Off on an adventure in Namibia! (page 4 of 9)

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 more. My adventure starts Thursday morning when we pick up our ride at Windhoek Airport. To be continued, Loïc

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

Hey Loïc! Alright, I’ll try to keep making you dream. With what’s coming, it shouldn’t be hard...

April 18 – Day 8



Gas, check! Water, check! Food, check! Smile, check! We’re all set for the adventure! Because, yes, I didn’t warn you, but today’s the day we’re heading out on an expedition into the middle of nowhere! Two days of total self-sufficiency, cruising the backroads of Namibia on rough, sandy tracks—or sometimes both at once. Some might call it the price of freedom. No signal, no assistance, no "go back" button, no lifeline to call a friend—our phones are reduced to mere flashlights... Two hundred and twenty kilometers of pure thrills. But just as many potential disaster scenarios... Anyway, not much to see, but plenty to experience ahead!

Alright, we’re perched on the hood of our Fortuner, doing a "road map" check: The grand entrance is near Cape Cross, and we’re hoping to make it back to civilization around Twyfelfontein. "Wait a sec... Cape Cross... Isn’t that the beach with the world’s largest seal colony?" Yes, sir! Emergency brake! Mandatory stop! 200,000—that’s their number according to the protesters. 150,000 according to the police. But now that we’re here, we’re counting them in hectares of seals! Either way, like Palavas-les-Flots in the middle of August, if you’ve got 200,000 people crammed onto a beach, it’s loud and it stinks! And sure enough, it stinks, but we pretend our noses are plugged to watch the show—these clumsy creatures on land, yet so agile and fast in the water. They grunt, they bark, they bleat, they bellow... A full-on cacophony concert! But despite the smell and the noise, the spectacle is almost hypnotic...

Day 8 (continued)

A fun little intro before what’s in store for us now! Because just a short distance past Cape Cross, our right turn signal kicks in to mark the start of the adventure with a capital A. So long, sacred paved road! First qualifying challenge: there’s really no track to follow in the strictest sense. Not to mention the GPS floundering in some kind of gross baby-food mush... To make progress in this hard-sand desert, old-school style, we just head straight, following a bearing: the Messum Crater, which we reach after about an hour of rough navigation. Now, if I tell you we’re alone on the moon, do you believe me? But if I say it’s beautiful, don’t—we’d be way off the mark! Wow, just wow! And double wow when we climb the rocky promontory majestically perched in the middle of the massive caldera... Only the pile of stones marking the summit reminds us we’re not the first humans to set foot in this surreal world...













Honestly, we’d be totally happy if our day ended right here. But we keep going, and the landscapes just keep getting more incredible and changing with every turn—this time with the imposing Brandberg massif in our sights. A massive XXL range we have to skirt around to the west. The old clunker’s repeating itself, but once again, we’re facing a completely different environment. Different in its makeup, but just as consistently enchanting. Flo and I exchange glances and smiles—she got that I got that she got it... But seriously, what is this crazy landscape? The mineral relief here stretches endlessly with super-fine rock strata, just begging to be admired...

Hi there, I'm jumping in a bit late, but can't wait to read the rest of the adventures! 🙂

Day 8 (continued)



Because of the varied landscapes, we really feel like we're living several days in one. You won't believe this, but we're now entering a canyon to follow the dry riverbed. To mix things up, the rock has decided to wear a tight lava-colored dress this time. Not only does it look stunning—yet again—but from here on, the road conditions take a serious turn for the worse. Deep sand, rough patches, sharp rocks, river crossings... Luckily, the 4x4’s low-range gearbox handles its mission without breaking a sweat!









So, what could we possibly imagine to top off this already perfect day in our adventurer’s dreams? Bam—around a bend, who shows up for our Tinder date? Not one, not two, not three, but four beautiful young ladies. Tall and elegant, long lashes, graceful strides... Four giraffes just as surprised as we were by this chance encounter! "Congratulations, your day just hit max enchantment level!"







This day truly exceeded all our expectations, and to be honest, we weren’t expecting this much. Not a single car crossed our path during the entire journey, no technical issues to report, and a continuous sense of wonder with every kilometer. How do we wrap up this first expedition day in the best way possible?... Roadside in the middle of the savanna at the foot of the Doros Crater, cold beers in hand, meat grilling over our improvised campfire, smiles plastered on our faces... What else could we ask for?

Hi there, I’m jumping in a bit late, but so excited to read the rest of the adventures! 🙂

Your delay is forgiven 😛 Welcome to our little adventure!

Very deep sand, very brittle sections, protruding rocks, fords to cross...

That’s really not for me... the stress would stop me from enjoying the scenery!

Very deep sand, very brittle sections, protruding rocks, fords to cross...

Well, that’s not for me... the stress would stop me from enjoying the scenery!

Worst case, you’ve got Europ Assistance! 😏😏😏

It’s true that during those 2 days of self-sufficient travel, we didn’t come across... anyone! Breakdowns were a no-go... But that’s exactly what made this adventure so exceptional!

Thanks Franck :) Do you remember how long it took to do this hike? Is it a loop?

Thanks Franck :) Do you remember how long it took to do this hike? Is it a loop?

On paper, it's an out-and-back. But we did it as a loop in 1h30. Actually, when you reach the top to enjoy the view of the valley, there's no path left and you're supposed to turn back. However, there's a rocky trail just below that lets you descend into a gorge down to the valley. Not exactly safe, but we took it and it turned out to be pretty manageable. You end up at the farm down below, right across from the camp I mentioned in my previous post!

Wow, what a visual knockout with Messum Crater! 😊 A true marvel! While taking a turn on a road in the AFS at nightfall, we also came across a group of three giraffes (our first ever, by the way). They were just as surprised as we were, and it remains one of my best memories from this trip

Wow, Messum Crater was a visual knockout! 😊 Absolutely stunning! While driving through the South African countryside at night, we also came across a group of 3 giraffes (our first ever, by the way). They were just as surprised as we were, and it’s one of my best memories from this trip!

... and I’m so frustrated I can’t share more photos... 😕

Perfect! Thanks! 🙂It's a deal

I'm blown away by the beauty and variety of the landscapes you're crossing. I thought Namibia was just for seeing wild animals, which doesn’t interest me... Normally, I wouldn’t look at travel journals about this kind of trip, but when it’s signed by Bibouns51, I decide to follow along just for the pleasure of reading. So, I’m discovering these stunning landscapes—thank you!

I'm blown away by the beauty and variety of the landscapes you're crossing. I thought Namibia was just for seeing wild animals, which doesn’t interest me... Normally, I wouldn’t look at travel journals about this kind of trip, but when it’s signed by Bibouns51, I decide to follow along just for the pleasure of reading. So I’m discovering these stunning landscapes—thank you!

Thanks Noëlle for such a nice message! To be honest, I’m not a big fan of animal-focused trips either. Let’s just say if there are a few, that’s fine, but only to enhance some already magnificent landscapes. And Namibia, in terms of landscapes, is absolutely breathtaking! 😏 And I recommend following along because it’s not over yet!

Still, I keep explaining over and over in threads that Namibia is first and foremost a landscape destination... Richtersveld is missing from Franck’s loop, but his itinerary was already packed.😅

Maybe Palmwag too—time will tell?

South Africa also suits those who prefer landscapes over animals. No one’s forced to go to Kruger or Addo.

For Botswana, I’m more skeptical... It’s really more of a wildlife country than a landscapes one...

Yet I keep explaining over and over in threads that Namibia is primarily a landscape destination... Frank’s loop is missing the Richtersveld, but his itinerary was already packed.😅

Maybe Palmwag too—time will tell?

South Africa also suits those who prefer landscapes over animals. No one’s forced to go to Kruger or Addo.

For Botswana, I’m more skeptical... It’s honestly more of a wildlife country than a landscapes one...

I don’t know South Africa well, but I totally agree with you about Namibia and Botswana. Uganda has the advantage of offering both, even if the landscapes aren’t desert-like. Thanks, Franck, for this travel journal! A+

Mea culpa! My idea of Namibia was totally preconceived, I admit I hadn't read anything about this destination—not even the other travel journals posted here. Shame on me🤪

Yet I keep explaining over and over in threads that Namibia is first and foremost a landscape destination... Richtersveld is missing from Franck’s loop, but his itinerary was already packed.😅

Maybe Palmwag too—time will tell?

South Africa also suits those who prefer landscapes over wildlife. No one’s forced to go to Kruger or Addo.

For Botswana, I’m more skeptical... It’s honestly more of a wildlife country than a landscapes one...

Palmwag? Yes, it’s on the agenda for the coming days! But also, spoiler alert, the Epupa Falls region blew me away!

Richtersveld will be part of another trip to South Africa. This time, I admit I was tempted by the extension, but it was just too much... 😏

Still, I keep explaining over and over in threads that Namibia is primarily a landscape destination... Franck’s loop is missing the Richtersveld, but his itinerary was already packed.😅

Maybe Palmwag too—time will tell?

South Africa also suits those who prefer landscapes over wildlife. No one’s forced to go to Kruger or Addo.

For Botswana, I’m more skeptical... It’s really more of a wildlife country than a landscapes one...

I don’t know South Africa, but I totally agree with you about Namibia and Botswana. Uganda has the advantage of offering both, even if the landscapes aren’t desert-like. Thanks, Franck, for this travel journal! See you!

Ahhh, Uganda... 😛 Thanks for following our adventures!