Off on an adventure in Namibia! (page 3 of 9)

I missed the start but caught up with the 4x4 😄 Namibia is the country that left the biggest impression on me, so I’m doubly happy to see it through your eyes again 😊

I missed the start but caught up with the 4x4 😄 Namibia is the country that left the biggest impression on me, so I’m extra happy to see it through your lens again 😍

Given how we roll when we’re traveling, it’s a feat that you caught up with us! 😇

April 16 – Day 6

In Namibia, the water in the South Atlantic is particularly chilly—bordering on freezing, actually. And that’s the case all year round, Christmas and New Year’s included, despite the scorching heat of the Namib Desert. Who’s to blame? Benguela, a cold current that runs along the west coast of Africa straight from Antarctica. On one side, you’ve got very cold water. On the other, super hot outside temperatures. What do you think happens when you rub those two together? If you remember even a little from your middle school science class, you’ll know—bingo! Fog and mist! And this morning, Alain Gillot-Pétré is predicting a whole lot of it along the coast where we’d originally planned to go. So, the war council decided: we’re staying strategically at our base in Mirabib this morning and heading to the coast only in the early afternoon, once the fog lifts.





"Okay, going to the coast is great, but what are we gonna do there?" Female protest! On this caffeine-fueled itinerary, Flo insisted on snagging a half-day of sunbathing at the beach, followed by a shopping spree... No, I’m kidding! Actually, around Walvis Bay, two coastal spots have piqued our wanderlust. First, the pink lakes—those flashy colors we saw online nearly blinded us. And most exciting, there’s one of the only places in the world where you can see massive dunes over 100 meters tall get brutally punched by the ocean. Needless to say, we wanna see that with our own two eyes...

Alright, quick picnic, and we’re off to the pink lakes! First, I can confirm they’re *actually* bright pink. Okay, but why, Jamy? Well, this surreal color comes from a high concentration of micro-algae—Dunaliella Salina to be exact—which produce a carotenoid pigment when exposed to high salinity and intense sunlight. It’s the same pigment that gives flamingos their color, by the way—flamingos aren’t naturally pink! Either way, this first stop is officially stamped "More beautiful and educational than a shopping trip!"









And what about the dunes at Sandwich Harbour? Well, getting there is trickier since it’s a national park, and the road that leads to it... doesn’t exist! You have to drive along the coast for kilometers on the beach, making sure to check the tide times—unless you fancy testing your 4x4’s amphibious mode.

Day 6 (continued)

Just getting there is an adventure in itself, but once you arrive, it’s all about the dunes, the sand, endless sand dunes... not to mention the vast blue ocean a hundred meters below, tirelessly battling the desert. Two forces of nature clashing in a grand spectacle... It’s amazing, it’s beautiful, it’s Namibian!











On the way back—bam! Instant flashback: A month and a half earlier, our van Kara, miserably stuck in a Californian wash, its rear end buried in the sand like an ostrich in the middle of an existential crisis... Except in this new episode of Franck and Flo’s adventures, we’ve put on our "Rescue Team" jerseys! A guy working for a local agency had completely bogged down his 4x4 in the wet sand of the beach, right up to the chassis. In his rearview mirror, it wasn’t just the tide he saw rushing in—it was a solemn goodbye to his vehicle, and, incidentally, the front door of the nearest French unemployment office. But he hadn’t counted on human solidarity—aka the CID, the International Confederation of Sand Extraction. While the waves were gaining ground, Germans, French, Americans, and Namibians organized a rescue operation... Everyone pooled their strength to pull this driver out of what was initially a very sticky situation. We dug, pushed, shouted, pulled, and started over. The engine roared, the wheels spun, sand flew... until deliverance! An explosion of smiles, relief, and thanks! For sure, tonight, facing the vastness of another wild Namibian campsite, we won’t just be toasting to the beauty of the landscapes...

There are so many places that look magical in photos but turn out to be such a letdown when you get there!

Then there are those spots you find stunning in person and later realize the photos just don’t do them justice ;)

Hi Franck, I always enjoy rediscovering your hilarious and precise travel reports, which introduce me to new (or forgotten) destinations in Namibia. Your current report makes me regret not daring to try wild camping, even though conditions in 2021 were unusual. We had many sites all to ourselves. By the way, just back from Ecuador—have you ever explored that underrated but rewarding country? I admire your writing and can’t wait for your next post. Thanks! @+

I love the phrase "off-the-beaten-path itinerary"!!!

Quick question: Did you go to Sandwich Harbour on your own or through a guide (and their vehicle)? I didn’t think it was possible.

I really get the feeling they were alone 🙂 Yes, it's possible, but insurers don't agree in the vast majority of cases.

Ah okay, I thought you needed a permit to enter the reserve. Anyway, I wouldn’t have ventured into the dunes with the 4x4—I was too scared of getting stuck! And when I remember the rollercoaster ride the driver took us on…

I can confirm it's possible to go there solo without a guide. The reserve entrance fee is the same. However, as you can see in the photos, it was high tide, and we couldn't walk along the sea...

Hi Franck, I always enjoy your hilarious and detailed travel reports that let me discover—or rediscover—Namibia’s destinations. Your current report makes me regret not daring to try wild camping, even though the conditions in 2021 were unusual. We were alone at many sites. By the way, just back from Ecuador—have you ever explored this underrated but rewarding country? I admire your writing and can’t wait for your next post. Thanks! @+

Thanks so much for your message! As for Ecuador, no, we’ve never been, but Ecuador, just like Colombia, has been catching my eye… Though it’s not on the agenda, not for 2026 or 2027, since our schedule is already packed! 😎

There are so many places that look magical in photos but what a letdown when you get there!

There are also spots that you find stunning in person and later think the photos just don’t do them justice 😉

I had that feeling a lot in Namibia. The landscapes were so incredible... The sense of solitude was so strong that I couldn’t capture it in my photos!

April 17 – Day 7

If you search the internet for "Namibia itinerary," it’s a safe bet that Moon Landscape will fly under the radar every time. Struck from the map. Unknown to most... I didn’t really understand why before coming here, seeing the few photos I found online. I understand it even less now that I’m standing on the porch of our four-wheeled room, facing the vastness and mineral beauty of the place. The least you can say is that the landscape lives up to its name perfectly: an endless string of arid valleys, jagged ridges, and rugged reliefs, sculpted by millions of years of erosion. Here, forget green and chlorophyll, forget flowers and fluttering butterflies. The painter used only a palette of grays, ochres, and browns, giving this scene a lunar look. A bit like I’d accidentally hit the “Desaturate” button on my phone while taking a picture of the landscape. And despite that—or rather, *because* of that—it’s magnificent...









A site that would’ve definitely become a national park in the U.S. with a magnet shop at the entrance! "Okay, but for that, the place would need to offer a bunch of hikes to explore, right?" Ah, excellent point—perfect timing, since I was just waking up Flo for a little leg-stretching adventure in the heart of this playground!



We set our sights on the Red Walking Trail. Totally on a whim, I’ll admit, since the promoters of the place seem to have taken a vow of silence when it comes to info... And luck smiles on us because, get this, we immediately rank this hike among our favorites. "Want to walk on the moon without leaving Namibia? The Red Walking Trail isn’t just a hike—it’s a sensory experience, a pause outside of time that makes you walk as much with your legs as with the curiosity of discovering what’s hiding behind the next bend. So, ready to get lost to be amazed? If so, the Red Walking Trail is waiting for you!"

Well, someone’s gotta do a little promotion for this stunning, unjustly overlooked spot, right?... So I’m stepping up! Anyway, it’s a must for your future trip to Namibia!

Day 7 (continued)



Next up, we’re backtracking a bit to revisit familiar trails as we head to Spitzkoppe. What? You don’t know Spitzkoppe, the rising star of Namibian tourism?... So, is this growing fame overrated or justified?... We’re going to investigate together... From a distance, you might think it’s just another mountain plopped down at random, like hundreds of others in Namibia. A cute little hill, nothing special. But the closer you get, the more your brain recalculates the proportions. That “little rock” grows bigger and bigger... until it transforms into a massive granite block planted in the middle of nowhere. The moment you can finally touch the rock is almost here...



Stop! Here, nature is breathtaking, but it comes at a price!... Relieved of a nice wad of bills, the amusement park finally opens up to you: an iconic arch, a few walks between the rocks, a short official hike with a mandatory paid guide to see some rock paintings, viewpoints for sunset with a glass of wine in hand, and if you want, you can settle in around the rock for the night—with a bonus, no extra charge, of a clear view of the Milky Way. That’s what keeps us busy for the afternoon and into the evening...

Day 7 (continued)





So, verdict?... We’re clearly not going to be picky. We had a really aesthetically pleasing time at Spitzkoppe. But—because of course there’s a "but"—as spectacular as it is, this scenery isn’t *that* unique on the scale of Namibia. Impressive rock formations, raw landscapes, breathtaking desert vibes, visual punches... the country dishes them out by the bucketload, often accessible without breaking the bank, and sometimes in even wilder spots that are way less crowded. So, it’s hard not to raise an eyebrow at the entrance fee, which seems more tied to the place’s growing popularity than its truly exceptional character... But of course, that’s just our humble, subjective opinion...

Has it really gone up that much? From what I remember (2017), it was just a few euros???

I didn’t quite get how far you went into Sandwich Harbor. Not very far because of the tide?

Hope you read my travel journal and turned off toward Messum Crater after Spitzkoppe. A paradise for those who love camping under the stars!

It’s increased that much? From what I remember (2017), it was just a few euros???

I didn’t quite get how far you went to Sandwich Harbor. Not very far because of the tide?

I hope you read my travel journal and turned off toward Messum Crater after Spitzkoppe. A paradise for those who love bivouacking !

Oh yes, I did read it!!! And the next two days were probably the most memorable for us. Thanks for that! For Spitzkoppe, yeah, the prices have skyrocketed: From what I recall, it’s now around 35 € (for 2). For Sandwich Harbor, we climbed up the first high dunes to get the viewpoints from my photos. Because of the high tide, we didn’t go any farther.

The moon landscape was calling to me too. After some research, most reviews recommended taking the most direct route to Spitzkoppe to have more time to enjoy it. Your travel journal makes me want to follow in your footsteps. Could you give me some info on the red walking trail? (where the starting point is, do I need to buy a permit?, duration, etc.) I couldn’t find anything online at all. Thanks!

Hi Franck,

Just 3 days to go before our trip to Namibia, and I'm thrilled reading your post and seeing your photos. There's nothing like a Sunday morning spent reading and browsing through your travel journal. I know my day is going to be great! Come on, keep making us dream a little longer. My adventure begins Thursday morning when we pick up our ride at Windhoek Airport. To be continued... Loïc

Our African travels channel https://www.youtube.com/@lolodetoul54

Moonlandscape was calling to me too. After checking, most reviews advised taking the most direct route to Spitzkoppe to have more time to enjoy it. Your travel journal makes me want to follow in your footsteps instead. Could you give me some info on the Red Walking Trail? (where does it start, do I need to buy a permit, how long does it take...) I found absolutely nothing online about it. Thanks!

I’d actually advise you not to follow the reviews that suggest heading straight to Spitzkoppe. Follow our route and make sure to stop at Moon Landscape—you won’t regret it! As for the Red Walking Trail, it’s not well-known at all, but you’ll find it easily because there’s a sign for it on the side of the only road that crosses the park. Speaking of the park, there are no entry fees—everything is free! The sign is about 200 meters before you reach the Goanikontes Oasis Rest Camp. After the hike, I’d recommend stopping by the camp for a drink. It’s peaceful, cool, and the bar’s decor is worth the trip! There you go—now you’ve got half a day of your road trip sorted before heading to Spitzkoppe!