The Namib Desert is the oldest desert in the world, and it is home to the highest sand dunes in the world. The coast is scattered with shipwrecks, collapsed wooden buildings, and whale skeletons. It has a somewhat eery nature that makes it a truly unique experience. For a lot of people, this area is one of the main driving factors behind a visit to Namibia, and it is not an opportunity to be missed! Trips in the desert range from a couple of days to six day adventures.
The shipwrecks in the Namib desert are in unhospitable locations, so getting there is not easy. Some people decide to do a fly-by; however, to really experience these wrecks, driving into the desert is best. The desert is a protected area, and large areas are used for diamond mining, so you can't just attempt to drive to the wrecks yourself. The easiest way is to book onto a desert driving tour, which normally last six days between Luderitz and Walvis Bay. A reputable tour operator is Coastway Tours, and their tour will allow you to visit the Eduard Bohlen and Shawnee wreck as well as countless abandoned buildings and vehicles. The number of people who have been to these deserted locations is very few, and so if you really want a true sense of adventure, this tour is highly recommended! The sight as you drive between the Atlantic Ocean on one side and towering sand dunes on the other is incredible and something you won't find anywhere else. An added benefit is the significant lack of light pollution, meaning you can easily see the Milky Way, which is ideal for astrophotgraphy! Camping under the stars for six days in the desert isolated from the outside world is something you will struggle to find elsewhere!
It's important to realize that the dune driving is challenging and requires a lot of concentration. It's also compulsory to have a four-wheel drive vehicle with a low range gearbox for this tour. As you can probably imagine, there are no petrol stations in the desert, so you will need to carry fuel to last you the six days. Over the six days, you will cover approximately 630 kilometers. If this doesn't sound like you, that's not a problem. Tour companies exist that will drive you through the desert rather than having to drive yourself.
This is a must-do trip for anyone looking for a unique, challenging, once-in-a lifetime experience!
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