Hi there,

If I may jump in...
I am also cycling ( currently in northern SA ) and making my way north to Namibia and hopefully Angola. Also thinking of crossing at Ruacana.
Would you be kind enough to keep us posted and write a brief trip report when you are done ?
Also ozymandias24, any way you can put me in touch with the cyclist you are hosting ?
Cheers,

Levelo.

I know he posts on this forum. I'll tell him to check out this thread!

Hi,
Joining into the thread here - just came from Namibia Kaokoland by bicycle.
You can follow the river heading from Outapi or Ruacana town down the hill which takes you to a Dam and Hippo Pools community campsite. Watch out for the crocodiles in the campsite at night. I slept in the bathrooms.

The tar ends there and you have about 35km to the Kunene River Lodge on some fairly nasty rocky road with some real sinister climbs. It's hot, there is no clean water around, and in rainy season you will find yourself knee or chest deep in water depending on the path you take. I never drank from the rivers.

From the lodge you can head further west following the river for another 100km, which by bicycle will probably take 2-3 days - the road is far worse than the stretch you had just taken. 8km from Kunene River Lodge is a junction which puts you on a reasonable road with 2-3 rivers to cross depending on time of year. One you'll definitely have to get off and push, the others you can race down the hills and try to roll through. The next junction about 50km away lets you go right, taking you to another waterfall (which is where you'd end up if you followed the river track) or left into Opuwo. Recently graded and 80km to town where you can get more supplies from the grocery store. You aren't going to find many people along the way and supplies are gong to be very limited. There is a nice borehole on the way to Opuwo but that is the only one I saw in about 300km while touring through the area.

Sorry I don't have route numbers handy, but heading further south and west after Opuwo is possible where with varying road conditions, 10-12% grades and more rivers to cross. I don't know anyone who has made it to the coast from that side, most usually go around Etoshas west side and end back up heading towards Damaraland. Good luck and stay hydrated.

__________________
Pedaling around the world since 2009
Tried of I.T! http://www.tiredofit.ca

In 2011 we travelled up to the Epupa Falls north of Opuwo and did some hiking there. The footpath leading westwards along the Kunene peters out after about 2 kms. The footpaths which the locals use all lead into the countryside, away from the Kunene. The trail going westwards is probably mainly from the tourists who want to walk to the bottom of the waterfall.

On the "Wilddogs" bike forum in SA is a RR about a mc trip along the Kunene from Ruacana to the mouth of the river, where they also warn about landmines on the angolan side. See here Angola, it's not like they said.

Good luck!

__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

Sure! But I think you will be there way before me! I plan to start cycling (from Swakopmund) around 7th-10th september! Then I heading north, hopefully Angola, and then in to Zambia. I will probably hit the rainy season but I ignore that fact right now...

You have one of the most beautiful countries in the world a head of you! Namibia is fantastic, if you leave the mainroad.

Do you have a visa to Angola?