Namibia in August

[Keith_Beef]

We're going out to Namibia in August, driving around in an AWD (probably a Toyota Hilux) with rooftop tent and wondering about temperatures in the evening, overnight and early morning... what kind of clothing to take.

Given that I'm going to take a fair amount of photography kit, I wonder about the amount and type of clothing that I should take with me.

Bushcraft kit is not really a necessity, other than a few essentials, as wild camping is not only forbidden but also a very silly idea for somebody like me, who has absolutely no knowledge of the local wildlife (imagine the car and tent being "interesting" to something like a rhino, giraffe, lion (400 or so in Etosha park) and so on). So we'll be parking inside fenced areas with either a camp kitchen for us to prepare our own food, or with a restaurant either within the camp or within walking distance when we're on the outskirts of a small town.

 

[TooManySpoons]

We're going out to Namibia in August, driving around in an AWD (probably a Toyota Hilux) with rooftop tent and wondering about temperatures in the evening, overnight and early morning... what kind of clothing to take.

Given that I'm going to take a fair amount of photography kit, I wonder about the amount and type of clothing that I should take with me.

Bushcraft kit is not really a necessity, other than a few essentials, as wild camping is not only forbidden but also a very silly idea for somebody like me, who has absolutely no knowledge of the local wildlife (imagine the car and tent being "interesting" to something like a rhino, giraffe, lion (400 or so in Etosha park) and so on). So we'll be parking inside fenced areas with either a camp kitchen for us to prepare our own food, or with a restaurant either within the camp or within walking distance when we're on the outskirts of a small town.

Sounds like you have a great adventure planned!

We're going in November with a guide, they said to travel light as you can wash and dry clothes easily in a couple of hours. Browns / Greens muted colours obviously no bright colours. Warm layer for the evening and early morning drives, Beanie hat, maybe a Snood or Buff. Smart Casual for the evening in the restaurant and then some swimming trunks and flip flops for the pool.

Your mileage may vary as it's a different month but there you go that's the guidance we were given by the guide.

 

[Broch]

We spent two weeks in Namibia in July a few years back - beautiful clear blue skies most days and bright starry skies at night. Evening temperatures can drop quite low so you'll need something warm to put on.

To be honest, it doesn't matter if you're in a formal campsite or otherwise - the wildlife will wander through. We had a small pride of young male lions come through one night (we were up in our tents) and another night a herd of elephant - that was scary!

I'd go back tomorrow - beautiful country, great people, and fantastic wildlife wherever you go. You'll enjoy it

 

[C_Claycomb]

Wild camping forbidden?

in Etosha, certainly, but elsewhere? I was there in June 2013 and we camped out south of Tsumkwe for three nights

Thread 'Secret Namibia - WorldWild Adventure - pic heavy'

Mar 12, 2014

WorldWild Adventure's 9 day safari exploring this vastly empty and beautiful country.

I was lucky enough to go one of these trips last June and cannot recommend it highly enough.
http://worldwildadventure.com/tours/namibia/

I have heard a rumble that they have been planning another and might have some places still. I meant to post these photos immediately after returning, but work got in the way and time passed.

We had a bit of an international mix of people on our trip. Jaimie, the expedition leader and co-founder, is based in British Columbia, Stuart, the second...

• C_Claycomb
• Replies: 16
• Forum: Out and About

 

[Danceswithhelicopters]

Loved touring around in December 2022. Not much to add but muted clothing colours for game drives, long sleeves shirts, broad brimmed hats and long trousers for the powerful sun and mosquitos. Get the best Binos you can find or borrow. 10 by 42s are best for evening light. Can't beat hours at the watering holes.

Take a Grayl water bottle filter for endless water without having to buy water or trust taps. It'll pay for itself in one trip.

I had a pair of British Army Lowa desert boots which I initially thought were too much but I loved them for t he protection, support and thermal shielding. Best £25 I'd spent.

Other good kit; silk sheet sleeping bag for hot nights, decent head torch, SAK with a bottle opener for the Windhoek beers.

NO CAMOUFLAGE...not culturally appreciated and not liked in places like Zim, Botswana and Zambia.

 

[C_Claycomb]

My experience largely matched everyone else's. In June, at night and in the morning, I might wear a light long sleeve merino pull over and a wind shell. As soon as the sun got up I was removing layers, but the ladies on the trip wore big woolly hats and puffy jackets a bit later.

Yup, wore one shirt for the whole trip, but for first evening at Etosha when it was being washed. All dried in the breeze over night! And that was bamboo, which is notoriously hard to dry!

I thoroughly recommend taking not only your normal head torch for rummaging in camp, but also something with a lot more throw. There was one evening when we pulled in to an area and wanted firewood, and it was really nice to be able to see that there were no big animals out to 100 yards or more. (I had a Tiabalo running a coulple 123As, but the Wurkkos TS11 I bought off here would do very well.)

Beware of taking any kind of inflatable mat to sit or lie upon on the ground. The sand can be full of little seed things, like mini caltrops from a small ground hugging plant. Inflatables puncture easy.

 

[Keith_Beef]

NO CAMOUFLAGE...not culturally appreciated and not liked in places like Zim, Botswana and Zambia.

Yes, I had thought about that..

I'm not a great fan of camo, in any case; other than my F big Belgian rucksack and a load carrier vest I don't have any.