Kuiseb Pass

Namibia is known for its vast savannahs and open plains, but as visitors inch closer to the north, deeper in the south and further to the west they’ll find rocky cliffs and steep passes that speak to another kind of beauty in this sparsely populated nation.
While most of the roads that lead through these passes curve over the mountaintops, providing incredible views of the lands below. But the road at Kuiseb Pass, in Namibia’s south, descends through a river along a tar and dirt strip. Though the pass can become impossible to navigate during rainy season, it’s an easy voyage most of the year. Just after the pass, visitors can stop at an impressive viewpoint overlooking Kuiseb Canyon and Carp Cliff,. The latter served as a shelter for two well-known German geologists who sought safety in the desert to avoid interment camps during World War Two. 

Practical Info

The Kuiseb Pass is located on the C14 road, which runs along the border of Namib-Naukluft Park between Solitaire and Walvis Bay. It’s possible to visit all of these passes on a day trip from Windhoek.