After the initial shock of visas and resolving the situation just before departure (you can find the full article about it here 👉 How we (almost) didn't go to Namibia ), we finally landed, picked up our car with a roof tent, and headed south.
Olive Trail – a walk through the gorge
Our first major stop took us to Naukluft National Park , where we chose the Olive Trail – a 10 km circular hiking trail. The well-marked trail took us first up to the plateau, then down an orange gorge over dry riverbeds and individual pools. One part of the trail requires some climbing skills! Apart from being careful at the steel mill, we walked it without any particular problems (with some encouragement, plenty of water and snacks 😉).
In the morning we met a few other hikers in the parking lot, but we were alone most of the time on the trail – except, of course, when we were surprised by a kudu along the way.
A permit is required for the hike , which you can purchase at the campsite of the same name (which is a few kilometers away from the Olive Trail sign).
Tip : Bring plenty of water, a hat and shoes with good grip. The terrain is rugged. There is shade once you reach the gorge.
Solitaire – a crossroads with character
After the hike, we found our base for exploration in Solitaire – a hamlet in the middle of the desert that is a gas station, bakery, mini-market, and exhibition of brown, rusty cars.
The campsite where we stayed overnight surprised us positively – it was tidy, peaceful, and had all the basic infrastructure.
The place is also famous for its apple pie , which is said to be the best in Namibia (or even in the world?), but unfortunately we didn't get to try it. There was no time.
Sossusvlei – postcards from another planet
The next day we headed to Sossusvlei , where Namibia's most famous landscape spreads out - sand dunes, dry white plains and lifeless trees, with so much character that you never forget them.
First we visited Deadvlei – a dry white basin with centuries-old trees and orange dunes in the background (Big Daddy Dune). Access is only possible by 4x4 vehicle or official shuttle bus.
The last part of the route, from the 2x2 parking lot onwards, goes over soft desert sand. There you have to deflate the tires to 1.4 bar and then... gas!
We set off on the nicely paved road in our own car, without any problems, but I admit - it was quite an adrenaline rush.
The photos that were taken were taken in the middle of the day , despite the strong sun – the pictures still came out beautifully. If you want the perfect light (sunrise or sunset), you have to sleep inside the park , as the gates only open to outside visitors at sunrise – when it is too late for the first golden light.
Unfortunately, we stayed outside the park, as the campsites inside the park were all full.
When visiting, it is essential to bring enough water and shoes (sandals are okay too), as the sand is very hot.
We climbed up first for the view. We climbed up towards Big Daddy Dune, but we didn't reach the top (the dune is about 380 m high), but we got a view of the entire Deadvlei valley and also the neighboring smaller and lesser-known valleys. Then we went down and did 101 poses on the white mud floor.
On the way back to Solitaire, we climbed up to Dune 45 , which is considered one of the most accessible and beautiful dunes. The kids ran up, but we... took it more slowly . But the view? Gorgeous.
In the evening we returned to our campsite in Solitaire , with sand in our shoes and a heart full of desert silence.
Next came the journey towards the sea – to Walvis Bay , the place where the desert meets the ocean.
But more about that... in the next post.