Kuiseb Pass
Kuiseb Pass
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
70 reviews
Excellent
38
Very good
30
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Frank h
Hengelo, The Netherlands35 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
Beautiful views. Note: a 'pass' in Namibia mostly is not a mountain pass but a pass trough a gorge of a dry river. This one is no exception. But beautiful. Switch on your action cam.
Written September 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DanielD525
London, UK1,312 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
Just 30 mins drive from Solitaire on the C14 road, you will then marvel at Gaub Pass which is glorious whichever way you look at it, with plenty of spaces to stop and admire. An added bonus of Kuiseb pass being another 30 mins drive north is like to 2 buses coming after a hell of a wait. Again super views and something that seems to be customary in this super country. Enjoy these super passes because it’s on route to whichever way you are heading regardless, but just remember to slow down because the drop is unforgivable. Make the most of it because shortly after Kuiseb, the scenery is flat for the majority of route through NN National Park to Walvis Bay.
Written February 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
acorna
Vilnius, Lithuania4,457 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
The area is full of so many things. For tourists first and foremost it is amazing landscape and breathtaking views as if brought directly from some fiction move. Behind the crazy landscape, there is also fascinating geology for anyone who is at least a little bit interested. There are amazing plants, like contorted myrrh bushes, full of aromatic orange juice used for a perfume by Damara people. There is a piece of history: going that road one passes “Henno Martin’s” cave, made famous by an exceptional story of escapees from an internment, whose life in the desert was depicted in a book The Sheltering Desert.
Written April 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris M
Wetherby, UK1,222 contributions
Sep 2017 • Couples
Our tour of Namibia included travelling from Sossusvlei to Swakopmund. The route took us via the often rough C14 gravel road over the Kuiseb Pass. It was described in our itinerary as the Kuiseb Moon Valley and this is a very apt description. There is a spectacular view point at the top of the Pass providing 360 degree views into the far distance. Dramatic scenery is also evident for some way before and after the summit. The pass is a long way from any areas of population, but is definitely worth building into a touring itinerary if possible.
Written January 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jay H
Napier, South Africa61 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
The Kuiseb Pass is about half-way between Walvis Bay and the popular desert viewing area of Sossusvlei. If you are self-driving, be warned that much of this long C14 road is flat, straight and deadly dull. It is enlivened by two exciting passes. The Gaub Pass has outcrops of mica which glisten in the bright sun as you steer around impressive descending bends (just about on the Tropic of Capricorn). Not far from this is the even deeper plunge of the Kuiseb, where (in April 2017) the river was running - not a sight seen often! The depth of the cliffs creates stunning shadows, and the unfenced dirt road sweeps around dramatic scenery. Great for a cool pause and memorable photography ... but you have to attack the long road again.
Written May 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert H
Warrington, UK18 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
Just the road i like with loose surface, plenty bends, no other traffic and super views. So much nicer than the M25
Written April 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mfuwe
Isle of Man, UK47,765 contributions
Dec 2016
Don't know why this needs a review. A site (sight) on the main road from Solitaire to Walvis Bay. Taken with care it is no problem.
Written January 12, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BradJill
Hong Kong, China159,182 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
The Kuiseb Pass is a 20 kilometre stretch of the C14 roughly halfway between Solitare and Walvis Bay that travels through the Kuiseb Canyon area. This pass offers spectacular landscape and numerous viewpoints for those interested in stopping for a picture taking.
The Kuiseb Canyon area is hilly and quite rugged, marked by uplifts of the earth which have exposed sedimentation layers that have bent, cracked and burst through the Earth's surface, leaving endless jagged lines, roughly formed hills and genuinely unique geology and landscape. the area at times looks like something from another planet.
Note: There are no crash rails along the pass. The road bends and turns fairly regularly so make sure to keep you eye on the road instead of off to the side watching the landscape. Its not a difficult drive but one which you should exercise more caution than other areas of the C14 which are flat and straight for many kilometres.
Note: There is a second pass, the Gaub Pass, nearer to the Tropic of Capricorn sign that also makes for a nice stretch of road. We preferred the Kuiseb Pass given its scale, more interesting landscape and the good number of viewpoints which allowed for stops every kilometre or so for pictures.
Note: We didn't see wildlife through the Kuiseb Pass although it seems there are some animals that live in the area. By comparison, near the Gaub Pass, we did find large herds of Hartmann's Mountain Zebra as well as some Gemsbok.
The Kuiseb Canyon area is hilly and quite rugged, marked by uplifts of the earth which have exposed sedimentation layers that have bent, cracked and burst through the Earth's surface, leaving endless jagged lines, roughly formed hills and genuinely unique geology and landscape. the area at times looks like something from another planet.
Note: There are no crash rails along the pass. The road bends and turns fairly regularly so make sure to keep you eye on the road instead of off to the side watching the landscape. Its not a difficult drive but one which you should exercise more caution than other areas of the C14 which are flat and straight for many kilometres.
Note: There is a second pass, the Gaub Pass, nearer to the Tropic of Capricorn sign that also makes for a nice stretch of road. We preferred the Kuiseb Pass given its scale, more interesting landscape and the good number of viewpoints which allowed for stops every kilometre or so for pictures.
Note: We didn't see wildlife through the Kuiseb Pass although it seems there are some animals that live in the area. By comparison, near the Gaub Pass, we did find large herds of Hartmann's Mountain Zebra as well as some Gemsbok.
Written September 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
europeholidays
South Africa145 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
One of my favourite roads in Namibia, just so different and with interesting geology. Take it slow and enjoy the views
Written October 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndrejaKo
Maribor, Slovenia1,069 contributions
Nov 2021
Kuiseb Pass offers landscape like no other we drove through. It was a really pleasant change of scenery.
Written April 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann749
Exeter, UK1 contribution
Hi there
We are planning another trip to Namibia next April/May and would like to do the C26 then C14 from Windhoek to Walvis Bay. Would this be ok in a 2WD Toyota sedan?
Any other tips gratefully recieved
Ann
Didianarana
London, UK226 contributions
Hi Ann, it won't be comfortable and it will be noisy, but it's absolutely doable. Just check for rains.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Kuiseb Pass
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Kuiseb Pass Information
Excellent Reviews | 38 |
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Very Good Reviews | 30 |
Kuiseb Pass Photos | 71 |