Permits needed

[houbie]

Hi Going to tour southern africa. Does one need permits do go through National parks in Namibia and Zambia. Does anyone also know if it is possible to reach Sossusvlei in the Naukluf Park in Namibia with a bike. Looked on goolge maps but they only indicate its a 4x4 route.

[Ride Far]

Hey there. Don’t know about Zambia, but bikes are not allowed in Etosha National Park in Namibia because of safety concerns vis a vis wildlife.

If you go to Etosha via the eastern entrance there are two lodges right before the gate. The one on the right offers cheap camping. They also have a very good restaurant, a little pricey though.

To get into Etosha you’d have to join a group in a big 4x4. Easily arranged at the campsite. If I recall the cost was something like $50 USD, not bad for a six-hour tour.

For Sossusvlei – only the final 5 km or so are off-limits to bikes. There’s a nice campsite & store at Sesriem (but a lousy restaurant). From Sesriem you can ride about 70 km on easy piste to Sossusvlei. Hop on one of the many 4x4s (pretty cheap) for the final 5 km into Sossusvlei. Hike around, spend as long as you like. No reservations or permits required. Hope this helps.

Mark

[klous-1]

I'd say as a rule of thumb, if it isn't a main road, you'll need to pay and if there are lions inside then they probably won't let you.

If I reember right, there is only one park that you can enter with a bike in Namibia, and that is Naukluft to Sossusvlei, but only as far as the tarmac goes, which is 60km in I think. After that you'll have to take a guide in a 4x4 (or walk).

That said, the guys down there were willing to let me go on my bike, even though I wanted to hike around so it might be possible.

Not sure how you'd fair at the smaller game reserves, Caprivi, Khadum. I didn't try Skeleton coast either - there's a big sign saying no bikes!

I went through Richtesveld, but bikes are not allowed in there either, except for the main road/tracks that runs through it/on the edge of it/in the buffer zone, but there are a lot of tracks even then.

Zambia, the main road runs through Kafue...