Road tripping Namibia.
Namibia has some of the world’s most scenic roads which are also some of the most dangerous and less traveled roads in the world!
There is an epic and breath-taking drive via the C14 road through the desert from Walvis Bay to Goageb in southern Namibia. Along this road, the village of Solitaire consists of a petrol station, a little shop, a chapel and a bakery / café claiming to have the best apple cake in Namibia! It’s totally true!
D707 is a sandy, gravel track in southern Namibia, between Swakopmund and Aus.
*By now I’ve proved that the prefix “D” on Namibian roads stands for Danger or Deadly!
The D707 is 123 km long, sandy with occasional gravel, in the middle of nowhere, linking the C27 and C13 roads. It passes through remote areas, so you need to be both mechanically and mentally prepared for a truly hectic, bumpy, slippery “road” which could be generously described as “gravel!” NOTE: This route is only suitable for 4x4’s and insanely brave drivers!
C27 is a gravel and sand road of 247 km in Southwestern Namibia in the Namib Desert. This was the longest, most deserted roads which I experienced in Namibia. Driving in the middle of the road was essential to my survival, as each vehicle which passes, flings the small, sharp stones to the shoulders, so driving in the very middle of the road provides the best chance for non-skidding and drifting and will certainly save unnecessary tyre damage!
C35 is another hectically rough gravel road, running through the Damaraland ... (*I tried taking one or two “D” roads to see if they would provide a more comfortable or shorter route, but they were equally as bad, or even worse.
On a positive note my “D” route detours led me to some of the Himba people, which was a highlight of the trip as I learned something about their culture and traditions. The Himba people are also wonderfully photogenic, and strongly recommended as colourful and strong subjects for any photographers.
C12. No even my experiences via the C27 and C35 could have prepared me for the C12!
From the Fish River Canyon, I stopped at a crossroad at Sesriem, as my map showed the C12 is the only route, but my modern GPS told me to take a detour of 27 km on the D545 route which never even appeared on my map! 🤔
Challenging my GPS, I decided to take the C12 instead of the D545. Not long after turning onto the C12, I realized that the D route was recommended for very good reason!
It was too late to turn back, and like everything else in life, the only way out was to push through it! Driving on that 35 km long road to hell, otherwise known C12 really scared me, and kept reminding me that there is time and a place for all of us to die, but thankfully the C12 route wasn’t the place, or my time 😉
There is an epic and breath-taking drive via the C14 road through the desert from Walvis Bay to Goageb in southern Namibia. Along this road, the village of Solitaire consists of a petrol station, a little shop, a chapel and a bakery / café claiming to have the best apple cake in Namibia! It’s totally true!
D707 is a sandy, gravel track in southern Namibia, between Swakopmund and Aus.
*By now I’ve proved that the prefix “D” on Namibian roads stands for Danger or Deadly!
The D707 is 123 km long, sandy with occasional gravel, in the middle of nowhere, linking the C27 and C13 roads. It passes through remote areas, so you need to be both mechanically and mentally prepared for a truly hectic, bumpy, slippery “road” which could be generously described as “gravel!” NOTE: This route is only suitable for 4x4’s and insanely brave drivers!
C27 is a gravel and sand road of 247 km in Southwestern Namibia in the Namib Desert. This was the longest, most deserted roads which I experienced in Namibia. Driving in the middle of the road was essential to my survival, as each vehicle which passes, flings the small, sharp stones to the shoulders, so driving in the very middle of the road provides the best chance for non-skidding and drifting and will certainly save unnecessary tyre damage!
C35 is another hectically rough gravel road, running through the Damaraland ... (*I tried taking one or two “D” roads to see if they would provide a more comfortable or shorter route, but they were equally as bad, or even worse.
On a positive note my “D” route detours led me to some of the Himba people, which was a highlight of the trip as I learned something about their culture and traditions. The Himba people are also wonderfully photogenic, and strongly recommended as colourful and strong subjects for any photographers.
C12. No even my experiences via the C27 and C35 could have prepared me for the C12!
From the Fish River Canyon, I stopped at a crossroad at Sesriem, as my map showed the C12 is the only route, but my modern GPS told me to take a detour of 27 km on the D545 route which never even appeared on my map! 🤔
Challenging my GPS, I decided to take the C12 instead of the D545. Not long after turning onto the C12, I realized that the D route was recommended for very good reason!
It was too late to turn back, and like everything else in life, the only way out was to push through it! Driving on that 35 km long road to hell, otherwise known C12 really scared me, and kept reminding me that there is time and a place for all of us to die, but thankfully the C12 route wasn’t the place, or my time 😉