SOLITAIRE NAMIBIA. Popular watering hole and stay-over
place, at the junction of the C14 and C19 gravel roads...
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Solitaire Namibia and the C14 Gravel Road
Popular watering hole and stay-over place, at the
junction of the C14 and C19 roads
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Solitaire is a small settlement at the T-junction
of the C14 and C19 gravel roads. Nevertheless, a welcome place for a
stop over when journeying across the desert. There's puncture and
mechanical repair facilities and a limited stock of tyres. The fuel station is manned
daylight hours and the provisions shop opens until quite late. It's here that you might
catch a glimpse of Big-Moose who bakes the "Moose Bread' and the renowned
apple crumble that is only served without cream. Don't ask for any, because
you'll get the stock answer that it's their cow's day of
rest. Don't expect any hyper-activity here, it's not a place where you would want
to allow your blood pressure to rise too.. high. Just relax and wait your
turn. These guys are so laid-back that it can become infectious, and
it's rumored that some of them never leave the shop, the cafe,
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or the restaurant at the end
of the ...C19. There's good accommodation here at Solitaire and plenty of good camp
areas, but not all are shaded, so you'd best book-in early. Solitaire is
only 83km north of the Sesriem-Gate. I found the ablution facilities here
are clean and well maintained (what a pleasure!)
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Khomas Region |
| 23º53'S
- 16º00'E |
| Population 100 |
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Map of Namibia |
A Bit Of History: Christoffel van Coller built a small cottage
near to the gravel road junction in 1948. Being so remote his good
wife, Elsie, named the place Solitaire. In later years, a small shop
and fuel facilities were added and the settlement grew. Solitaire
gained an amount of interest following the publication of the book
"Solitaire" by Dutch author Ton van der Lee. He seems to have
conveyed the remoteness quite effectively as I have personally met
tourists who have read the book and thus been 'inspired' to make the
pilgrimage to this remote outpost.
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My mate on the line |
This is... Solitaire |
General Store |
Good camp sites |
About 40km north of Solitaire on the C14 stands the
Tropic Of Capricorn sign. My small mate asked what this was.
"OK. lets stop and climb out of the truck and have a
look, and also take your photograph to show your mom and dad that you've
been here."
"Thanks Keith. They'd like that." he said, and then
continued to ask as to what the sign meant. Phew! Have you ever tried to
explain something like this to a five year old? You know how it goes. "The
earth tilts backwards and forwards..." followed by, "Why?" "Well..."
"Why?" etc. ......
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Local Area Attractions |
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Sesriem is where the entrance gate, offices and camp are located. The
park gates are open between sunrise and sunset with a lunch break 13h00
to 14h00. About 4.5km from the complex is the Sesriem Canyon. 2 million
years ago a great ice-age spread across the northern hemisphere and
caused the world's ocean levels to drop. The increased flow rate of the
Tsauchab River carved through the sedimentary layers and formed the
canyon. Time budget 1hr+
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Sossusvlei is a 65km drive west from Sesriem. It is a
spectacular dune area. It is advisable to make your tour of the dunes early, as
the mid-day temperatures can be above 40°c. Always carry
enough water with you and appropriate clothing with a hat or cap for your head.
It is a 1km hike to the dead vlei, so a good pair of hiking boots will be
needed. Sand temperatures can get to 70°c 5hr Time budget 4hr+
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| The C14 Gravel Road |
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The C14 looking east into the desert |
Kuiseb Pass |
Ghaub Pass |
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C14
Road - Cautionary Notes:The nearest fuel point and shop is at
Solitaire which is a 261km drive from
Walvis Bay, or 165km from
MaltahoheMaltahohe. Make sure that you have enough fuel and drinks. Take care
when driving on the gravel road for on-coming vehicles, and sharp stones
on the road surface. There are sections of the road where the desert
winds cause the surface to become corrugated. Take extreme care if
driving on this type of surface and approaching a bend. You can,
literally, bounce your self off the road. During the rainy season it is wise to consult the
traffic authority before commencing the journey. Following heavy rains
the roads can suffer from wash away in the mountain areas and also where
the desert surface is flat. The water from the desert can flash flood
low areas of the road. This is particularly dangerous as the moving
gravel offers little grip for vehicle tires and if the water flow is
strong enough it can carry your vehicle along with it, sometimes with
fatal results. Following heavy rains there are many areas of road that
become covered in a slippery mud which also can cause spin-out even at
relatively low speeds. A 4 x 4 won't help you on this surface.
After crossing the desert plains you
drive onto the escarpment and then through the Kuiseb Pass. The drive
across the highlands is rugged and picturesque. You then negotiate the
Gaub Pass. Take care, there are no crash rails on the side of the road
and the drop into the pass is a long way. At the bottom of the pass
there is a scenic picnic area with a trash bin that's always
overflowing, or been overturned by the baboons. You then drive up onto the highlands,
and it is along this road that you may want to take a photograph of
yourself standing by the Tropic Of Capricorn Sign. It's about 40 km
north of Solitaire.
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The C14 Solitaire to Maltahöhe
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Travertine Waterfall |
Bullsport |
Section of the Naukluft Mountains |
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About 40km south of Solitaire, as you approach the picturesque
mountainous region of Bullsport, keep a look-out for the (dry) Travertine
Waterfall. It's on your right-hand side. About 2 million years ago and through the Tertiary time
Namibia experienced a much wetter climate and in areas of the Naukluft
Mountains the ground water would run through the fissures in the
rocks. These waters partly dissolved the carbonate
rocks and when the water reached its outlet, such as below the
dissolved minerals were deposited on the rock face. The resulting in a 'tuffa formation' as
can seen on the Travertine Waterfall above left. The Naukluft
Mountains have acted as an important water source for man since
ancient times.
Further down the road you will pass the northern
section of the Naukluft Mountains. From there on, to Maltahohe the road is
not very interesting.
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Road Distances from Solitaire
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Maltahohe |
Sesreim |
Sussusvlei |
Swakopmund |
Walvis Bay |
Windhoek C26 |
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165 / 103 |
85 /
53 |
150 /
93 |
295 / 183 |
261 162 |
233 / 145 |
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