May 4 - After a relaxing stay in Swakopmund with runs on the beach more good food (lot's of meat on the barbie) and cold beers, it's time for another long stretch on the motor of approx 230 kms to Solitaire. The name says it all... it's a lonely place! But the landscape is amazing... and the the apple pie served in the local general store is world famous... haha , funny the things you pick up when doing your research! Anyhow, you better stop here, cause
it has the one and only gasoline pump on the way down to Windhoek... It's a common tourist stop-over, with a some main road junctions coming together; there's also a gravel airstrip for tourist flight and self flyers. Werner who's been their local guide and organiser of the trip offered the boys a "flight on the house", since they've been helping out all along the trip with cooking and cleaning. An amazing 1 hr flight over the local landscape and the moving red sand dunes.. absolutely stunning!
Werner Schulz, is a veteran motorbike trip organiser and has his own business in Namibia
http://www.africamotiontours.com/ Hans, who's organising and selling motorbike trips all over the world from Holland, is adding Namibia to their list of destinations and this was the stipping out of this trip. Werner will be his local contact for renting of motorbikes, guiding etc. They're both pretty cool dudes... Werner looks like Indiana Jones and his lifestyle is kind of similar ;-)
May 5 - From Solitaire to Sossusvlei , the sand dunes often referred to as the highest in the world. Various arguments are laid out to support this claim, but all miss the point, which is that Sossusvlei is surely one of the most spectacular sights in Namibia. Located in the Namib Naukluft park, the largest conservation area in Africa, and fourth largest in the world - the sand dunes are just one excellent reason to visit beautiful country. The best time to view Sossusvlei is close to sunrise and
sunset; the colours are strong and constantly changing, allowing for wonderful photographs. The sand is amazing and feels and forms just like snow! Reason enough for climbing a high dune and to take 5m long jumps all the way down. Fantastic and fun!
May 6 - Last stretch, and quite a long one too, the last + 200 kms down to Windhoek. The trip is coming closer to the end and it's been just amazing. Every day a new adventure, new sights and new landscapes. A land so full of variety, so beautiful and friendly. Full of opportunities. Land is cheap but the already existing tourism industry quite expensive. Lodging, park fees and sightseeing is quite costly but food and gasoline quite cheap.
Upon arrival in Windhoek we return our well served motorbikes and gear and check into the hotel. We spend the last day by relaxing at the pool but Werner takes the boys for a ride in his truck - on the roof and on the front of his car through town, with the local population cheering at the roadside. Dangerous... but fun. In the pool
Arno realises he might have made a serious mistake... the return trip scheduled for 8th of May turns out to be the 7th on his flight ticket. Trouble indeed. The first flight from Windhoek to Johannesburg was not too bad, for a 125 dollars he could get a new one way ticket. But in Johannesburg... short transfer time, not enough for Arno who had to pick up his luggage and check in again. Plus the flight was full. What a hazzle and expensive too. I believe he finally got on some Egypt air flight via Cairo (long stop-over...) to Amsterdam for another 500 dollars. Poor Arno. The other guys, Bram, Peter, Hans and a 4th name I cannot remember got on their KLM flight and landed this morning safe and sound at Schiphol. So I had a very happy Bram on the phone already at lunch!!!! It was, impression wise, his best trip ever. Stay tuned...
it has the one and only gasoline pump on the way down to Windhoek... It's a common tourist stop-over, with a some main road junctions coming together; there's also a gravel airstrip for tourist flight and self flyers. Werner who's been their local guide and organiser of the trip offered the boys a "flight on the house", since they've been helping out all along the trip with cooking and cleaning. An amazing 1 hr flight over the local landscape and the moving red sand dunes.. absolutely stunning!
Werner Schulz, is a veteran motorbike trip organiser and has his own business in Namibia http://www.africamotiontours.com/ Hans, who's organising and selling motorbike trips all over the world from Holland, is adding Namibia to their list of destinations and this was the stipping out of this trip. Werner will be his local contact for renting of motorbikes, guiding etc. They're both pretty cool dudes... Werner looks like Indiana Jones and his lifestyle is kind of similar ;-)
May 5 - From Solitaire to Sossusvlei , the sand dunes often referred to as the highest in the world. Various arguments are laid out to support this claim, but all miss the point, which is that Sossusvlei is surely one of the most spectacular sights in Namibia. Located in the Namib Naukluft park, the largest conservation area in Africa, and fourth largest in the world - the sand dunes are just one excellent reason to visit beautiful country. The best time to view Sossusvlei is close to sunrise and 
sunset; the colours are strong and constantly changing, allowing for wonderful photographs. The sand is amazing and feels and forms just like snow! Reason enough for climbing a high dune and to take 5m long jumps all the way down. Fantastic and fun!
Upon arrival in Windhoek we return our well served motorbikes and gear and check into the hotel. We spend the last day by relaxing at the pool but Werner takes the boys for a ride in his truck - on the roof and on the front of his car through town, with the local population cheering at the roadside. Dangerous... but fun. In the pool Arno realises he might have made a serious mistake... the return trip scheduled for 8th of May turns out to be the 7th on his flight ticket. Trouble indeed. The first flight from Windhoek to Johannesburg was not too bad, for a 125 dollars he could get a new one way ticket. But in Johannesburg... short transfer time, not enough for Arno who had to pick up his luggage and check in again. Plus the flight was full. What a hazzle and expensive too. I believe he finally got on some Egypt air flight via Cairo (long stop-over...) to Amsterdam for another 500 dollars. Poor Arno. The other guys, Bram, Peter, Hans and a 4th name I cannot remember got on their KLM flight and landed this morning safe and sound at Schiphol. So I had a very happy Bram on the phone already at lunch!!!! It was, impression wise, his best trip ever. Stay tuned...
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