El Stiemo
Offroader
Hello everybody,
back from Angola since the weekend.
Itinerary:
Day 01 Swakopmund to Ruacana (campsite close to Namibian border post) - good gravel road driving, no special happenings
Day 02 Ruacana via border into Angola via Chitado to Ovipaca - the usual heavy going type of driving in Angola, Border crossing one hour both sides (they've speeded that upsubstantially, thank you). Then our new year's party in the bush...
Day 03 Ovipaca to Espenera to meet up with a friend of ours from Windhoek (travelling alone, as always...), camp, nice scenery
Day 04 Espenera across Namib Desert to Foz de Cunene (Kunene river mouth), looking at rapids in Kunene river, camp close to dunes at coast.
Day 05 drive along great wall of dunes to Tombua and Namibe, hard offroading, suffering severe fuel starvation on Padda (very annoying when driving on the dunes), camp north of Namibe
Day 06 fishing from boat at bay, camp again on beach. Get Kawakawa, striped bonnitos.
Day 07 go exploring via Bentiabia in direction north of Lucira, try to reach Liagem Bay, no go. Only got out of that ravine because both vehicles are fitted with front, center and rear difflocks... Not nice... Divert to Pescas Bingas, arrive at night bay deserted and camp.
Day 08 fishing from Bingas bay, catch Dorados, grill Dorados, what an excellent meal! camp in bay again. Locals from bay next door pitch up and cannot believe that tourists would actually go down into that bay. They started walking from about five clicks distant across a mountain range after they heard the cars...
Day 09 go exploring to Meva bay, the Cruiser breaks a front spring (well some of the other blades had sheared off before, but the main blade snapped here) and has to return slowly with chain repair to next city (Namibe, about fifteen hours driving south) we agree to split up and follow two days later to meet up again in Lubango. Landy team cvamps in Meva.
Day 10 nice beach life in Meva, fishing, camp again.
Day 11 After packing Padda (the green 110) we want to start and leave... No joy, no start! Battery flat.
We manage to push start it - 2 persons, fully laden 110, in the sand. Well, it was standing a little downhill. Luckily. Drive to Lucira for fuel. Sorry, no fuel. Not enough left in tanks to reach Lubango the way we wanted to drive, so must return to Namibe.
Camp in bay en route.
Day 12 road up Leva pass to Lubango. Padda starts with its luel starvation antics right on the pass (when you see the pics you know why you do not want to have to stop there), so stop and have to bleed the fuel supply, which is full of air. Get it fixed and continue to Lubango.
Sleep in Planca Negra Lodge outside of town after a pub crawl in Lubango.
Day 13 visit Swapo camp outside Lubango, then race for Cahama to get as close to the border as possible... Visit Cuban camp with lots of live ammo lying around and make for Chitado and border. sleep 20 clicks in front of border.
Day 14 cross border (30 mins for both sides - unbelievable, this used to take six hours if you were lucky!) continue home to Swakopmund, arrive after 790 kms of gravel road driving...
Tired but happy!
I will post up pictures tomorrow.
Conclusion: The higher springs are worth the money when vehicle is laden. We need double shocks in the back.
We need solar panels.
Carrying a satelite phone is a good idea.
You need to get your timing exactly right for the Foz de Cunene to Tombua beach crossing.
Petrol prices in Angola have almost doubled since beginning of last year and now stand at approx. ZAR 4,- per litre.
The 4,6 consumes a LOT of petrol in thick sand conditions.
back from Angola since the weekend.
Itinerary:
Day 01 Swakopmund to Ruacana (campsite close to Namibian border post) - good gravel road driving, no special happenings
Day 02 Ruacana via border into Angola via Chitado to Ovipaca - the usual heavy going type of driving in Angola, Border crossing one hour both sides (they've speeded that upsubstantially, thank you). Then our new year's party in the bush...
Day 03 Ovipaca to Espenera to meet up with a friend of ours from Windhoek (travelling alone, as always...), camp, nice scenery
Day 04 Espenera across Namib Desert to Foz de Cunene (Kunene river mouth), looking at rapids in Kunene river, camp close to dunes at coast.
Day 05 drive along great wall of dunes to Tombua and Namibe, hard offroading, suffering severe fuel starvation on Padda (very annoying when driving on the dunes), camp north of Namibe
Day 06 fishing from boat at bay, camp again on beach. Get Kawakawa, striped bonnitos.
Day 07 go exploring via Bentiabia in direction north of Lucira, try to reach Liagem Bay, no go. Only got out of that ravine because both vehicles are fitted with front, center and rear difflocks... Not nice... Divert to Pescas Bingas, arrive at night bay deserted and camp.
Day 08 fishing from Bingas bay, catch Dorados, grill Dorados, what an excellent meal! camp in bay again. Locals from bay next door pitch up and cannot believe that tourists would actually go down into that bay. They started walking from about five clicks distant across a mountain range after they heard the cars...
Day 09 go exploring to Meva bay, the Cruiser breaks a front spring (well some of the other blades had sheared off before, but the main blade snapped here) and has to return slowly with chain repair to next city (Namibe, about fifteen hours driving south) we agree to split up and follow two days later to meet up again in Lubango. Landy team cvamps in Meva.
Day 10 nice beach life in Meva, fishing, camp again.
Day 11 After packing Padda (the green 110) we want to start and leave... No joy, no start! Battery flat.
We manage to push start it - 2 persons, fully laden 110, in the sand. Well, it was standing a little downhill. Luckily. Drive to Lucira for fuel. Sorry, no fuel. Not enough left in tanks to reach Lubango the way we wanted to drive, so must return to Namibe. Camp in bay en route.
Day 12 road up Leva pass to Lubango. Padda starts with its luel starvation antics right on the pass (when you see the pics you know why you do not want to have to stop there), so stop and have to bleed the fuel supply, which is full of air. Get it fixed and continue to Lubango.
Sleep in Planca Negra Lodge outside of town after a pub crawl in Lubango.
Day 13 visit Swapo camp outside Lubango, then race for Cahama to get as close to the border as possible... Visit Cuban camp with lots of live ammo lying around
and make for Chitado and border. sleep 20 clicks in front of border.Day 14 cross border (30 mins for both sides - unbelievable, this used to take six hours if you were lucky!) continue home to Swakopmund, arrive after 790 kms of gravel road driving...
Tired but happy!
I will post up pictures tomorrow.
Conclusion: The higher springs are worth the money when vehicle is laden. We need double shocks in the back.
We need solar panels.
Carrying a satelite phone is a good idea.
You need to get your timing exactly right for the Foz de Cunene to Tombua beach crossing.
Petrol prices in Angola have almost doubled since beginning of last year and now stand at approx. ZAR 4,- per litre.
The 4,6 consumes a LOT of petrol in thick sand conditions.
