our unbelievable journey.

Our last night we will be camping outside Kamanjab at the Rustig Toko Lodge where the Bhejane team will have camp ready and a great dinner to end off our trip

Depart after a hearty breakfast, we bid farewell to our new friends until its time for our next Bhejane adventure!