[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f1w48z1cs9nt8a":3,"$f31tfic5xizaj8":79,"country-posts-NA":179,"$f1402xidgsk6nt":180,"mdc--dpiixj-key":184,"mdc--q0glzo-key":207,"mdc--eu0tt7-key":226,"mdc-h2y4gk-key":252,"mdc-wz8827-key":266,"mdc-btf1jf-key":274,"mdc--l5v8i-key":288,"mdc-plj3tq-key":296,"mdc-hlyyyj-key":304,"mdc--rsnb9d-key":312,"mdc-b52yzu-key":320,"mdc--cmkap4-key":328,"mdc--m5ayod-key":336,"mdc--nmumgv-key":376,"mdc-rubjaf-key":405},{"code":4,"slug":5,"name":6,"continent":7,"flagUrl":8,"location":9,"zoom":12,"boundingBox":13,"borders":20,"schengen":25,"flags":26,"quickFacts":27,"sections":33,"resources":73,"counts":74,"legacyKey":6,"migratedAt":78},"NA","namibia","Namibia","Southern Africa","https:\u002F\u002Ffirebasestorage.googleapis.com\u002Fv0\u002Fb\u002Fcycle-planet-292f5.appspot.com\u002Fo\u002Fflags%2FFlag_of_Namibia.svg.png?alt=media&token=3944bff6-cbba-4c31-a72c-2efc17618f24",{"lat":10,"lng":11},-22.95764,18.49041,5,[14,17],[15,16],-29.045461928,11.7341988461,[18,19],-16.9413428687,25.0844433937,[21,22,23,24],"AO","BW","ZA","ZM",false,{"dangerous":25,"island":25,"openBorders":25,"visaFree":25},{"capital":28,"languages":29,"currency":30,"callingCode":31,"region":32,"subregion":7},"Windhoek","English","Namibian dollar (NAD)","+264","Africa",{"about":34,"visa":38,"sleeping":42,"safety":48,"transport":57,"foodDrink":61,"people":64,"health":67,"other":70},{"body":35,"updatedAt":36,"updatedBy":37},"Namibia is known for its vast desert areas, where the thought of cycling in that country only occurs to a seasoned cyclist. The country confronts the cyclist with the great mutual distance between places, which the experienced cyclist cannot bridge in a day. In the south of Namibia it is not inconceivable that the next town is more than 200 kilometers away and that wild camping is necessary. Namibia experiences a prolonged heat wave in the summer, during which the sun burns brightly for hours and the cloudless sky remains a clear blue. The Namibian summer has few bearable and cool cycling days. The open desert areas offer the cyclist hardly any protection against the scorching heat, because there are no cool shadows along the roads.\n\nNamibia offers the itinerant cyclist many impressive natural phenomena and beautiful views of unique, sometimes surreal landscapes. Rock formations and the red sand dunes reflect the color nuances during the rising and setting of the sun, changing the landscape image after a few minutes. The country is partly divided into two large desert areas, viz. Namib and Kalahari desert in resp. the west and east of the country. Despite the presence of deserts, the country has a biodiversity of flora and fauna in the Namib desert and the country can be divided into various ecosystems, which enjoy protection in the form of national parks and nature reserves.\n\nThe gravity factors that determine the cycling tours in Namibia are mainly the presence of sometimes poorly maintained gravel roads, the western headwind from the sea and the gradual kilometer-long climb to the high plateaus. In the remote areas, the high summer temperatures and the extra baggage of water (approx. 15 litres) do influence cycling performance and one should absolutely not underestimate dehydration, heat and the blazing sun. The itinerant cyclist cannot escape the high plateau in the central part of Namibia, which is not always easy to conquer with a heavily loaded bicycle. The Khomas region contains the hilly areas of the country, where the English term 'rolling hills' applies. Gradient gradient from sea level to the plateau (from Walvis Bay to Windhoek) is often false flat for more than tens of kilometers.","2021-06-03T16:20:08.000Z","01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3",{"body":39,"updatedAt":40,"updatedBy":41},"Some nationalities can enter Namibia without a visa for 3 months. You can get an entry stamp at the border.\n\n_Source: [Wikipedia](https:\u002F\u002F)_","2021-03-13T16:24:01.000Z","ieMGYdJeX6ZyKgKeeGhMXPFZkax2",{"updatedAt":43,"updatedBy":37,"parts":44},"2021-06-03T16:47:04.000Z",{"formalCamping":45,"hostels":46,"wildCamping":47},"There are plenty of campsites in the (quite touristy) South. Above the line Swakopmund\u002FWindhoek it decreases, except on the coast. Then you have to cover longer distances (> 100 km) or camp wild. The facilities vary, from luxurious with a swimming pool to primitive. At various campsites it is also possible to stay overnight in cottages.\n\nBas: \"There are plenty of campsites, and they are from a good quality, which means they can also be pricy. Sometimes I camped in the wild, even in the Namib desert, but preferably I tried to stay with locals, either in my tent next to their house. Once I camped at a police station, and another time in the garden of a cafe\".","Especially in the big cities, there are youth hostels of good quality and price, which is a good way to come in touch with other tourists and to recharge from the otherwise long and dull days. Outside the big cities, you'll find ridiculously priced accomodations, which sometimes allow cyclers to camp at their property for free (sometimes in return for ordering food).","It is not clear whether wild camping is allowed, there is nothing about this in the guides. Wild camping is definitely prohibited in the National Parks.\n\nMark and Mandy: \"Distances are large, so sometimes wild camping. Good campsites (South Africans with huts!), lodges and guesthouses. When camping in the Namib: Take the wind into account! We had no wind :)\"",{"body":49,"updatedAt":50,"updatedBy":51,"parts":52},"In Africa it seems that the more touristic a place or country is, the more attractive for crimes. Namibia is fairly popular for wealthier tourists, so always be careful.","2021-06-03T16:34:38.000Z","RYFRjpH3DfdWPpRfG9MIFBSPzH33",{"traffic":53,"criminality":54,"corruption":55,"nature":56},"There are no bicycle lanes, and you often have to drive on the busy road without shoulders. This can be very dangerous and accidents do occur!","Windhoek has certain regions where crime exists and you can get robbed. When you walk on the street, try to look confident and don't bring expensive things with you. If you walk with a group, you might be fine. Outside Windhoek, you sometimes hear stories of people getting robbed during the night on campsites. In the North, local people like to drink, and sometimes you see more bars than shops. Local people getting drunk can be dangerous, so always try keep an eye on unexpected behaviour.","Bas (2019): \"Corruption seems not to exists in Namibia\".","The Namib desert does host wild elephants, which can be dangerous. The heat is extreme, but once you get used to it, it is doable to cycle here. Just make sure to bring enough water. Count on cycling less kilometers, as the dirt roads are all badly corrugated.",{"updatedAt":58,"updatedBy":37,"parts":59},"2021-06-03T16:57:21.000Z",{"bus":60},"The bicycle can be taken on the bus for longer journeys, there are also buses with a trailer that can accommodate the bicycle. There are pick-up trucks that serve as public transport. In sparsely populated areas, however, it can take a while to find one and get on with it.",{"body":62,"updatedAt":63,"updatedBy":37},"Nambia is a meat country. There is so much game, that it's often cheap to buy. A typical meal is called _pap_, which is some kind of porridge. It's made from cornmeal and is served with meat and vegetables. You'll quite often see a grill at any place, where people can grill their own meat.\n\nThere are supermarkets with a huge variety of products in the larger towns. The small shops along the way have only a limited range. Fresh products are not always available. In most villages there is a small shop where you can buy rice, macaroni, canned vegetables, soft drinks and beer. The country is not densely populated, on a number of stages you only come to a village a few times or only once a day.\n\n**Drinkable water**\n\nTap water is almost always groundwater: you can drink it straight away. In the desert it is often difficult to get drinking water, make sure you have enough with you! If you get off the main roads, you can sometimes find water at watermills that you can see in the landscape from afar. A ceramic water filter & water bags (eg from MSR) can be very useful.\n\nA very nice way to get water, is from passing tourists. Just raise your arm and they might give you some (cold!) water. Don't be shy to ask, it gives them a good reason to talk with you as they probably can't imagine that someone cycles through Namibia.","2021-06-03T16:55:18.000Z",{"body":65,"updatedAt":66,"updatedBy":37},"Contact is no problem with the Namibians of European descent and they are hospitable. Also the native Africans are friendly and helpful, but are sometimes harder to reach as a white person, as a gap between the two remains. It's most often other tourists that you are talking to, wondering why you are on a bicycle. Sometimes they offer you (cold) drink, or you can try to ask it.\n\nFrank: \"The German tourists in particular often stopped to have a chat, could it have been because of my Ortlieb bags? I got a lot of cans of drink.\"\n\nEnglish is the official language, and many people are proficient in that language. In the larger towns, Afrikaans is the official language. Especially in places like Swakopmund you can get by quite well in German. Outside the larger towns, several different 'traditional' languages are spoken.","2021-06-03T16:23:53.000Z",{"body":68,"updatedAt":69,"updatedBy":37},"-   If you come from a yellow fever area, a vaccination is mandatory.\n-   A DTP vaccination is recommended\n-   Protection against Hepatitis A is recommended.\n-   Malaria occurs from July to October. Protective equipment DEET, prophylaxis, etc. are available on site.","2021-06-03T16:56:59.000Z",{"body":71,"updatedAt":72,"updatedBy":37},"**Nice routes**\n\nMany cyclists think that there are no nice routes to be found in the Namib desert. Those who cycle in the Namib desert will certainly not miss the biodiversity of the area. The desert can be divided into various ecosystems. In the south of the Namib desert (Succulent Karoo) the cyclist encounters various desert plants (succulents) and wild flowers, which are only in full bloom in spring. In the arid (dry) desert areas in the north of the Namib desert, flora and fauna can be found, which can survive under extreme weather and climate conditions. The diverse ecosystems are located in various national parks and nature reserves, so that untouched nature reserves can still be found on the route from Noordoewer to Walvisbay. The presence of different ecosystems and impressive natural phenomena such as rock (de)formations and erosion make cycling in the oldest desert in the world a unique experience with many highlights (Sossusvlei, Namib Rand Nature Reserve, Namib Desert Park, Neisip Plain, Orange River).\n\nAbout half of the beautiful cycling routes in the Namib desert are located on a plateau, which is not always easy to conquer with a heavily loaded bicycle. Gradients from sea level to the plateau are often false flats for more than tens of kilometers. Below is an overview of the nice cycling routes in the Namib desert:\n\n-   Those entering Namibia from South Africa can cycle along the Orange River (Gariep) via the villages of Noordoewer and Aussenkehr to Rosh Pinah and will enjoy the great wine regions and scenic, rugged mountain landscapes along the river. The most beautiful part of the river is located in the Ai-Ais\u002FRichtersveld National Park and is easily accessible from the Fish River Canyon.\n-   The gravel road D707 is one of the beautiful routes that you can cycle in the Namib desert. The tourist route is about 50 kilometers south of the town of Helmeringhausen and leads you along the vast pale yellow desert plain (Neisip Plain). You also have a view of the mountain ranges or the red sand dunes of the Namib Desert. On this route you have several accommodation options, if you do not want to camp in the wild.\n-   Nature and animal lovers cycle early in the morning in the Namib Rand Nature Reserve, which is surrounded by the Naukluft mountain range. The lucky ones will see giraffes, springbok etc. and in the future perhaps rhinoceroses, which will be placed in the area.\n-   The fanatics cycle the infamous 230 kilometer long gravel road C14 from Walvis Bay to Solitaire and experience the real Namibia. In the vicinity of Kuiseb Pass and Gaub Pass, the gigantic deformations of rock layers dominate and the cyclist experiences the heaviness of the very hilly part in the Namib-Naukluft Park. The road from Kuiseb Canyon to Walvis Bay is located in an open sandy plain (Namib Desert Park), with dune formation along the road clearly visible.\n\n**National parks & nature reserves**\n\nWhen entering many national parks and nature reserves in Namibia, the visitor needs an admission ticket (permit). Here's an overview of where you may or may not need tickets to enter national parks and nature reserves:\n\n-   You do not need a permit for Ai-Ais Richtersveld NP, Namib Naukluft Park (follow highway D707) and Namib Nature Rand Reserve.\n-   Namib Naukluft Desert Park you need a permit if you cycle towards Homeb (research station).\n-   For Sossusvlei you pay an entrance fee, and you can cycle to the famous dunes. It is 65 km by bike (about 200 to 300 h.m) on a well-paved road and the last 2 to 4 km you will have to enter by car, because it is a 4WD track.\n-   In Etosha NP there are roaming wild animals such as elephants, buffalo, lions, rhinoceroses and leopards, so you are not allowed to enter the park with an open vehicle.\n-   You can cycle to Skeleton Coast NP, provided you have reserved an overnight stay in Tora Bay. Due to the great distance to Tora Bay, the cyclist will probably not be allowed in the park. If you are admitted, you pay an entrance fee and you cycle on hard, sometimes sandy roads.\n\n**Best time to cycle**\n\nThe high season starts from mid-December to the end of January and many South Africans book the cheapest sleeping accommodation. Early December kicks off the preseason and overnight accommodations in some cities like Rosh Pinah fill up quickly.\n\nWind\n\nThe wind can be a problem, some days it is stormy and it is hard. The predominant direction is west to southwest. At Walvis Bay and Luderitz you will encounter a lot of resistance from the strong westerly wind from the sea. From Rosh Pinah (+300 m) to Aus you will cycle twice to the plateau (Huib Hoch plateau, +1400 m) within a distance of 167 kilometers and you will experience a lot of hindrance from the wind from the north.  \n\nAverage temperature\n\nSeptember is a good period for cycling as it is spring in Namibia with a temperature of around 25 degrees. It is nice and cool along the coast. Later in the year it gets hotter, often above 35 degrees. May, the start of the Namibian winter, is also a great period. The average temperature is about 25 degrees. In the evening it cools down quite a bit. The rainy season has just ended, so the country is still relatively green.\n\n**Spare parts**\n\nOutside of Windhoek or Swakopmund, there are few or no parts for randonneurs available. The situation outside these cities is better for ATBs, although there are no high-tech gear for sale.  \n\nDue to the bad roads and the fact that sometimes quite a bit of weight (water) has to be carried, good equipment is required. In any case, take a spare tire and spokes with you. The sand causes the chain and derailleurs to suffer quite a bit, so good maintenance is necessary. Also check from time to time that all bolts are still tight.\n\nBefore the start of the cycling tours in Namibia, make sure that the bicycle is well prepared for long trips on the sand and gravel roads. Placing a hard plastic ribbon inside the tire offers sufficient protection against tiny sharp thorns and sharp gravel stones. Check the tire for small cracks, which appear after thousands of kilometers of cycling. These cracks in most cases cause punctures. The cyclist will have to be wary of thin long spines of plants and shrubs along the roads.\n\nEven in touristic places like Sesriem near the Sossusvlei you can't go for bicycle repairs. The bicycle repair shops can only be found in the major cities. The cyclist, who is on his way from South Africa to Namibia, will find a good bicycle specialist in Springbok before the Namibian border is reached after about 120 kilometers.","2021-06-03T16:40:01.000Z",[],{"pois":75,"users":76,"hosts":77},12,1,0,"2026-11-06T11:25:25.554Z",[80,89,97,104,112,120,128,136,143,151,158,165,172],{"id":81,"type":82,"title":83,"countryCode":21,"location":84,"likes":87,"toCountryCode":4,"excerpt":88},"5816676c-0354-4bd3-9ac2-6501259b8aee","border-crossing","Santa Clara (Angola) – Oshikango (Namibia)",{"lat":85,"lng":86},-17.391183,15.891231,2,"Quick and easy border control.",{"id":90,"type":91,"title":92,"countryCode":4,"location":93,"likes":77,"excerpt":96},"7986fe55-6d30-4f9d-afe2-d1ece244df4c","campsite","Brandberg Rest Camp",{"lat":94,"lng":95},-21.21852,14.86768,"Quite a decent campsite in this small village. Not all camp spots have good shade, but if you wait with putting up camp untill sunset it's not a problem. There…",{"id":98,"type":82,"title":99,"countryCode":4,"location":100,"likes":77,"toCountryCode":22,"excerpt":103},"e5b51131-a9ec-4ff4-92df-8e7cda92a1b5","Buitenpos (Namibia) – Charles Hill (Botswana)",{"lat":101,"lng":102},-22.28138,19.99795,"Easy and fast border crossing. We did not actually use this border crossing yet, so please update the description if you do so yourself.",{"id":105,"type":106,"title":107,"countryCode":4,"location":108,"likes":77,"excerpt":111},"43b06a2e-6d6e-44fb-9705-4d1d38d4a992","formal-camping","Camp at grocery store",{"lat":109,"lng":110},-23.79018,16.62587,"The owners of the grocery shop let us stay in the yard of the bottle shop for free, which has both grass and concrete surface. It felt quite safe to sleep in…",{"id":113,"type":114,"title":115,"countryCode":4,"location":116,"likes":77,"excerpt":119},"c4d43576-4672-472a-9e1f-196f85b5cc32","hostel","Chameleon Backpackers",{"lat":117,"lng":118},-22.57378,17.08139,"One of the better hostels in Windhoek. There are quite some backpackers who stay here for a few days. Also, quite some cyclers come to this place. There is a…",{"id":121,"type":122,"title":123,"countryCode":4,"location":124,"likes":77,"excerpt":127},"4964ac83-3451-4a14-9cc4-1aef2c7b24b0","see-and-do","Fingerklip rock",{"lat":125,"lng":126},-20.3828865,15.4337447,"Part of the Uga Terrace, the Fingerklip rock formation is quite a remarkable one, standing as a single column in the open space. There are a few more…",{"id":129,"type":130,"title":131,"countryCode":4,"location":132,"likes":77,"excerpt":135},"88ac9d4a-b982-484f-a51e-e934d94aeee9","shop","Gas station with shop",{"lat":133,"lng":134},-23.893876708129252,16.005299091339115,"This gas station has quite some product, making it a good place to get new items in the harsh desert. Nearby there is also a bakery.",{"id":137,"type":91,"title":138,"countryCode":4,"location":139,"likes":77,"excerpt":142},"9a888d68-7913-4876-b12c-1a9532a4f1db","Lake Oanob Resort",{"lat":140,"lng":141},-23.322417,17.016333,"Beautiful campspot next to a lake, for 120 ND. Free wifi available and good showers.",{"id":144,"type":145,"title":146,"countryCode":4,"location":147,"likes":77,"excerpt":150},"3ffba8e4-bc96-4d02-9a63-1af4881f5be5","bike-shop","Mannie's Bike Mekka Swakopmund",{"lat":148,"lng":149},-22.6710013,14.5314227,"",{"id":152,"type":91,"title":153,"countryCode":4,"location":154,"likes":77,"excerpt":157},"65dc7410-bf7b-4712-adf7-8613d09e5f60","Solitaire Lodge Campsite",{"lat":155,"lng":156},-23.89434,16.00565,"A small paradise in the desert. Solitaire is a touristic attraction by itself, with some rusty oldtimers that seem to have been here for ages. The campsite…",{"id":159,"type":91,"title":160,"countryCode":4,"location":161,"likes":77,"excerpt":164},"d76f8540-c9d5-4539-953c-f5b9feeebdc2","Sossus Oasis",{"lat":162,"lng":163},-24.491783,15.803317,"Allright campsite to stay for 2 night while visiting Sossusvlei. You can leave your tent unguarded here. The swimming pool in the middle is rather cold. We…",{"id":166,"type":122,"title":167,"countryCode":4,"location":168,"likes":77,"excerpt":171},"681dc9c7-b3a7-4e7d-ad6c-ab25ba463f21","Sossusvlei + Dead Vlei",{"lat":169,"lng":170},-24.722713,15.471125,"This is where the biggest dune (Big Daddy, 800 m) is located, next to Dead Vlei. This place is truly remarkable. Some dead trees stand on a dry clay surface…",{"id":173,"type":106,"title":174,"countryCode":4,"location":175,"likes":77,"excerpt":178},"4804dae1-8ae9-40bb-bbc7-1d34a48fb710","Vingerklip Lodge",{"lat":176,"lng":177},-20.393679,15.4300232,"Having been refused to camp at the nearby Ugab Terrace Lodge (the one top of a hill), the owner of the Vingerklip lodge saved my day. Rooms at both lodges cost…",[],{"01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3":181,"ieMGYdJeX6ZyKgKeeGhMXPFZkax2":182,"RYFRjpH3DfdWPpRfG9MIFBSPzH33":183},"Wereldfietser.nl \u002F Vakantiefietser.be","Bas Idsinga","Cycle Planet",{"data":185,"body":186},{},{"type":187,"children":188},"root",[189,197,202],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":192,"children":193},"element","p",{},[194],{"type":195,"value":196},"text","Namibia is known for its vast desert areas, where the thought of cycling in that country only occurs to a seasoned cyclist. The country confronts the cyclist with the great mutual distance between places, which the experienced cyclist cannot bridge in a day. In the south of Namibia it is not inconceivable that the next town is more than 200 kilometers away and that wild camping is necessary. Namibia experiences a prolonged heat wave in the summer, during which the sun burns brightly for hours and the cloudless sky remains a clear blue. The Namibian summer has few bearable and cool cycling days. The open desert areas offer the cyclist hardly any protection against the scorching heat, because there are no cool shadows along the roads.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":198,"children":199},{},[200],{"type":195,"value":201},"Namibia offers the itinerant cyclist many impressive natural phenomena and beautiful views of unique, sometimes surreal landscapes. Rock formations and the red sand dunes reflect the color nuances during the rising and setting of the sun, changing the landscape image after a few minutes. The country is partly divided into two large desert areas, viz. Namib and Kalahari desert in resp. the west and east of the country. Despite the presence of deserts, the country has a biodiversity of flora and fauna in the Namib desert and the country can be divided into various ecosystems, which enjoy protection in the form of national parks and nature reserves.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":203,"children":204},{},[205],{"type":195,"value":206},"The gravity factors that determine the cycling tours in Namibia are mainly the presence of sometimes poorly maintained gravel roads, the western headwind from the sea and the gradual kilometer-long climb to the high plateaus. In the remote areas, the high summer temperatures and the extra baggage of water (approx. 15 litres) do influence cycling performance and one should absolutely not underestimate dehydration, heat and the blazing sun. The itinerant cyclist cannot escape the high plateau in the central part of Namibia, which is not always easy to conquer with a heavily loaded bicycle. The Khomas region contains the hilly areas of the country, where the English term 'rolling hills' applies. Gradient gradient from sea level to the plateau (from Walvis Bay to Windhoek) is often false flat for more than tens of kilometers.",{"data":208,"body":209},{},{"type":187,"children":210},[211,216,221],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":212,"children":213},{},[214],{"type":195,"value":215},"Contact is no problem with the Namibians of European descent and they are hospitable. Also the native Africans are friendly and helpful, but are sometimes harder to reach as a white person, as a gap between the two remains. It's most often other tourists that you are talking to, wondering why you are on a bicycle. Sometimes they offer you (cold) drink, or you can try to ask it.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":217,"children":218},{},[219],{"type":195,"value":220},"Frank: \"The German tourists in particular often stopped to have a chat, could it have been because of my Ortlieb bags? I got a lot of cans of drink.\"",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":222,"children":223},{},[224],{"type":195,"value":225},"English is the official language, and many people are proficient in that language. In the larger towns, Afrikaans is the official language. Especially in places like Swakopmund you can get by quite well in German. Outside the larger towns, several different 'traditional' languages are spoken.",{"data":227,"body":228},{},{"type":187,"children":229},[230,235],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":231,"children":232},{},[233],{"type":195,"value":234},"Some nationalities can enter Namibia without a visa for 3 months. You can get an entry stamp at the border.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":236,"children":237},{},[238],{"type":190,"tag":239,"props":240,"children":241},"em",{},[242,244],{"type":195,"value":243},"Source: ",{"type":190,"tag":245,"props":246,"children":249},"a",{"rel":247},[248],"nofollow",[250],{"type":195,"value":251},"Wikipedia",{"data":253,"body":254},{},{"type":187,"children":255},[256,261],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":257,"children":258},{},[259],{"type":195,"value":260},"There are plenty of campsites in the (quite touristy) South. Above the line Swakopmund\u002FWindhoek it decreases, except on the coast. Then you have to cover longer distances (> 100 km) or camp wild. The facilities vary, from luxurious with a swimming pool to primitive. At various campsites it is also possible to stay overnight in cottages.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":262,"children":263},{},[264],{"type":195,"value":265},"Bas: \"There are plenty of campsites, and they are from a good quality, which means they can also be pricy. Sometimes I camped in the wild, even in the Namib desert, but preferably I tried to stay with locals, either in my tent next to their house. Once I camped at a police station, and another time in the garden of a cafe\".",{"data":267,"body":268},{},{"type":187,"children":269},[270],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":271,"children":272},{},[273],{"type":195,"value":46},{"data":275,"body":276},{},{"type":187,"children":277},[278,283],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":279,"children":280},{},[281],{"type":195,"value":282},"It is not clear whether wild camping is allowed, there is nothing about this in the guides. Wild camping is definitely prohibited in the National Parks.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":284,"children":285},{},[286],{"type":195,"value":287},"Mark and Mandy: \"Distances are large, so sometimes wild camping. Good campsites (South Africans with huts!), lodges and guesthouses. When camping in the Namib: Take the wind into account! We had no wind :)\"",{"data":289,"body":290},{},{"type":187,"children":291},[292],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":293,"children":294},{},[295],{"type":195,"value":49},{"data":297,"body":298},{},{"type":187,"children":299},[300],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":301,"children":302},{},[303],{"type":195,"value":53},{"data":305,"body":306},{},{"type":187,"children":307},[308],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":309,"children":310},{},[311],{"type":195,"value":54},{"data":313,"body":314},{},{"type":187,"children":315},[316],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":317,"children":318},{},[319],{"type":195,"value":55},{"data":321,"body":322},{},{"type":187,"children":323},[324],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":325,"children":326},{},[327],{"type":195,"value":56},{"data":329,"body":330},{},{"type":187,"children":331},[332],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":333,"children":334},{},[335],{"type":195,"value":60},{"data":337,"body":338},{},{"type":187,"children":339},[340,352,357,366,371],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":341,"children":342},{},[343,345,350],{"type":195,"value":344},"Nambia is a meat country. There is so much game, that it's often cheap to buy. A typical meal is called ",{"type":190,"tag":239,"props":346,"children":347},{},[348],{"type":195,"value":349},"pap",{"type":195,"value":351},", which is some kind of porridge. It's made from cornmeal and is served with meat and vegetables. You'll quite often see a grill at any place, where people can grill their own meat.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":353,"children":354},{},[355],{"type":195,"value":356},"There are supermarkets with a huge variety of products in the larger towns. The small shops along the way have only a limited range. Fresh products are not always available. In most villages there is a small shop where you can buy rice, macaroni, canned vegetables, soft drinks and beer. The country is not densely populated, on a number of stages you only come to a village a few times or only once a day.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":358,"children":359},{},[360],{"type":190,"tag":361,"props":362,"children":363},"strong",{},[364],{"type":195,"value":365},"Drinkable water",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":367,"children":368},{},[369],{"type":195,"value":370},"Tap water is almost always groundwater: you can drink it straight away. In the desert it is often difficult to get drinking water, make sure you have enough with you! If you get off the main roads, you can sometimes find water at watermills that you can see in the landscape from afar. A ceramic water filter & water bags (eg from MSR) can be very useful.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":372,"children":373},{},[374],{"type":195,"value":375},"A very nice way to get water, is from passing tourists. Just raise your arm and they might give you some (cold!) water. Don't be shy to ask, it gives them a good reason to talk with you as they probably can't imagine that someone cycles through Namibia.",{"data":377,"body":378},{},{"type":187,"children":379},[380],{"type":190,"tag":381,"props":382,"children":383},"ul",{},[384,390,395,400],{"type":190,"tag":385,"props":386,"children":387},"li",{},[388],{"type":195,"value":389},"If you come from a yellow fever area, a vaccination is mandatory.",{"type":190,"tag":385,"props":391,"children":392},{},[393],{"type":195,"value":394},"A DTP vaccination is recommended",{"type":190,"tag":385,"props":396,"children":397},{},[398],{"type":195,"value":399},"Protection against Hepatitis A is recommended.",{"type":190,"tag":385,"props":401,"children":402},{},[403],{"type":195,"value":404},"Malaria occurs from July to October. Protective equipment DEET, prophylaxis, etc. are available on site.",{"data":406,"body":407},{},{"type":187,"children":408},[409,417,422,427,450,458,463,491,499,504,509,514,519,524,532,537,542,547],{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":410,"children":411},{},[412],{"type":190,"tag":361,"props":413,"children":414},{},[415],{"type":195,"value":416},"Nice routes",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":418,"children":419},{},[420],{"type":195,"value":421},"Many cyclists think that there are no nice routes to be found in the Namib desert. Those who cycle in the Namib desert will certainly not miss the biodiversity of the area. The desert can be divided into various ecosystems. In the south of the Namib desert (Succulent Karoo) the cyclist encounters various desert plants (succulents) and wild flowers, which are only in full bloom in spring. In the arid (dry) desert areas in the north of the Namib desert, flora and fauna can be found, which can survive under extreme weather and climate conditions. The diverse ecosystems are located in various national parks and nature reserves, so that untouched nature reserves can still be found on the route from Noordoewer to Walvisbay. The presence of different ecosystems and impressive natural phenomena such as rock (de)formations and erosion make cycling in the oldest desert in the world a unique experience with many highlights (Sossusvlei, Namib Rand Nature Reserve, Namib Desert Park, Neisip Plain, Orange River).",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":423,"children":424},{},[425],{"type":195,"value":426},"About half of the beautiful cycling routes in the Namib desert are located on a plateau, which is not always easy to conquer with a heavily loaded bicycle. Gradients from sea level to the plateau are often false flats for more than tens of kilometers. Below is an overview of the nice cycling routes in the Namib desert:",{"type":190,"tag":381,"props":428,"children":429},{},[430,435,440,445],{"type":190,"tag":385,"props":431,"children":432},{},[433],{"type":195,"value":434},"Those entering Namibia from South Africa can cycle along the Orange River (Gariep) via the villages of Noordoewer and Aussenkehr to Rosh Pinah and will enjoy the great wine regions and scenic, rugged mountain landscapes along the river. The most beautiful part of the river is located in the Ai-Ais\u002FRichtersveld National Park and is easily accessible from the Fish River Canyon.",{"type":190,"tag":385,"props":436,"children":437},{},[438],{"type":195,"value":439},"The gravel road D707 is one of the beautiful routes that you can cycle in the Namib desert. The tourist route is about 50 kilometers south of the town of Helmeringhausen and leads you along the vast pale yellow desert plain (Neisip Plain). You also have a view of the mountain ranges or the red sand dunes of the Namib Desert. On this route you have several accommodation options, if you do not want to camp in the wild.",{"type":190,"tag":385,"props":441,"children":442},{},[443],{"type":195,"value":444},"Nature and animal lovers cycle early in the morning in the Namib Rand Nature Reserve, which is surrounded by the Naukluft mountain range. The lucky ones will see giraffes, springbok etc. and in the future perhaps rhinoceroses, which will be placed in the area.",{"type":190,"tag":385,"props":446,"children":447},{},[448],{"type":195,"value":449},"The fanatics cycle the infamous 230 kilometer long gravel road C14 from Walvis Bay to Solitaire and experience the real Namibia. In the vicinity of Kuiseb Pass and Gaub Pass, the gigantic deformations of rock layers dominate and the cyclist experiences the heaviness of the very hilly part in the Namib-Naukluft Park. The road from Kuiseb Canyon to Walvis Bay is located in an open sandy plain (Namib Desert Park), with dune formation along the road clearly visible.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":451,"children":452},{},[453],{"type":190,"tag":361,"props":454,"children":455},{},[456],{"type":195,"value":457},"National parks & nature reserves",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":459,"children":460},{},[461],{"type":195,"value":462},"When entering many national parks and nature reserves in Namibia, the visitor needs an admission ticket (permit). Here's an overview of where you may or may not need tickets to enter national parks and nature reserves:",{"type":190,"tag":381,"props":464,"children":465},{},[466,471,476,481,486],{"type":190,"tag":385,"props":467,"children":468},{},[469],{"type":195,"value":470},"You do not need a permit for Ai-Ais Richtersveld NP, Namib Naukluft Park (follow highway D707) and Namib Nature Rand Reserve.",{"type":190,"tag":385,"props":472,"children":473},{},[474],{"type":195,"value":475},"Namib Naukluft Desert Park you need a permit if you cycle towards Homeb (research station).",{"type":190,"tag":385,"props":477,"children":478},{},[479],{"type":195,"value":480},"For Sossusvlei you pay an entrance fee, and you can cycle to the famous dunes. It is 65 km by bike (about 200 to 300 h.m) on a well-paved road and the last 2 to 4 km you will have to enter by car, because it is a 4WD track.",{"type":190,"tag":385,"props":482,"children":483},{},[484],{"type":195,"value":485},"In Etosha NP there are roaming wild animals such as elephants, buffalo, lions, rhinoceroses and leopards, so you are not allowed to enter the park with an open vehicle.",{"type":190,"tag":385,"props":487,"children":488},{},[489],{"type":195,"value":490},"You can cycle to Skeleton Coast NP, provided you have reserved an overnight stay in Tora Bay. Due to the great distance to Tora Bay, the cyclist will probably not be allowed in the park. If you are admitted, you pay an entrance fee and you cycle on hard, sometimes sandy roads.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":492,"children":493},{},[494],{"type":190,"tag":361,"props":495,"children":496},{},[497],{"type":195,"value":498},"Best time to cycle",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":500,"children":501},{},[502],{"type":195,"value":503},"The high season starts from mid-December to the end of January and many South Africans book the cheapest sleeping accommodation. Early December kicks off the preseason and overnight accommodations in some cities like Rosh Pinah fill up quickly.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":505,"children":506},{},[507],{"type":195,"value":508},"Wind",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":510,"children":511},{},[512],{"type":195,"value":513},"The wind can be a problem, some days it is stormy and it is hard. The predominant direction is west to southwest. At Walvis Bay and Luderitz you will encounter a lot of resistance from the strong westerly wind from the sea. From Rosh Pinah (+300 m) to Aus you will cycle twice to the plateau (Huib Hoch plateau, +1400 m) within a distance of 167 kilometers and you will experience a lot of hindrance from the wind from the north.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":515,"children":516},{},[517],{"type":195,"value":518},"Average temperature",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":520,"children":521},{},[522],{"type":195,"value":523},"September is a good period for cycling as it is spring in Namibia with a temperature of around 25 degrees. It is nice and cool along the coast. Later in the year it gets hotter, often above 35 degrees. May, the start of the Namibian winter, is also a great period. The average temperature is about 25 degrees. In the evening it cools down quite a bit. The rainy season has just ended, so the country is still relatively green.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":525,"children":526},{},[527],{"type":190,"tag":361,"props":528,"children":529},{},[530],{"type":195,"value":531},"Spare parts",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":533,"children":534},{},[535],{"type":195,"value":536},"Outside of Windhoek or Swakopmund, there are few or no parts for randonneurs available. The situation outside these cities is better for ATBs, although there are no high-tech gear for sale.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":538,"children":539},{},[540],{"type":195,"value":541},"Due to the bad roads and the fact that sometimes quite a bit of weight (water) has to be carried, good equipment is required. In any case, take a spare tire and spokes with you. The sand causes the chain and derailleurs to suffer quite a bit, so good maintenance is necessary. Also check from time to time that all bolts are still tight.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":543,"children":544},{},[545],{"type":195,"value":546},"Before the start of the cycling tours in Namibia, make sure that the bicycle is well prepared for long trips on the sand and gravel roads. Placing a hard plastic ribbon inside the tire offers sufficient protection against tiny sharp thorns and sharp gravel stones. Check the tire for small cracks, which appear after thousands of kilometers of cycling. These cracks in most cases cause punctures. The cyclist will have to be wary of thin long spines of plants and shrubs along the roads.",{"type":190,"tag":191,"props":548,"children":549},{},[550],{"type":195,"value":551},"Even in touristic places like Sesriem near the Sossusvlei you can't go for bicycle repairs. The bicycle repair shops can only be found in the major cities. The cyclist, who is on his way from South Africa to Namibia, will find a good bicycle specialist in Springbok before the Namibian border is reached after about 120 kilometers."]