My jeep, my refuge

“I got dirty again... and to think I had just taken a shower!”

“These tents don’t work: there’s always something to do! Take it apart, put it back together, hang it, pull it, stretch it, jump... yes, jump here to put pressure on it because it won’t fit!”

“No, look, I’m tired of pushing for nothing. Luciano told us, remember: when you park, do it safely, but above all keep in mind that the tent opens over the passenger side; so measure carefully and don’t do anything silly: this is your home for the whole journey.”

What a trip, guys... what a trip.

At first, these vehicles are a mix of excitement and fear, like: “Wow, is all this really ours? I mean, if I remember everything, I’ll actually become a pro!” Yes, maybe by the end of the two weeks; maybe.

Then maybe it’s because you have crewmates who go from making things more chaotic to making them easier, or maybe it’s because Namibia has something magical about it, but you really do learn to get by with your own two hands. Dirty hands.
It’s almost always 6:00 p.m. when, as soon as the jeep is parked, a blanket of sand slides down the sides and roof of our 4x4: the sunset light is the perfect backdrop for this triumphant arrival.

There are many of us, and we kick up dust. The same dust that’s on you, in your pockets, under your nails, and inside your bags. We look absolutely incredible.

“So, I’ll pull the latch and pop open the tent, you help me... pull that rope!” Perfect. The first step is done.

“If you pull down the ladder, remember to lock the safety catch, otherwise you’ll slice your fingers off! I’d like you to drive tomorrow, you know!? I’m not driving 500 km alone!”

The shelter is ready. And it’s like a treehouse. It’s green. It’s safe. It’s cozy. It’s ours.
It’s the bed you want after driving through the savannah looking for animals. When you lie down, you can still hear the sounds of the day echoing in the cabin; the cries of amazement when you come across an elephant that almost tips your vehicle over. It’s like sleeping above your own steed, except instead of drinking water and eating hay, it’s a metal machine that drinks diesel and speeds over gravel as fast as it can.

The same dust you find again inside the tent reminds you that you are traveling, that you are experiencing the most beautiful ADVENTURE TRIP IN NAMIBIA of your life.