Overland Truck Adventure | Sherry Lachelle Travels

On day 5 of my 35 day G Adventures African Overland Truck experience, that you can read about here, we hiked up Dune 45. From there, we drove a short distance to the Deadvlei Salt Pan. You’ve probably seen the National Geographic photos of the dead trees. Initially, as I approached it, I wasn’t that impressed…

but once amidst the trees, I was energized and excited. It is a photographer’s dream. The contrasting colors of the burnt orange sand, biscuit cracked earth, dead brown trees and cobalt blue skies are so dramatic.

We drove to our campsite, which was at someone’s farm. It is called Skaarswater Farm, which means scarce water. It was a lovely site.

That evening we had steak, salad and bread cooked over the fire for dinner! Visiting Dune 45 and Deadvlei Salt Pan in Namibia is amazing!!

I’m bursting with excitement because in less than six weeks I’m leaving to spend 40 days within five countries of Africa! I’ll fly into Cape Town (where I’m hoping to Couchsurf for the first time) and explore for a few days before meeting up with my organized tour with G Adventures. There are only a few people on the tour and we’ll be driving an overland vehicle that seats 22 people. This type of tour is not for everyone because we’ll be camping 28 of the 35 days of the tour…but it was a “Last Minute” special that was discounted and I couldn’t pass it up.

Some of the highlights include Fish River Canyon (the oldest and 2nd largest in the world); Sossusvlei Dunes in the Namid desert; game drives through Etosha Nat’l Park; travel through the Okavango Delta in Botswana on a mokoro canoe; Chobe Nat’l Park; three days in the mighty Victoria Falls area; four nights at Lake Malawi (it holds the record for the most species of fish in the world with over 600); and four nights on the island of Zanzibar (including Stone Town)–off the coast of Tanzania.

Here’s a map of the route…

Obviously there’s a lot of driving…with some of the roads being very bumpy….but what an adventure!

Most of the food is provided and at $2880 for 35 days—it’s a deal! That doesn’t include airfare to Cape Town or back home from Zanzibar, trip insurance, some optional excursions, $150 for two visas, more shots (some of the ones I got back in 2009 aren’t good anymore), a new light weight sleeping bag, a new duffel bag (one on wheels)…they require a piece of soft sided luggage…like a back pack…but I don’t have a large one, and a new pair of hiking/walking shoes (mine are too big…up over the ankle…too heavy). I have to be concerned with the size and weight of the bag.

My husband is being an angel about it…he’s got his Harley, his tractor, his boat, etc. etc….a girl’s gotta have fun too!!