Ugab Menhir 4x4 Trail, by Henties Bay Tourism

Ugab Menhir 4x4 Trail, by Henties Bay Tourism, Namibia.

Scenes you will encouter en route the Ugab Menhir 4x4 Trail. (Images: Henties Bay Tourism, Namibia)

Henties Bay Tourism's little guide to Ugab Menhir 4x4 Trail begins with: En route to the main road a curious megalith, referred to as the "Menhir" (men meaning "stone" and hir meaning "long") stands incongruously as a solitary rock in the stark desert landscape. The Menhir is about the height of a man. Various game can be seen around here, such as ostrich, gemsbok and Hartmann's Mountain Zebra. From here the route takes you back until you reach the coastal road.

WINSTON WRECK
From the coastal road you turn off to Durissa Bay where you will find the Winston wreck. The Winston was a fishing vessel of 167 ton, which sailed under the South African flag. It stranded during December 1970 in this area, about 120 miles from Walvis Bay. The tides washed it out over three decades to where it lies today. Numerous shipwrecks like this one gave the Skeleton Coast its name. Rocky reefs and sand dunes that stretch into the sea together with strong crosscurrents and dense fogs make the Skeleton Coast one of the most treacherous coastlines in the world.

IMPORTANT
The Namib Desert is a fascinating but harsh destination and should be respected and not taken for granted. If you get lost or experience problems with your vehicle it is almost impossible that anybody will find you so please see that you take the following precautions:

• Try not to venture into the desert on your own, if possible together with a second or third vehicle.
• If this is not possible, inform the Tourist Office or some body else which route you plan to take and at what time you plan to be back and inform this office/person of your arrival in Henties Bay.
• Do not leave the prescribed route but stay on the existing tracks.
• Take enough food and water with you, as well as warm clothing, sun protection and a first aid kit.
• Always take extra fuel and at least two spare tyres with you.

The West Coast Recreation Area is highly sensitive due to the very brittle gypsum crust and lichen fields. Please do not leave the existing tracks to venture over virgin land. Do not leave anything in the desert that does not belong there. Litter may last longer than a human's lifespan and can be dangerous to wildlife. Do not remove any plants or rocks from the Desert. A shop and telephone is available at Mile 72 and 108. Telephones are operated with a telephone card. Fuel is available at Mile 108. [...]

This is an excerpt from the guide Ugab Menhir 4x4 Trail, by Henties Bay Tourism.

Title: Ugab Menhir 4x4 Trail
Editor: Henties Bay Tourism Centre
Genre: Region guide
Henties Bay, Namibia (no date)
Softcover, 15 x 21 cm, 8 pages, some colour photos, 1 map sketch