Photo Gallery

On the way

Ugab Menhir Route

Springbok on the Ugab Menhir Route

Ostrich on the Ugab Menhir Route

Ugab Menhir Route

Brandberg Route

Messum Crater Route

Dark turbidites and schists that look like they are lying on their sides are part of the Damara Sequence.

These sediments were deposited by large inland rivers as many layers of mud, deep into an early ocean about 900 - 700 million years ago.

With the collision of the continents 100 million years later these deap sea muds became folded and compressed.

Towards the Ugab River the turbidites were intruded by granite.

Granite pitted by chenmical and physical weathering.

Weathered granite rock called "Petrified ghosts"

Menhir

Towards the Ugab River. No vehicles are allowed beyond this point.

Ugab River

Mountaineous area towards the Brandberg

Tafelkop with Brandberg in the background

Gemsbok

Numas windmill

Lunch

Tafelkop with Brandberg in the background

Towards Ugab Valley

Female Rhino called Vera near the Ugab Valley

Vera

Driving in the Ugab River

Damara houses

Interesting rock formations near the Brandberg

Elephant rock

Towards Messum Crater

One of the volcanoes of the Etendeka period, 133 million years ago. Due to massive explosions the magma chamber was emptied resulting in this large depression, over 25 km in diameter.

View from Bakkrans. This is an important archaeological site where ancient Damara settlements have been declared a national monument.

Euphorbia Damarana

Euphorbia virosa

Salt pan

Giant Welwitschia mirabilis, believed to be over a thousand years old.

The male and female plants are separate. The male plant has small cones and the female plant has much bigger cones, which bear the seeds.

Banks of the Messum River

These mud banks wee part of a paleo bedrock and consits of gravels, sand and gypsum nearer to the coast.

With the uplift of the continenet 5 million years ago the westernly flowing rivers began to incise strongly and water erosion further deepend the river, exposing the paleo gravels in the river banks.

Mud banks of the Messum River

Many people lost their way in the Messum area looking for the "crater". Best to read up a bit before embarking on a trip in such a remote and special area.

PLEASE STAY ON THE GRADED ROUTES AND DO NOT EXCEED 40 KM PER HOUR.

On the way

Photo Gallery: 4x4 TRIP THROUGH THE UGAB MENHIR, BRANDBERG AND MESSUM CRATER ROUTES: 21 & 22 JULY 2012