Day 19: Farm Landsberg (Tiras Mountains) – Farm Namuskluft (Rosh Pinah)

An absolutely calm, windless night. A magnificent starry sky.

The Tiras Mountains once again reveal themselves in all their beauty, with lovely valleys and plains. We drive through nine gates on the 25 km access road to the farm, of which only five are closed today – with four different locking mechanisms :-)

We take a lunch break at the "Bahnhof Hotel Aus," where, in addition to Spaetzle and other German dishes, they also serve the most delicious cakes in all of Namibia!

We didn't really remember the route south – no wonder, as it becomes increasingly barren. It has its charm, but is also a bit monotonous.

Shortly after Aus, we drive through a heavy downpour, but generally – so we're told – this southern part of Namibia hasn't been affected by the heavy rain.

The road runs along the restricted diamond area (long story, you can "google it"). Shortly before Rosh Pinah, there's a zinc mine: Tutungeni is a typical workers' settlement with many small huts, packed together. The mine has existed since the early 1960s and employs around 3,500 people. At a depth of about 600-700 meters, you drive in Landcruisers, Dawie, the host of the Namuskluft campsite, tells us.

He grew up here, and his family used to breed caracals on the farm for the fur trade. And for a while, they probably also raised sheep, up to 800. Dawie himself has worked for the mine his entire life and has been building a second business with the small campsite since 2022. Guests at the campsite are often cactus lovers or geologists, in addition to passing tourists, he explains.

And Dawie also points out that the Orange River is now carrying so much water that the road along the river between Sendlingsdrift and Aussenkehr is currently impassable. And we wanted to take that road. So we have to change our plans and, given the circumstances, promptly receive a cancellation confirmation from Norotshamar, our planned accommodation in Aussenkehr.