Uri Adventures

5 Days Faces of the Namib

Discover this desert’s unique treasures…

A world of infinite horizons, dramatic vistas and fascinating flora and fauna…

Reported to be the oldest desert on earth, the Namib is approximately 80 million years old. Completely devoid of surface water, it is bisected by several dry riverbeds and is characterised by extensive, undulating dunes. The Sahara may be larger and Gobi more isolated, but the Namib is the very oldest, so on this trip, prepare for the best desert experience possible! Our aim with this trip is to cross the desert from east to west experiencing all the wonders this desert has to offer.

 

 

With the assistance of our knowledgeable and experienced guides you will gain an insight into the history and biology of the untamed land.Training and advice will be given en-route and our guides will be on hand to talk you through any obstacles you might encounter. 2 Way radios are issued to each vehicle at the beginning of the trip. Not only are our guides there to get you to your final destination in a safe, enjoyable manner, but to provide you with 3 excellent meals each day.

Uri Adventures

The Adventure...

 The Conception Adventure has been developed as a joint venture between the Topnaar Community and URI Adventures. 

The Conception Adventure is an unique adventure taking place in the vast sand sea of the Namib Desert south of Walvis Bay offering the ultimate challenge for

 thrill seekers with off-road endurance and a taste for adventure. 

Time wise there are various options to choose from when planning your Conception trip - the total trip's duration is 4 days/3 nights but some of the sections can be done in isolation, thus allowing the participant to do some of the sections in as little as 2 days. 

The rest of the trip can then be done on a more convenient time. Each of the sections offers it's own unique experience and scenery. For this reason it is possible to brake the whole route into shorter tours with very little overlapping on any of the highlighted points in the itinerary.

Local news from the Gondwana Collection

It’s a verdant Desert
The clay pan of Sossusvlei in the heart of the Namib, surrounded by the highest dunes on earth, has turned into a big lake. A few days ago those who wanted to see this rare spectacle of nature had to walk for 5 km because the seasonal Tsauchab River, which flows into Sossusvlei, had swept away part of the gravel road to the vlei. The eastern fringe of the Namib Desert, which you pass on the way to Sossusvlei, has turned into a vast silvery-green sea of grass. At Namib Desert Lodge, nestled at the foot of the fossilized dunes, a bank of sand had to be heaped up to protect the lodge from flooding.

The Kalahari Desert in eastern Namibia is also decked out in greenery and blooms. The Auob River flooded the depressions near Stampriet and enclosed the rise on which Kalahari Farmhouse is situated. At times guests had to park their cars at the riverbank and climb onto a hanger to be taken through hundreds of metres of shallow water by tractor. At Aus in the south-westerly parts of the country a kayakist used the opportunity for a trip on the seasonal river in flood. The monthly figures have beaten all records, at least since the time that rainfall results were recorded. Here are this season’s figures (from 1 September 2010):
Etosha Safari Lodge & Camp at Etosha National Park – 274.8 mm (annual average: approx. 300 mm; in February alone: 99.8 mm).
Damara Mopane Lodge near Khorixas - 306 mm (approx. 150 mm / 139.8 mm)
Kalahari Anib Lodge northeast of Mariental – approx. 300 mm (approx. 250 mm / no data available). Kalahari Farmhouse near Stampriet – 275.4 mm (approx. 250 mm / 112.0 mm).
Namib Desert Lodge north of Sossusvlei/Sesriem – 258.6 mm (approx. 100 mm / 160.6 mm).
Cañon Roadhouse east of the Fish River Canyon – 74.7 mm (approx. 80 mm / 64.6 mm).
Klein-Aus Vista near Aus – 103.4 mm (approx. 80 mm / 97.8 mm).

The rainfalls have washed away parts of gravel and tar roads and caused potholes. A roughly 50 metre section of the B 3 main road between Karasburg and Ariamsvlei in the southeast has been eroded. Repairs are expected to take two to three months. In the meantime travellers have to make a detour. Some passes on the escarpment between the central plateau and the coastal plains of the Namib can only be negotiated by four-wheel drive at present.

In Etosha National Park a bus with a tour group got stuck in a waterhole and had to be pulled out. Damara Mopane Lodge near Khorixas had no problems with flooding but there were constant power failures. Guests nevertheless had a pleasant stay thanks to the lodge’s own generator - and candles.

The dams have filled up. The sluice gates of Hardap Dam near Mariental, the country’s largest reservoir, had to be opened several times already to avoid overflowing. Hardap dams up the Fish River which nevertheless flowed in full width several hundred kilometres further south, in the Fish River Canyon. South Africa has also had a lot of rain. When the Gariep/Orange River, which forms Namibia’s southern border, burst its banks several weeks ago lodgings and fields of grapes were flooded, and the ferry service at Sendelingsdrift had to be suspended.

For more details please contact us at info@namibiareservations.com

Sossusvlei has Water

Breaking news received from Sossusvlei Lodge.

The Pictures taken just after the water reached the Sossusvlei, the area known to have some of the worlds highest sand dunes.

The Namib Desert region around Sossusvlei after several years is blessed to have received some good rains. The Tsauchab River has been in flood a few times in the past few days and eventually the water masses made its way through to the end, to Sossusvlei.

The Tsauchab River in full flood, cutting off the road leading to Sossusvlei.

Water in the desert is something not often witnessed. The Namib Desert is said to be one of the oldest and driest desert, having endured arid or semi-arid conditions for an estimated 55 to 80 million years. Animals and plants in the Namib rely largely on morning fog as the main source of water. This often referred to as 'mysterious' fog is as a result of the Arctic water meeting African desert; the Atlantic Ocean is a mere 60km east of Sossusvlei.

The ephemeral Tsauchab River, has its origin in the Naukluft Mountains, makes its way through the Sesriem Canyon and then after another 20-30km onwards forming a delta through the sandy stretches towards the Deadvlei and final dune belt of Sossusvlei. The sandy 5km stretch of road from what is known as the 2x4 Parking is flooded and this phenomenon is currently best viewed from the air.
All other roads from elsewhere in the country leading towards the Sossusvlei area seem relatively fine. They are however best travelled in 4x4, or vehicles with high ground clearance. Special care must be taken when approaching rivers and even the smallest rivulets as these may have steep edges due to sudden and have flow of water. Slow driving is definitely recommended.

For more details or to make a booking either accommodation or activities in the area please contact us at: info@namibiareservations.com
or visit our sister website for more details of establishments in the area: www.namibiareservations.com/sossusvleie.html