Information on reserving campsites in Kaokoland, Namibia

Alex,

Thanks for all the useful advice. We are very excited to visit the
area. I just got a new map (Globetrotter Road Atlas of Nambia) which
is much better than the one I had. One more question. It looks like
there are two similar routes from Outjo to Sesfontein:

1. Take C39 west from Outjo through Khorixas then to Bersig, then
take the C43 north to Sesfontein.

2. Take C39 north from Outjo for a short distance and then take C40
west to Kamanjab and then take D2620 west via the Grootberg Pass to
Palmwag and then C43 north to Sesfontein.

Any preference?

Thanks,

Mike


(Slowcoach) wrote in message . com...
Hi Mike,

Between Etosha in the Southeast and Sesfontein, Ongongo in Northern
Damaraland is the Vetenary Fence or Cordon known as the Red Line.
There are only three gates, the main ones are on the Ruacana Road near
Hobatere and the Bersig/Sesfontein road at Palmwag.

So I guess you are refering to the other one via Kamdescha Gate. As
Koos says, it is a lovely route but very lonesome, maybe two vehicles
a day. It also passes through a series of rough dry river crossings
called the dust holes.

The dust is very thick and soft, at one spot I put one foot in nearly
up to my knee when checking the going.

This is the slowest route but it does take you through the Khowarib
Shlucht (Gorge) which is lovely.

There is a CBT campsite at Khowarib as well as at Ongongo (behind
Warmquelle Village), so I think you will find somewhere to stay.

=======

On a good day the drive from Palmwag to Sesfontein can reward you with
Giraffe, Elephants and small herds of Springbok so take it easy and
keep a look out.

The drive from Warmquelle to Sesfontein is lovely with many big trees
hiding bok and birds and again a chance of elephant, look out for
fresh spoor on the road.

The road from Sesfontein to Purros as it climbs up the pass on the way
to the Giribesvlakte is always rough at best but unless there are
washouts in the pass it is not a technical route.

You could consider a drive down the Hoanib west of Sesfontein if you
have time. You need a permit which you can get at the fort or at Dubis
Gate (near Elephant Song Campsite). The sand can be very heavy (deep
and soft) but it is easiest early in the morning while it is still
cool and hard. If you have room you should take a local guide, ask in
Sesfontein village or at the Fort; elephants can be surprisingly hard
to spot in the River and it is best to see them before you get too
close. By the way, too close is anything much less than 100m, these
are real elephants living in the wild and can show a lot of attitude
if you upset them if you are careful you will hardly disturb them at
all. If you do drive down the Hoanib ask for the track that bypasses
the thick dust near Sesfontein.

I hope that you like Damaraland it is superb. The game numbers are
good these days and the setting is very different to Etosha which as
you might expect is pretty flat.

Best Wishes

Alex

Hi Mike,

Yes they are quite different. If you have the option go in one way and
come out the other.

The Grootberg pass is quite dramatic and one of the few big true (up
then down) passes in Namibia. Many passes like the Kuiseb and Gaub are
down then up or the Tsarisburg, Spreetshoogte which are down or up
depending on the direction.

The Khorizas/Bersig route runs much closer to the coast and is more
desert like. As you turn North after passing Twyfelfontein you start
to see sand that has blown in from the coast coating the the rocky
hills to your west.

The Grootberg route is the more obviously dramatic but the
Twyfelfontein route is more typically Namibian, in my opinion anyway.

With regard to maps and the Globetrotter series in particular, there
is a tendency to include some fictional routes in Southern Damaraland.
The Globe Trotter I have shows several "Scenic Routes" in the Krone
Canyon, Doros and Goantagab ares, (Between the Springbokwasser/Bersig
road and the Ugab River north and west of the Brandberg. If you see
any routes like this ignore them. Tracks do exist but they are not
tourist routes in the general sense.

If you have any more questions could you send me an alert to check
back he

email me at:

a l e x (at) s l o w c o a c h . o r g

removing the the spaces and replacing the (at).

I do not check this group on a regular basis anymore.

Best Wishes
Alex
http://www.slowcoach.org/sct/namibia...brandberg.html