Richtersveld Namakwa 4x4 EcoTrail — full 5-day solo trip report
Went through last Easter weekend in a Ford Ranger XLT. Here is the full report.
Five days fully self-sufficient. We carried 80L of water between two vehicles. The Gannakourip riverbed section is beautiful but technical — deep sand that transitions into loose shale. Let your tyres down to 1.2 bar for the sand, back up to 1.8 for the rocky climbs. No phone signal from day two. Garmin inReach was the only way to communicate.
Camping: Sendelingsdrift on the Orange River is the highlight. The ferry to Namibia is R150 per vehicle if you want to cross.
Fuel: filled up in the last town before the turn-off. Diesel consumption was around 13L/100km on the technical sections — budget for higher than your tar road figure. We carried 23L spare in jerry cans.
The whole experience is unlike anything else in SA. Happy to answer any questions from people planning this route.
3 Replies
How was the fuel situation? We are planning this in a D-Max AT35 which drinks more than it should on technical terrain. Trying to figure out whether to carry extra diesel in jerry cans or whether the consumption was manageable.
How was the fuel situation? We are planning this in a D-Max AT35 which drinks more than it should on technical terrain. Trying to figure out whether to carry extra diesel in jerry cans or whether the consumption was manageable.
Solo or convoy? I ask because I am planning this as a solo trip which I know is not ideal. My Garmin inReach Mini gives me a bit of confidence but keen to hear your view on whether it is sensible alone.