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Namibia 2003

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pfeil  Travel directory

pfeil  Namibia 2003 Main

pfeil   Part 1 Etosha
pfeil   Part 1a Animals
pfeil   Part 2 Otjitotongwe
pfeil   Part 3 Highlands
pfeil   Part 4 Van Zyl's P.
pfeil   Part 5 Marienfluss
pfeil   Part 6 Kaokoveld
pfeil   Part 7 Damaraland
pfeil   Part 8 Twyfelfontein
pfeil   Part 9 Namib
pfeil   Part 10 Wolwedans
pfeil   Part 11 Gamsberg
pfeil   Panorama pics

pfeil  Namibia '03 Gallery
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last updated: 30-Jul-2005

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Part 4 - Van Zyl's Pass

Travel details

This part covers only the short route between km 139 (Otjitanda) and km 164 (end of Van Zyl's Pass) - but these 25 km took an afternoon and a morning! For our route from Otjitanda onwards to Sesfontein we had GPS coordinates from Wouter Brand, and used The Shell Map of Kaokoland (Kunene Region), 1:625 000 (issued 1996) which proved not 100% accurate but gave enough information. Check also the main page for more info on maps and books about Namibia.

Contact me if you'd like to get our GPS data of this trip. And do check out our Namibia '03 photo Gallery.


Start of Van Zyl's Pass  Van Zyl's Pass 2

Van Zyl's Pass

Van Zyl's Pass is what would, in Switzerland, be considered a path fit for chamois and capricorns, or some intrepid goats. Even hiking paths in Switzerland are easier manageable. So imagine a steep path full of rubble, bigger and smaller rocks - and imagine your car going down there. The first and the last part are quite steep, but there are easier stretches between.

So there are a few points to consider when taking on the Van Zyl's Pass challenge:
  • Exercise extreme caution while driving - even in the less steep stretches there are pointed stones. In the steeper parts we used to split up: One guy operating steering wheel and brake, the other standing outside, rearranging stones to cover pointed rocks, giving directions (like "20 cm more to the left - oh, no, stop, you're too far...!" and at one point even sustaining the car which was on the verge to tilt. Us girls, of course, were not at all involved in these manly adventures, but took more to things like watching the awesome landscape, the many flowers and blooming trees, insects and caterpillars - and taking pictures of our heroes.
  • Don't go with just one car, in case something happens to it (which is easily imaginable) - or else be flexible enough time-wise to wait for someone to drive by and get help. We met just two other cars during these 24 hours, going the same direction. And they had suffered a fracture earlier, and one car was no longer able to go in 4WD... Luckily for them they had met South Africans with a satellite phone who had phoned the renting company who brought a new car two days later...
  • Going UP Van Zyl's Pass is not advisable (or forbidden?) - because your car would damage what is still left of the road by skipping stones downwards.
  • Oh, I forgot to mention that you shouldn't try with your saloon car :-)

There are two ways around Van Zyl's Pass to Marienflusstal and Hartmann's Valley, if you don't want to take this challenge: Either from Opuwo via Kaoko Otavi, Omutati, Orupembe and Rooidrum (Red Drum), or else from South via Sesfontein and Purros to Orupembe. Both roads require 4x4, but are much easier to manage also for the 4x4 novice. Also Marienflusstal and Hartmann's Valley offer remote, but good sand tracks.

However, if you decide to use Van Zyl's Pass, you're rewarded with a lot of 4x4 adventure, a rugged and remote landscape, interesting flora (we didn't see much fauna).

We chose a REALLY beautiful camping spot (km 157, S17 47 01.5 E12 57 47.4): A quite large green meadow suddenly appearing between all those rocks, dotted with yellow devil thorn flowers, high shady trees and a low hill sheltering us against the wind. The ideal place for a late afternoon nap in a hammock, a chat with a herdsman who appeared out of nowhere, a good braai and a very very quiet night. Check out the Panorama site for an another picture.

Van Zyl Camp Van Zyl's Pass 3
Van Zyl's Camp Towards the end of Van Zyl's Pass


We rose with the sun next morning for the last piece of the pass. At km 161 we met the two other cars, on a similarly stunning camping spot: After driving in more or less narrow valleys until now, here the path opened and gave a scenic view over the hills and valleys to the West. Must have been a spot for a gorgeous sunset, but was also quite windy.

The last piece, after this viewpoint, was the worst, but soon after we arrived at the heap of stones that marks the end of Van Zyl's Pass. Don't forget to bring a waterproof pencil (also nail enamel will do, should you carry this here) so that you can leave your mark on one of the stones. Don't leave a mark elsewhere.


Van Zyl's Pass 4 End of Van Zyl's Pass
Giving guidance This is the end

More pics can be found in the Namibia '03 Gallery

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