Go by foot for a change

The great outdoors of Namibia is beckoning anyone tired of the rat race and routine of his eight to five job. Or the stress of material pursuit. Wide open vistas, whether by day or by night, not only conjure up that feeling and experience that man is only a miniscule part of total existence, but that his particular worries and irritations should fade into the background, for a time at least. When returning from that great getaway in Namibia the visitor will address his duties and challenges surely with renewed vigour. That complete change of environment for body and mind appears to work wonders for those downtrodden by sheer routine.
But don't get me wrong. The celebrated Namibian outdoor experience of time and space means nothing at all if basic requirements and comforts are not in place. A touring car stuck in the sand along a desolate road, lacking water for the desperate travelers, cannot be rescued by pointing to the magnificent view stretching to evasive horizons. After having selected a particular route or touring program a prospective visitor should take care whether the touring company he has chosen is reliable or - if self driving - all basic safety requirements and provisions for minimum comfort and safety are met. Testing physical and psychic limits in a kind of survival test is the challenge of a small specialized branch of adventure tourism which requires meticulous personal preparation. However, in general tourism the visitor can and should rely on the experienced and seasoned tour operator and service provider.

It is in this domain that every now and then some novelties are in store for the visitor savouring unique adventure by following a new experience. The attentive reader and browser has learnt about traversing some stretch of Namibian savanna and desert on horseback and by camel (in previous editions of tn travel/AZ Tourismus). Now - in contrast to the challenge of a real self-reliant five day hike in the unique Fish River Canyon, carrying all your provisions on your back - the hiking fan can choose a literally much lighter trail with similar vistas along the same grandiose landscape by loading his backpack on a mule and then to proceed light-footed and professionally guided of course along the ravine to the next night stop where good camping food will restore your body, with the stars to widen your vision. The mule track takes you along the top of the canyon while the tested traditional hiking trail (only during the temperate autumn and winter months) continues to follow the mysterious bottom of the canyon. The alternative mule route now beckons to experience the magnificent canyon like a pioneering explorer, delving into the geological layers of millions of millennia, following the light footed route, letting the mules convey the survival load while you only carry personal paraphernalia.
While travelling long routes to combine major attractions, clocking three and four digit kilometer distances, you should never lose sight of the unique value to cover some ground and a few miles on foot or on the back of a riding animal.
To be connected to the earth on the surface of Namibia will remain an unforgettable experience.