Test yourself in a mountainous desert
DAY 1 14 KM
Koedoesrus to Putte Shelter
The first 5 km section is through the foothills of the escarpment, followed by a steep 4 km climb up to the plateau. You won’t see many of the deep canyons of the Naukluft today, but will have to brave rugged ridges and sharp rocks. (Take a look at the soles of your boots tonight!)
Putte is a stone shelter with a corrugated iron roof that will keep away the wind and wild animals. You sleep on gravel inside; other facilities include a pit toilet and a hand pump for drinking and washing water. The pump is in a small kloof about 200 m from the shelter.
Go fetch water and wash as soon as you arrive at the shelter every day. Once the sun sets behind the mountains, it gets very cold.
