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JOHAN & ADRI SNYMAN’S MESSUM CRATER TRIP REPORT : 14 – 16 NOVEMBER 2014 Background Apart from a trip to the Kaokoland and a small part of Damaraland in April this year, most of our available time was spent in north-eastern Namibia doing the research for my next book. So, for a change in the scenery and a “non-working” weekend trip we decided to visit the Messum Crater. Preparations I have completed all the work required to prepare our Puma Landie for overland travel and we can now, once again, be ready to travel at the drop of a hat. All we have to do is pack our clothes, food and drink, and camera equipment. Friday 14 November We left Windhoek after work and travelled along the B1 to Okahandja, the B2 to Usakos and then the D1918 until we reached a track down a dry riverbed to our campsite for the night. As soon as the sun set, the temperature dropped rapidly and it was time to don warm jackets. Not a sound was to be heard.

300km for the day (244km on tar and 56km on gravel) and our travelling time was 3½hours. (Moving time and average = 3h15min and 92.3km/h)

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Saturday 15 November After a peaceful night we continued northwards towards the Omaruru River. We turned east into the riverbed and drove upstream to Lewater farm where we left the riverbed and followed a track towards the Messum Crater.

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We made our camp behind a sheltering koppie just outside the Dorob National Park. Apart from the clicking calls of barking geckos, not a sound was to be heard. Once again the temperature dropped rapidly at sunset. 152km for the day (all of it on gravel, sand and rocky tracks) and our travelling time was 9¼hours. (Moving time and average = 6h30min and 23.4km/h) Sunday 16 Nevember After yet another peaceful night we made our way downstream in the dry riverbed of the Messum River to the coast and then followed the C34 to Swakopmund. After refueling the Landie, we made our way via the C28 and Bosua Pass to Windhoek.

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542km for the day (95km on tar and 447km on sand, rocky tracks, salt road and gravel) and our travelling time was 10hours. (Moving time and average = 8h26min and 64.3km/h) Conclusion This was yet another memorable trip with my favourite travelling companion to a spectacular part of Namibia. We travelled 994km during the weekend of which 339km was on tar and 655km was on gravel, sand, and rocky roads and tracks. We saw very few game animals on our route, and those we did see were always at a distance and running at full speed. It is very obvious that illegal hunting is taking place once again.

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