Windhoek to Swakopmund via Khomas Hochland

[Peter de Villiers]

I am planning to drive from Windhoek to Swakopmund via the Khomas
Hochland... Has anyone got any suggestions, hints or tips for me? This
would be my first time... I am planning to drive +- half way, camp
overnight, and then drive the rest of the trip to Swakopmund the next
day. Does anyone know the condition of the road(s)?

[Marc Hall]

Pieter, it's a fantastic, beautiful drive that will be relatively easily done.  Road surface is mostly hard gravel. Myself and mate did it on the GSes about 2 years back.  IIRC, the route is about 350km long and took us about 5 hours with frequent stops and casual riding - probably averaging 60 - 80km/h. Some parts of the road have a little loose gravel and there were, toward the end (Swakop side), a few sandy puddles but these were very minor and wouldn't be felt at all on 4 wheels.

 

Check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/8182813@N05/sets/72157600209171854/

 

 

mh

2009/4/15 Peter de Villiers <divv...@gmail.com>

[Mike Nieuwoudt]

Lovely route, try getting camping spot at Bludkoppe in Namib Park.

[Peter de Villiers]

Thanks very much Marc.... sounds exciting!!

On Apr 16, 7:18 am, Marc Hall <isiny...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Pieter, it's a fantastic, beautiful drive that will be relatively easily
> done.  Road surface is mostly hard gravel. Myself and mate did it on the
> GSes about 2 years back.  IIRC, the route is about 350km long and took us
> about 5 hours with frequent stops and casual riding - probably averaging 60
> - 80km/h. Some parts of the road have a little loose gravel and there were,
> toward the end (Swakop side), a few sandy puddles but these were very minor
> and wouldn't be felt at all on 4 wheels.
>

> Check outhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/8182813@N05/sets/72157600209171854/
>
> mh
>
> 2009/4/15 Peter de Villiers <divvi...@gmail.com>

[Peter de Villiers]

Thanks, will try that!!!

On Apr 16, 8:28 am, Mike Nieuwoudt <mnn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Lovely route, try getting camping spot at Bludkoppe in Namib Park.
>

> On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 5:59 PM, Peter de Villiers <divvi...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>
>
> > I am planning to drive from Windhoek to Swakopmund via the Khomas
> > Hochland... Has anyone got any suggestions, hints or tips for me? This
> > would be my first time... I am planning to drive +- half way, camp
> > overnight, and then drive the rest of the trip to Swakopmund the next
> > day. Does anyone know the condition of the road(s)?
>

> --
> ‘Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.’

[Peter de Villiers]

Hi MIke. do you know of a website where i can get more info on
Bludkoppe? I cannot find much info on it? I would like to enquire
about space etc. ASAP.

On Apr 16, 8:28 am, Mike Nieuwoudt <mnn...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Lovely route, try getting camping spot at Bludkoppe in Namib Park.
>

> On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 5:59 PM, Peter de Villiers <divvi...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>
>
> > I am planning to drive from Windhoek to Swakopmund via the Khomas
> > Hochland... Has anyone got any suggestions, hints or tips for me? This
> > would be my first time... I am planning to drive +- half way, camp
> > overnight, and then drive the rest of the trip to Swakopmund the next
> > day. Does anyone know the condition of the road(s)?
>

[Francois Visagie]

Hi Peter,

As I'm sure you know, the Khomas Hochland is huge! That means you can
take the direct or not so direct route. And I suggest you take as
indirect as you have time for! Just to name a few of the passes (apart
from the other attractions), there are Kupferberg Pass, Bosua Pass, Us
Pass, Gamsberg Pass, Spreetshoogte Pass, Remhoogte Pass...! The scenery
everywhere is breath-taking.

To give you an idea, see attached for the two day-route that we
travelled in that area in January. Despite taking two days, of course we
didn't include everything, and the days were still full.

It's advisable not to travel some of the passes with a trailer or
caravan. They are Bosua Pass and Spreetshoogte Pass if memory serves. If
it's important to you, the last but one (?) DriveOut has a description
of the passes (which doesn't do them justice but covers the
trailer/caravan issue), or check with a local establishment like Hakos
Guest Farm or Solitaire.

All roads there are gravel, generally wide and well maintained.
Subsequent to the recent rains maintenance teams might not have caught
up with all work, so caution is advised in depressions where water might
have crossed the road.

Enjoy!

Francois

[Peter de Villiers]

Francois Thanks... This helps a lot... I will have to do some more
"homework" in order to decide which route to take etc. The plan is to
drive halfway to Swakopmund the first day, camp over for one night
(still trying to decide where), and then drive the rest of the way to
Swakopmund the second day.
Thanks again... much appreciated!

On Apr 16, 9:24 am, "Francois Visagie" <fvisa...@za.spescom.com>
wrote:

>  Khomas Hochland.jpg
> 219KViewDownload

[S.J. Scheepers]

Hi Peter,

as you intend to stay over, you can also consider the southern route
to Walvis Bay (Kupferberg / Gamsberg road) and camp at the Kuiseb
river campsite... same as for Bludkoppe, it is unmanned, but you need
a permit - which I am sure can be obtained in Windhoek for a minimal
fee.

2009/4/16 Peter de Villiers <divv...@gmail.com>:

--
Skip
+264-81-124-2345

[Francois Visagie]

Good point. Generally you can obtain permits from any Ministry of Environment and Tourism office (including those at the entrances of some parks). Namib Naukluft Park's Namib section doesn't have entrance control so get your permit in Windhoek or elsewhere beforehand.

For us it worked out to: N$30 pppd x 2p + N$10 pvpd x 1v Entrance = N$70 per day.

[Mike Nieuwoudt]

Skip, have not been there for a decade, but then you could not even dare to compare Kuiseb River (at the bridge) camping with the beauty of Bludkoppe at sunset and in the morning!

[Marc Hall]

Eish, I assumed Peter (not Pieter:-) was meaning the direct route which IIRC is the C28.  Anyway, I cannot remember all of the individual passes we rode, but do remember that Bosua was one of them and it was definite not caravan unfriendly.  There may even be a photo of two of that pass in my photo set....

 

 

mh

2009/4/16 Francois Visagie <fvis...@za.spescom.com>