Epupa Falls, a stunning chain of dozens of waterfalls on the Cunene River, which marks the natural border between Namibia and Angola. We reach the place by a gravel road twisting through the hills of Kaokoland, revealing epic mountain views every few minutes. We manage to find a killer camping spot on a hill right above the falls, and wow, the view is unreal.
The waterfalls themselves are absolutely magical. A maze of cascades surrounded by old baobabs and makalani palms. Some of them drop as much as 37 meters! What's cool is that Epupa Falls isn't just a one big water drop, it's a collection of smaller waterfalls, with the biggest one forming two parallel rock faces that create a narrow gorge along the river. As the sun sets, we watch a herd of cattle crossing the rive, a wild scene, especially considering it's full of crocodiles.
Next up, a true overlanding classic - the legendary Van Zyl’s Pass. Often called "the toughest 4x4 descent in Africa". Official signs warn: "Do not attempt to drive up. Only drive down". The pass drops from a high plateau into the remote Marienfluss Valley, one of Namibia's most isolated lands. It's only about 10 km long, but it takes hours to get through. Named after Ben van Zyl, a pioneer who first mapped this route back in the 1960s. It was never an official road, more like a rough trail made by herders and explorers.
To get there, we fill additional bottles with fuel and we take the D3703 which, honestly, is a challenge of its own. In some sections, it's even tougher than the pass itself, exhausting, endless rocky tracks, huge boulders, steep climbs… pure off-road heaven.
And then, from the top of Van Zyl’s Pass, boom!, one of the most jaw-dropping views in all of Namibia. The vast, empty Marienfluss Valley stretches out below, covered in golden grass and framed by red mountains. A place where you truly feel the raw, endless scale of Africa.
Track: https://loc.wiki/t/235278993?wa=sc
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