Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Tell us about your recent trip. Please add some photographs.
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Sun Chaser
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Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by Sun Chaser »

Here's the promised trip report from Earth Wanderer and myself from CT to Namibia ... :thumbup: :thumbup:

Our camping days have changed somewhat over the years, especially after we bought our Hilux "GEM", our trips have just got better :yahoo:

We had our "traditional, something has to go wrong, hiccup" the week of leaving, with our fuse box giving up the ghost due to it being rusted through and our auto electrician also replacing one of GEM's batteries on the morning of leaving CT.

We managed to leave Cape Town as early as possible with snow on the mountains, rivers flowing strong and the Spring flowers nearing season. The road was good, except for the long delays due to roadworks from Citrusdale to Klawer, thereafter the road was free flowing :yahoo:


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Arriving at the South African Border Post with the sun getting low in the West, casting the SA Border post into shade.

I only just managed to park GEM with her alu-tent under the shade cloth steal poles they have designated to each parking area and proceeded smoothly through the different counters doing the vehicle and passport check, and in no time, I was on my way to the sunny Namibian Border Post, who are undergoing major building renovations at the moment.

It felt absolutely fabulous crossing over the Orange River....... our Namibian 2012 adventure was just beginning. :dance1:
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I overnighted at Amanzi Trails camping site, which is located about 15 minutes from Noordoewer, along the Orange River, just past the Felix Unite camping and river rafters. Amanzi Trails is a great place to camp as the campsites are right on the river with the beautiful SA rock face of the mountains across from it. The campsite was very comfortable with a built braai area, a basin with running water and an electrical point which is always very handy.

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Last edited by Sun Chaser on Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:14 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Sun Chaser
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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by Sun Chaser »

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Along the road from Amanzi Trails to Lake Oanob Resort/Rehoboth, I encountered a roadblock 15 mins into my day and hit some rain just outside Noordoewer on the B1. The road went well, with just one pit stop at the garage just before Keetmanshoop for a quick fill up and Wimpy brunch and back on the road... crossing over the Tropic of Capricorn and admiring the magical Namibian landscape

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I was extremely lucky, as I phoned Lake Oanob Resort the day before to book a campsite, and managed to get the last one as it was a long weekend and the Resort was full. Its a great place to camp on the way to Windhoek, all the campsites have their own access to water and an electrical point with a built braai area.

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We'd arrived in Swakopmund in the afternoon, only to realize it was a Public Holiday and the fishing license department was CLOSED!
We'd have to wait for it to open the next day so we set up camp in the strong wind and hard ground at Mile 4, a bit late after taking a quick drive up the coast.

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It felt fantastic putting GEM into 4 x 4 and driving up the coast from Swakop to Henties

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The wreck of the Zeila - North of Wlotzkasbaken ~ Shipwrecked Aug 2008

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Setting up our camp for overnight fishing, about 20 k's North of Henties

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The bedouin tent is of stretchy material 9 x 10m and although it seems big, it only takes us under an hour to set everything up, even in the strong wind it makes no noise and it makes for a very comfortable stay. The west coast can be pretty cold at the best of times but covering GEM with a bedouin tent was a real treat. :razz:

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We had a wonderful setting with the large dunes behind us and the setting sun over the sea.

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We fitted a 60 liter water tank with pump before leaving which we used for our drinking water and another 40 liter tank onto of the alu-tents roof which we subsequently removed after the trip, which in hind sight is impractical to have fitted to the tent due to the extra weight when opening the tent up. We'll have to find another place to put our shower/washing water.

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We popped back into Henties to do some internet banking, hitting the salt road back to the coastline

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Some more overnight fishing at Rondebos with no success, only one barbel caught the whole time, it looked like the spring tide wasn't helping the fishing as the water was very strong. We found this so strange as the last few years we've always had good catches, especially being so far North.

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The fisherman who drove past asked us if the wind wasn't blowing us away, no problem for us Kaapies as we're used to the wind and came well prepared :thumbup:

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Sunset, the day of the blue moon :cool:

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Celebrating the blue moon with a lekker stywe Captains and good company :dance1:

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The round bush where this place got its name from ~ Rondebos

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We decided to head up to Terrace Bay to see if the fishing was any better ... a few pics driving North towards the Skeleton Coast National Park along the coastline

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There are still loads of driftwood logs scattered along the beach just before the park fence which must have come down the river in previous floods.

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Some of the many old shipwrecks along the way

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Last edited by Sun Chaser on Sun Oct 28, 2012 10:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by ROOFER »

Ian! thanks for the pics & the trip report very nice indeed :wink2: :wink2:
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Sun Chaser
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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by Sun Chaser »

Thanks Charl, we had a great trip, more pics to follow :celebrate:
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'02 Hilux 3.0KZTE
Iron Man Suspension
Air Ride Suspension
Alu Cab Canopy
Alu Cab Rooftop Tent
Dual battery Kit
6oL LRT
BFG 31x10.5 A/T


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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by GI Jane »

Wow thanks for the trip report and wonderful photo's Ian... Just a question how much space does that bedouin tent take when folded, and how much weight? It looks very cosy...
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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by Mud Dog »

Great pics and report Ian!! :thumbup: :thumbup:
When your road comes to an end ...... you need a HILUX!.

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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by RiyadhFortuner »

very very nice
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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by Niel »

Ian, very nice TR, Skeleton NP is one of the places I want to visit the next time I am in Nam
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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by CasKru »

Thanks for the excellent trip report and all the phodies. Looks like you guys had an awesome time
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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by andrevt »

LEKKER :yahoo:
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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by Sun Chaser »

Thanx for all the replies.

Re: Val...it folds up into a barrel bag, 800mmX500mmX200mm, so not too big, but fairly heavy, still well worth the effort of loading it onto the roof.

The Skeleton Coast Park is so different along the coast, all covered in rounded rocks. Some more pics to follow.

Cheers :bye:
Ian and Wendy
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'02 Hilux 3.0KZTE
Iron Man Suspension
Air Ride Suspension
Alu Cab Canopy
Alu Cab Rooftop Tent
Dual battery Kit
6oL LRT
BFG 31x10.5 A/T


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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by Sun Chaser »

Pics from along the road in the Skeleton Coast National Park to Terrace Bay ~ 1 Sep 2012

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We took a detour to the Huab Lagoon to check it out and to have a quick brunch

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The sand, blowing across the road, keeping up with our GEMs speed and at places forming dunes that were growing across the road

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Torra Bay campsite which is closed during this time of year

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The vegetation started to change, as it always does in Nam and around a corner and over a hill we came across a small oasis

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We arrived at Terrace Bay at 5pm, booked into Reception, stocked up on some goodies from their little cafe, went to our cottage, had a decent shower and a delicious Kabeljou at the restaurant which was the catch of the day :thumbup:

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The fisherman's cottages are quite comfortable ~ breakfast & dinner at their restaurant is included in the accommodation price ~ making it ideal for us outdoor enthusiast to enjoy our day to the fullest, out and about. :thumbup:

The restaurant and bar area is also a lovely place to meet up with some of the other people staying over... We met 2 guys who were from Melkos, almost on our doorstep in CT, and here we were in Nam, having a few dops while sharing some classic tales of past adventures & fish tales :lol:

There is a VIP house, which is situated to the far right of the fisherman cottages, these can be hired for families / a couple of buddies.
The "VIP" house has its own kitchen so the price differs from the fisherman cottages as you wouldn't have breakfast and dinner included in the price. It also has its own tv, garage....etc

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'02 Hilux 3.0KZTE
Iron Man Suspension
Air Ride Suspension
Alu Cab Canopy
Alu Cab Rooftop Tent
Dual battery Kit
6oL LRT
BFG 31x10.5 A/T


2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3L V6 CRD Overland
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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by Sun Chaser »

Skeleton Coast National Park ~ Terrace Bay ~ 2 Sep 2012

The wind was seriously blowing and the water incredibly rough and strong ~ not perfect fishing conditions ~ but trying most of the day none the less and enjoying the coastline to its fullest :celebrate:

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We think this is a whale of some sort that has been washed up ashore. It's a typical sight up on the Skeleton Coast, there's lots of bones lying around, some skeletons fresher than others... and seriously smelly!

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The coastline is absolutely stunning with the stones/pebbles everywhere and the sound of the waves crashing down onto the stones, with the water rushing up and back out... the woooossssSSSSHHHHH is a mesmerizing and magical sound of pure energy

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The life ~ homemade Vetkoek & a cuppa beside the sea

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Sun Chaser
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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by Sun Chaser »

The Restaurant & Bar room where everyone has written something, somewhere... We signed the wall :celebrate: with it feeling extra special for us as it was Wendy's birthday :yahoo: We'd had a good celebration with the others in the bar the night before :cooldude:

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"Our" cottage No 17
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All packed up and finding it hard to say goodbye to Terrace Bay on such a beautiful day.... we were heading inland from here onwards

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The marsian type landscape on our way out towards the Springbokwasser/middle gate of the SCNP.

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Exiting the park was quite a laugh as there was no one behind the counter and we ended up filling in the register book, signing out and leaving our entrance papers there in the pile next to the book as it looked like everyone else had had to do that... It felt strange, opening up the gate for ourselves.... only to see a guy standing by his hut further up the koppie... we waved goodbye and continued on ....

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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by ROOFER »

:dance1: :applaud: :applaud: thanks guys
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Re: Cape Town ~ Terrace Bay ~ Damaraland and back

Post by Earth Wanderer »

Thanks Roofer :thumbup:

It's lovely to go through the pics again, it's like reliving the adventure :taunt: .... We just LOVE Namibia

We hope it's not too many pics for the forum as we've got the rest of the trip to upload... in good time

Till then :bye:
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