| Imagine a place so remote that you do not see | | | | antelope such as Eland or Kudu grazing on the |
| another human being for days. Imagine a trail | | | | sparse grass and vegetation. |
| through desolate valleys, over mountains and | | | | The Die Valle overnight shelter is surrounded on |
| across large flat plains of sand, rocks and tufts of | | | | three sides by mountains, and the sun tends to |
| dry grass. The Naukluft Hiking Trail in Namibia | | | | set rather early behind these mountains. Water is |
| takes you through such a place. | | | | left here in a small water tanker which may not |
| It all starts at an old house perched on top of a | | | | contain much water especially at the end of the |
| small hill in what is known as the Namib-Naukluft | | | | hiking season, so washing is very limited on this |
| Park in South Western Namibia. Hikers Haven is | | | | day. |
| the base camp of this incredible trail. Here one can | | | | Day six tends to be the longest and most difficult |
| enjoy one last beer, grilled steak and warm | | | | of the whole trail. Even though it is only 16km |
| shower. There after follow 8 days of carrying a | | | | long, one spends most of the day going up. |
| heavy backpack through some of the most | | | | Immediately after leaving the Die Valle overnight |
| beautiful and desolate areas Namibia has to offer. | | | | shelter, there is a 200m vertical climb to the top |
| Normally one needs to get up at about 5 in the | | | | of a waterfall. There after one follows a gorge |
| morning to be able to hit the trail by 7. Day one is | | | | and stream that feeds this waterfall for most of |
| no exception, and covers a distance of 14km. | | | | the day, climbing ever upwards. |
| There is a lovely lookout point at "Panorama" as | | | | It is along this gorge that one comes across |
| one starts rising up into the mountains a few | | | | some interesting geological formations called Tufa. |
| kilometers into the hike. Spend some time here | | | | Tufa is a sedimentary rock containing a lot of |
| and enjoy the view of the plain below. | | | | carbonates that are deposited by means of |
| From here the trail steadily rises higher up into the | | | | water. It often forms at waterfalls or streams. |
| Naukluft Mountains. A good spot for lunch is | | | | Here in this gorge, the Tufa looks like a gigantic |
| "Fontein Kloof". There are some large trees for | | | | solidified waterfall. Higher up one comes across a |
| shade and the spring usually flows. | | | | huge fig tree whose roots run all along a small cliff |
| As with most of the overnight shelters on this | | | | face. |
| trail, the shelter at "Putte" for tonight is merely a | | | | Once on top of the gorge, there is a small flat |
| square stone structure with a wall about 1.2m | | | | plateau to cross before starting the long descent |
| high, over which a tin roof is supported by some | | | | along an old jeep track to the Tufa overnight |
| steal pipes. The floor is gravel. Approximately | | | | shelter. Be careful at the bottom of the track as |
| 150m from the shelter is a borehole with a big | | | | the shelter is almost hidden amongst some |
| flywheel that needs to be turned for water. | | | | bushes to the left. Water is again supplied in the |
| Day two is 15km in length and takes one into the | | | | form of a borehole next to a dried out stream |
| famous Ubusis Kloof or ravine. The descent into | | | | bed about 150m from the shelter. |
| the ravine is accomplished with the aid of a | | | | Day seven covers 14km and takes one to the |
| number of chains, some of which are up to 30m | | | | highest, and usually the coldest point of the hike |
| in length and act as aids down the cliff faces. As | | | | at Kapokvlakte. |
| one descends further down, a geological time | | | | From the Tufa overnight shelter, the trail crosses |
| capsule is exposed in the layers of rock to ones | | | | some very large boulders as it heads in the |
| sides. The scenery is quite breathtaking. | | | | direction of the mountains again. At the base of |
| Ubusis hut is the only "normal" accommodation on | | | | the mountains that eventually lead up to |
| this trail. This hut used to be a small vacation | | | | Kapokvlakte, there are some chains to help one |
| home many years ago when the area still | | | | up some of the more difficult cliff faces. |
| consisted of farms. Water is supplied by means | | | | Once at the top, the trail follows a steadily rising |
| of a wind pump and borehole. | | | | dried out stream bed until it reaches the top at |
| Day three takes one back out of Ubusis Kloof the | | | | World's View. The name is very appropriate, as |
| way one went down the day before. At the top, | | | | one can see for many kilometers into the |
| once one reaches Bergpos, the trail turns due | | | | distance. It's a good place to stop for awhile and |
| north across Kudu Plains. This day is only 12km | | | | admire the view across the plains below, and to |
| long and is considered the easiest of all the days. | | | | the mountains on the other side. From here the |
| At the end of the Kudu Plains lies the Adlerhorst | | | | terrain is fairly flat and the going easy. |
| overnight shelter, which can be reached by the | | | | The Kapokvlakte overnight shelter is usually |
| early afternoon. This leaves plenty of time to | | | | reached by early afternoon. The shelter is hidden |
| admire the scenery and relax a bit. Water is again | | | | behind a clump of bushes which are virtually the |
| supplied via a borehole with a handle on top of the | | | | only larger vegetation in the area. The rest of the |
| pipe. | | | | plateau is covered in short grass and the |
| When we got there, the opening of the borehole | | | | occasional small bush. Kapokvlakte can get very |
| pipe was covered in hundreds of bees | | | | cold at night, and the use of a down feather |
| desperately waiting for someone to turn the | | | | sleeping bag is a must here. |
| handle and pump some water out for them. | | | | The last day has finally arrived. By now everyone |
| Nobody got stung even once. It seems as if they | | | | is dreaming of fat steaks and beer, but there is |
| realized that the humans coming to this place | | | | still a 16km slog ahead. A few kilometers across |
| were their only hope of getting some water. | | | | the top of the plateau, and the trail makes its long |
| The fourth day tends to be a bit tricky, and is | | | | descent along a winding gorge down to Hikers |
| quite long at 17km. The tricky part comes when | | | | Haven. |
| one has to descend a waterfall in a dried out river | | | | As the day gets warmer one can hear more and |
| bed with the help of a long chain. The angle of the | | | | more insects and other small creatures in this |
| rocks makes this a difficult descent. | | | | lonely gorge. Be careful of picking up rocks. Very |
| Further on there is another steep descent down | | | | often there are scorpions hiding underneath them. |
| the side of a mountain of loose slate. In the past | | | | As one gets lower down the trail, there are small |
| this has been the cause of injuries to hikers | | | | pools with large trees on the sides which make |
| slipping on the slate. | | | | for good resting spots. A few hundred meters |
| The Tsams-Ost overnight shelter contains a large | | | | from Hikers Haven, there is a camp site. Here |
| water tank on a perch that is supplied with water | | | | one may come across the first other humans |
| from a borehole and wind pump. It is possible to | | | | again after having spent so many days in the |
| have a cold shower standing underneath the tank. | | | | wilderness. By now you may also spot the roof |
| The next day, day five, starts off with a stiff | | | | of the old house at Hikers Haven. Just a few |
| climb up the mountain behind the Tsams-Ost | | | | hundred meters more and one is back. What a |
| overnight shelter, and covers another 17km. | | | | time it had been! |
| Some hours later one reaches Melkbos Plain. This | | | | Now one can finally get a hot shower again! For |
| plain involves many kilometers of marching along | | | | those that brought vacuum packed meat and |
| sandy tracks and through dried out river beds. It | | | | managed to keep it cool in their cars over this |
| is here that one is most likely to see herds of | | | | period, there will be a feast tonight! |