Vango Beta 550XL AL
LUXURY LIE-IN
SIZE: 5 ADULTS
PACKED SIZE: 65x29 cm 9,6 kg
If you want a quality weekend tent that offers more comfort and space with only one real drawback – its weight – then this is your choice. We like it because it has a nifty “porch” area in the middle for storage, and plenty of windows and ventilation, which helps to make it feel light and airy. It has plenty of weather-proofing power, though, with a 3 000 mm waterhead and taped seams – and it’s incredibly stable thanks to its three-pole tunnel shape and patented tension bands than cross the tent to brace it against crosswinds.
One of the best features is that you can stand up inside – there’s 2 m-high head clearance – so no more lower back spasms as you crouch around. The heavy-duty steel pegs, and quality zips, add to its durability, and it comes with plenty of hanging loops and internal storage pockets.
R6 995 rammountain.co.za
4X4 EXPLORER
Tentco Rooftop Deluxe
2 ADULTS 56 kg 132x148x35 cm
Shelter kings, Tentco, make everything from luxury lodge tents and gazebos to trailer tents and marquees. Our pick is this rooftop winner: If you’re planning an adventure with four wheels, you can’t beat this for value.
The frame and ladder are made from lightweight aluminium and the canopy is ripstop nylon that is built to last. Practicality and ease of use are at the forefront of the design: It collapses into a compact, weather-resistant rooftop pack, but when opened it offers plenty of space (1,4x2,4 m) and it has four windows for ventilation and light. If you need more space, there are 1,6 m and 2 m options, and there’s also a hard-shell version. Alternatively, if you don’t want a rooftop tent, check out their trailer tent options. The bonus with a trailer tent is that once it’s set up, you can unhook your car and use it for game drives or supply runs.
R10 999 tentco.co.za
Eight days; seven nights (tented accommodation)
29 January – 5 February 2021 7 – 14 February 2021
19 – 26 February 2021 28 February – 7 March 2021
Rates: R12 950 per adult; half-price for children under 10.
Camping fees
Park entrance fees
All advertised activities
Tents, cutlery and crockery Three meals a day, plus tea and coffee in camp
Professional tour leader and guides as required
Two-way radio communication
Your own vehicle (fuel, border fees and road taxes are for your account)
Your own mattress and sleeping bag and other camping bedding Camp chairs
Drinks and snacks
Medical emergency and evacuation insurance cover 044 535 9033 or e-mail bookings@bhejane.com; bhejane.com
Call
Sandwich Harbour was classified as a Ramsar Wetland in 1995. On land, the tracks of animals remind you that you are not walking alone.
The last stretch of this day can either be done inland over the dunes or by following the shoreline of the lagoon – both will take you to your first night’s camp.
DAY 2 25 KM
Today you’ll pass huge seal colonies on your way to a section of coastline called the Langewand, where the dunes drop directly into the ocean. You’ll navigate this section at low tide – high tide can be treacherous.
DAY 3 24 KM
Today you’ll encounter the wreck of the which ran aground in 1976 – a reminder of the Namib’s maritime history; stories of hopes and dreams, and lives lost… After passing the wreck, we turn inland and hike through the dunes to a spectacular campsite.
DAY 4 20 KM
You will see a completely different face of the Namib. You move down from the dunes to a grit plain that will surprise you with its miniature life – from a dancing white lady spider to the smallest of succulents. Long stretches of scattered white quartz and black, snake-like lava fields reveal fascinating geology. Diamond-mining companies monopolised this area to strip it of its diamondbearing gravel – that’s why it’s called the Sperrgebiet, the “Forbidden Land”. Your camp will be near an abandoned mining settlement, where the buildings engulfed by sand are all that remain of those sparkling dreams.
DAY 5 11 KM
Today you’ll turn towards the sea again, crossing pink salt pans and ancient ocean floors littered with shells, occasionally catching sight of the wreck of the in the distance. The hiking part of the journey ends at the wreck, with a toast and a celebration. But the fun isn’t over yet – you’ll be transported in 4x4 vehicles over some of the highest dunes on earth, deep into the Namib to the final campsite at the foot of an enormous dune.
DAY 6 Farewell!
After breakfast, the group is transported back to Walvis Bay.
• Transfers to and from Lagoon Chalets before the hike starts
EXCLUDED
• Getting to and from Walvis Bay
• Travel insurance – must be purchased within 48 hours of making the first payment for this tour, and needs to cover extreme adventure and air evacuation
• Snacks and drinks
• Camping gear and bedding
• Dinner and all drinks at the info session at Lagoon Chalets the night before the tour starts
MEDICAL CLEARANCE AND INDEMNITY
Hikers must have a medical clearance certificate. Although the hike is not difficult, the daily distances are relatively long – stamina and endurance are required. An indemnity form must be completed by a medical doctor.