The Remote Namib Desert

Deep in the far south-western corner of Angola, Dan Grec finds rock-strewn landscapes and remnants of ancient civilisation

- Dan Grec

Few people are aware that the mighty Namib Desert extends into southern Angola. This seldom-visited region lies in the very remote south-western corner of Angola, straddling the border with Namibia. My paper maps and S show virtually no roads, and not a single town for many hundreds of kilometres. I intend to take a route through some of the most remote, and least inhabited, terrain on the entire African continent.

To increase my maximum petrol capacity, I strap a 20-litre container to the spare wheel. Together with the stock tank and my Titan Transfer Tank, I now carry a touch over 150 litres of petrol. On good roads, I should manage 1200km, although I expect a week of deep sand, so the actual range will be much lower. Before leaving town, I also fill my water tank until it over flows, and buy all the tinned and dried food I can find.

Angola

Angola is famous for the civil war that raged virtually non-stop for 27 years – one of the most brutal the world has ever seen. Initiated immediately after independence at the height of the cold war, pro and anti-communist forces in Angola set the stage for a proxy war between the United States and the USSR (Russia). Both sides supplied weapons and money to their respective fighters, allowing the war to rage much longer than it otherwise would have. All told, over 500 000 soldiers and civilians were killed.

Since peace was declared in 2004, Angola has done a great deal to rebuild and move forward, and it is clear that locals are extremely happy now to be finally living in peace they just want to get on with life. During my six weeks in the country, literally hundreds of people have come up simply to welcome me and shake my hand. Even with the language barrier due to my lack of Portuguese every single person smiles warmly, and I genuinely feel that they are proud to have me in their country.