Namibia’s spectacular dunes, rugged trails and warm hospitality are attracting a growing wave of international adventure riders, with South African motorcycle adventurer Joey Evans back in the country, this time leading a group of Australian riders on a four-day expedition.
The group international adventure riders put Walvis Bay and Namibia’s wild trails on the map as they explore some of the country’s most dramatic terrain, from the towering dunes around Walvis Bay to inland trails, riverbeds and the coastline.
For Evans, who has ridden motorcycles in numerous countries, Namibia remains in a class of its own. “People ask me where’s my favourite place in the world to ride, it’s Namibia,” he said.
The riders have travelled through the dunes before heading inland towards Spitzkoppe and the Omaruru River, where they will tackle riverbed trails before returning to the coast and riding past the iconic shipwreck.
The Australian group forms part of the second consecutive riding expedition Evans has hosted in Namibia. The first group spent about a week riding before a short break to prepare the motorcycles for the next group.
Evans said the combination of desert, mountains, riverbeds and ocean makes the Walvis Bay region particularly attractive to international adventure riders. But it is not only Namibia’s landscapes that are making an impression. Evans praised Namibians for their friendliness and hospitality, saying riders are regularly greeted by people along the roads and trails. “You live in a special place,” he said.
Among the Australian visitors is Bruce Campbell, a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast who grew up on a sheep and cattle station in the Australian outback. Campbell said motorcycles have been part of his life for decades, including riding while working around large properties. His Namibian adventure followed a message from Evans, whom he has known for about eight years. The pair previously rode together in South Africa’s Northern Cape.
“About three years later I get this random text from Joey saying, ‘Hey, you have to come to Namibia to ride.’ So you fast forward a few more years and here we are, having an absolute ball,” Campbell said. What immediately stood out was Namibia’s massive dunes. “Australia has desert, but not this much in terms of the height of the dunes,” he said.
The proximity of the desert to the ocean was another major attraction. Campbell also praised Namibians for their hospitality and said the experience had convinced him to return. “I will. It’s been a fantastic trip,” he said. He believes Namibia has enormous potential to attract more international adventure tourists. “You’ve got a very special part of the world,”
Campbell said, urging Namibia to promote its landscapes and adventure opportunities more aggressively. For Walvis Bay and the coast, the arrival of international riders represents more than a thrilling motorcycle expedition, it showcases Namibia’s potential as a world-class adventure tourism destination.
By Rudi Bowe
