Description

A tough hike covering a total distance of 120km, that explores a circular route through the Namib Naukluft Mountains in Namibia over a period of eight days. The area is a National Park and hikers will have to opportunity of seeing zebra, eland and other plains game on the trail. Whilst huts provide very basic shelter, hikers will have to be fully self sufficient for the duration of the trail. Water is scarce and day time temperatures can be extreme. It is essential that hikers carry at least 2 litres of water with them at all times.

Highlights

• Superb desert wilderness hiking
• Game viewing whilst on trail
• Beautiful desert vistas
• Cooling off in natural rock pools

Sample Itinerary

Day 1
Starting at the Naukluft Hut the trail start up for two fairly steep ascents, but the remainder of the first day's hike covers fairly easy terrain. For the most part you follow a zebra path with an easy gradient and be treated to spectacular views of the valley 300m below. The overnight stop is a Putte, which has a nearby well equipped with a hand pump, enabling you to enjoy a shower and fill up water bottles. Distance covered is +/- 14km which takes about six hours.

Day 2
The trail traverses the undulating plateau and once again requires about six hours of hiking to complete the 15km’s. About half way you reach Bergpos from where the trail descends down the spectacular Ubusis Kloof. Several chains have been anchored at points to assist you down the kloof. Ubusis Hut used to be a holiday cottage before the land was acquired for the national park and is welcome haven at the end of a long day’s hiking.

Day 3
You start out by backtracking to Bergpos, and from there follow an easy route across the plateau to the Adlerhorst Shelter. Mountain zebra and Kudu are often spotted in this area. The day's hike covers about 12km and requires about four to six hours.

Day 4
From Adlerhorst Shelter the trail is approximately 17km’s to Tsams Ost. Starting out the trail initially traverses fairly level terrain before branching off into the beautiful gorge carved by the Tsams River. After following the kloof some distance the trail leaves the river and climbs steeply to bypass a waterfall before winding down to the river again where an enormous Moringa tree- with a circumference of close on 4 meters- is passed. A number of beautiful springs are passed shortly before reaching the campsite at Tsams Ost.

Day 5
Once again a long day of 17km’s the route takes you to Die Valle. From Ysams Ost Shelter the trail ascends steeply up Broekskeur and then traverses beautiful undulating terrain covered with patches of Euphorbias and Quiver and Moringa trees. At about 6km’s is Fonteinpomp, a spring where water bottles can be refilled. From there the trail follows a fairly level route along a river valley to Die Valle.

Day 6
Starting out the trail leads you towards the Die Valle Waterfall, a magnificent sight, even though it’s usually dry. You climb up a steep contour path which leads to the top of the 200m high waterfall. From here the trail follows the narrow gorge carved by the river and continues to gain altitude before descending once again to the Arbeit Adelt Valley. Approximately 16km is covered between Die Valle and Tufa Shelter which takes about six hours.

Day 7
Day seven is approximately 14km’s and takes five hours to hike. The trail begins with a steep ascent up a well vegetated kloof where a chain assists hikers to scale a waterfall. After about three hours the plateau is reached and from Bakenkop you are rewarded with magnificent vistas of the valley carved by the Tsondab River some 600m below. The trail then winds over Kapokvlakte, where Springbok and Oryx can be seen, before reaching the Shelter.

Day 8
The final day's hike covers about 16km and is hiked in about five hours. After following a jeep track for about 3.5km the trail traverses a watershed and then descends into the Naukluft River. On reaching the Naukluft River you can cool off in any of a number of crystal clear pools. This section follows the onward route of the Waterkloof Day Trail and from the first pool it is about 40 minutes to the Naukluft Hut.