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Vera's Driver



Member Since: 26 Mar 2021
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 19

United Kingdom 
sand driving experience?
Hoping to go to Namibia next year for a 3 weeks 4x4 adventure but have no experience driving off roading on sand. My intention is to drive along designated dry river beds in search for desert elephants and the odd lion or leopard . Is there somewhere in the UK where training in this terrain is available.?
Post #899966 25th Apr 2021 6:38pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8029

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Cobley at yarwell? Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #899983 25th Apr 2021 8:50pm
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3372

United Kingdom 
I worked out in that bit of Namibia for a couple of years and lived in the river beds.

Are you renting a camper out there?

For most of the terrain you won't need to let your tyres down, just keep the revs a tad higher than you would do normally off road and you'll be fine.

I was in a loaded 110 running 235 ATs and never had to lower the tyre pressures.

If it gets really heavy going and you're in a heavily loaded double cab, let the tyres down a bit to get you through the sticky stuff. The rentals generally come with compressors. 
Post #899985 25th Apr 2021 8:56pm
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boxoftricks



Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Home Counties
Posts: 747

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver
I'd recommend speaking to Edd Cobley at East of England Land Rover. He does Dakar training etc. I'll DM his details if helpful
Post #900037 26th Apr 2021 9:21am
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Vera's Driver



Member Since: 26 Mar 2021
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 19

United Kingdom 
That would be kind . Thank you.
Post #900040 26th Apr 2021 9:37am
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3372

United Kingdom 
If you're doing a self drive drop me a line and I'll give you some tips on where to head to...

There's a thread here from one of the trips we did a couple of years back with the kids https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic48577.html?highlight=namibia


Click image to enlarge
 
Post #900041 26th Apr 2021 9:38am
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Gareth



Member Since: 12 Dec 2011
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 1102

England 
It’s out of bounds at the moment, but Macanterra in northern France do have miles of sand tracks and dunes. We went a few years ago on a trip organised by Vince at Protrax, in preparation for our Morocco trip. 2021 Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE D300 MHEV
1966 S2a 109 aka Betsy
1968 S2a 88 aka Bob
2014 Jaaaag F Type 3.0 Supercharged.
Post #900045 26th Apr 2021 9:45am
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Scotm



Member Since: 28 Feb 2014
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 666

Scotland 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Orkney Grey
I went to Namibia with Safari Drive a few years ago - they arranged a local instructor to give us a lesson on gravel roads and sand on the first day. Gravel roads practice was very useful.
Post #900056 26th Apr 2021 11:02am
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3372

United Kingdom 
Agree with Scotm. Gravel roads are much more likely to catch you out than dry river beds,.

the accident rate out there on the gravel is scary, particularly with rental vehicles.
Some of the roads will be straight as dye for 30km so people barrel along and lose concentration.
Get to the first bend and, wallop!!

They also have a pronounced camber on them which sucks you in and people over correct making it worse. 
Post #900065 26th Apr 2021 11:59am
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Vera's Driver



Member Since: 26 Mar 2021
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 19

United Kingdom 
Thanks for all your great info. Have done a little homework but always up for advice and personal experiences. Back ground is ex-fire service so trained with 4x4 vehicles and spate conditions I.e. snow, ice , mud and floods. Looking to up-skill in the UK prior to departure and considering driving lesson in Namibia before hitting the sandy route to Sossusvlei. Having retired and into risk management , will take the gravel roads with extra caution..... but still need the adrenalin rush.... satellite phone at the read. Smile
Post #900111 26th Apr 2021 5:06pm
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markb110



Member Since: 22 May 2010
Location: Guildford
Posts: 2636

England 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Epsom Green
Don't forget this book.

Great read, lots of information and practical advice.


Click image to enlarge



https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vehicle-dependent...amp;sr=8-3
Post #900123 26th Apr 2021 7:19pm
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Vogler



Member Since: 02 Nov 2014
Location: Brussels
Posts: 309

Belgium 2015 Defender 110 Td5 HT Chawton White
The book is a good tip, it's incredibly complete. Sheppard has vast experience, including mapping expeditions through the desert.

J Antares Treadwell, a MY06 110 Td5 in Chawton White
Post #900166 26th Apr 2021 10:53pm
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3372

United Kingdom 
This is the app I mentioned.

It has most of the Off Road routes in Namibia in there as well.

https://tracks4africa.co.za/ 
Post #900198 27th Apr 2021 10:56am
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8029

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Thats two suggests for cobley then!

As above gravel tracks are most likely killer, literally. We have been twice with safari drive to Namibia, last time with two 12years old. Fantastic place to visit. Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #900325 28th Apr 2021 7:53am
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Vera's Driver



Member Since: 26 Mar 2021
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 19

United Kingdom 
Thanks folks
Thank you for all your advice, extremely valuable and certainly wetting the appetite even more so. I have an itinerary and will ask again . Desolation valley and Divorce Pass look a good challenge for my experience me thinks but Van Zyl’s Pass.... perhaps next time .
Post #900397 28th Apr 2021 4:55pm
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