A 4x4 Camping trip in Namibia

An adventure for those seeking something different

- Stuart Reichardt

I last experienced wonderful Namibia during my military service in the early 80s and that stay was confined to the northern towns of Oshakati and Ondangwa. Besides firing numerous 12.7 anti-aircraft rounds at nothing in particular from the elevated vantage point of the water tower I was confined to, there was little opportunity to take in the beautiful landscape that is the beating heart of this incredible country. When the offer came in from Marko Paape, manager of Accessory Fitment Centre and supplier of Ironman 4X4 products, to undertake a 4X4 camping trip, I jumped at the chance.

After a short flight from Cape Town to Windhoek, I met the participants and dealers that made up the trip complement and had a quick introduction from the event organiser and a briefing from Johan ‘Muis’ von Wielligh, our guide and chef for the trip. Then we were on our way to Spitzkoppe for our first overnight stay.

If you ever want to purchase quartz crystals, Desert Rose clusters, and other naturally-faceted semi-precious gems, then Namibia is the place to find them. I purchased a variety of crystals along the way to Spizkoppe from roadside vendors, which were much more reasonably priced than the shops selling the same thing. The dust road to Spizkoppe is an easy drive and on arrival at the designated camp area set next to a large koppie, we set up camp and took in the beautiful panorama that surrounded us. It is a barren and arid country, yet it breathes with a beauty of own, full of life. If you look a little deeper by lifting up the corner of the fine dust carpet … there are bird species, dassies, aardvark, lion, rhino, buffalo, reptiles, antelope, some incredible plant life, and mineralisation that is otherworldly. The ground shimmers and glitters as the sunlight catches the fine facets of the gems that lie in abundance on the surface. This is Namibia at its sparkling finest.