W
NW
N
N
NE
W
the Degree Confluence Project
E
SW
S
S
SE
E

Namibia : Erongo

46.5 km (28.9 miles) N of Arandis, Erongo, Namibia
Approx. altitude: 867 m (2844 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 22°N 165°W

Accuracy: 5 m (16 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: West view #3: North view #4: East view #5: General view of the area #6: GPS reading #7: Us #8: The farm house #9: Driving towards Klein Spitzkuppe #10: Stone cairn #11: Gross Spitzkuppe

  { Main | Search | Countries | Information | Member Page | Random }

  22°S 15°E (visit #3)  

#1: South view

(visited by Brian Roberts and Renate Roberts)

29-Jul-2006 -- This Confluence was visited on 29 July 2006 by Brian and Renate Roberts. This weekend (29/30 July 2006) was planned as a "5-confluence weekend".

Looking at the map it appeared that 22S 15E would be an easy Confluence to access. We initially attempted to approach it from the B2 highway from Walvis Bay, taking the Trekkopje turnoff. We passed the Trekkopje siding, then crossed the railway line and continued on a gravel road until we reached a fence and a locked gate. There was a road along the fence which we followed and soon came to a small farmhouse. There we found a young man who told us the ground belonged to a mine. We realised we would have to take an alternative route to reach the Confluence.

We returned to the B2 and took the D1918 turnoff leading to Spitzkuppe and Henties Bay. At a point just north of the Confluence we found a track to the left, leading south. We followed this for several kilometers, but it became increasingly difficult to locate due to the previous heavy summer rains. Eventually, we had to follow the GPS over vast grassy plains in order to locate the Confluence, also passing the stone beacons mentioned by the previous visitors to this site. Interestingly, the stone cairn was still present, however our GPS located the Confluence about 1,5 meters to the South of the cairn.

Despite being mid-winter it was sunny and hot, with an easterly wind. Once we had taken our photographs, we returned the way we had come, taking care to drive on our previous tracks, although on the stoney areas we had difficulty in seeing them. We knew that the next rains would obliterate all signs of our visit. As we returned along the D1918, we passed the Spitzkuppe once again. At 1,830 meters high, a miniature version of the Matterhorn and a rock climber's paradise. This area is rich in the precious and semi-precious stones for which Namibia is world-renowned. As we proceeded towards our next confluence 22S 16E, I noticed oil on the floor under our clutch pedal in the Land Rover...


 All pictures
#1: South view
#2: West view
#3: North view
#4: East view
#5: General view of the area
#6: GPS reading
#7: Us
#8: The farm house
#9: Driving towards Klein Spitzkuppe
#10: Stone cairn
#11: Gross Spitzkuppe
ALL: All pictures on one page