Mrad & Inge's 60+ Namibia KAOKOLAND: D14(2): Down the Monster Dune - Bushcamp (75km) After [D14(1): Bushcamp

D14(2): Down the Monster Dune - Bushcamp (75km)

After we had had a good look at Angola across the Kunene, we proceeded onwards. We still hadn't found the "Monster Dune" where we would be able to "fly" down.

The view point can be seen on the map where the black line cuts across the track at the top o the map - just left of the yellow area.

Very soon we found a steep sandy slope and we went flying down (at a sedate pace).

We realised that we had reached the point of no return - there was no way in which we would be able to retrace our steps beyond this point.

When one is in the middle of a thrill, it's difficult to remember to take photos! But we managed to take a few.

Siep and Johan had disappeared in front of us, so we assumed they must be fine. We looked back to see whether Tom was OK. There he was coming in the distance.

Once a vehicle had disappeared in the dip in the road, it was hard to even see the road.

Suddenly Siep's voice over the radio told us that they had come to a precipice and that there was no way forward. Panic stations! We all knew that there was no way back. We were stuck (see 1. on map below)!

We stopped some way back (see 2. above) and Mrad (blue shirt) went to see the predicament we were in. Just look at the expanse around us - we felt very small with a big problem!

Some of us explored the embankments to our left to see whether we had missed a road down to the river (see 3 & 4 on the map above).

Here Siep is returning to their stricken vehicle.

We did see some tracks at the bottom of the dune (see three red arrows below?), but it didn't seem possible to get to them. Even if other vehicles had descended the dune, we couldn't (or so it seemed at that stage).

So we explored the top of the dune ahead of the cars (blue cross on map below). This meant that we had to walk down the "precipice" to the left of 1. (on map below) and trudge along the soft sliding sand (see 2. on Google Earth photo below).

No hope. We couldn't descend below 2. So as a last resort, Mrad slipped and slithered down the dune (left photo below) to get help from the lodge which we could see nestling on the river bank ( right photo below)

It took a long time (one hour in doubt seems forever!?!) before Mrad managed to get help. Gert (a driver from the Wilderniss Safari Lodge) and Stanley (the cook) came to our rescue. Their quiet confidence helped to bridge our fears (see 3. on Google Earth photo above).

Just getting over the "precipice" was already a feat,

but Gert talked us into taking the plunge!

Gert explained to us what to do when "flying" down the dune.

Vid Gert

One by one we crept over the precipice and down the Monster Dune. It felt as if you were launching yourself into the void, but as your car tilted over the edge the sand would grip you and you would slowly "fly" down the dune - safely and gently!

We went first, then Siep and Johan, lastly Tom.

We all agreed that it was actually quite easy - nothing to be afraid of (hindsight is an accurate science!?!?).

We couldn't say "Thank you!" enough to Gert and Stanley. They had enjoyed helping us.

Then Gert drew us a map to get back to Hartmanns Junction - the road lead us to at least two Monster Dunes, but they were nothing in comparison to OUR Monster Dune!!! We had conquered our fear of Monster Dunes completely.

The Google Earth map below shows our circular route, but the T4A map shows the Monster Dune Warnings very clearly.

Once we had left the road next to the river, we headed inland as Hartmanns Junction was directly south. Here we head up an extremely steep incline, but after VZP and the Hartmanns cutting, this was easy in comparison.