I was not convinced that the BMW X3 would be capable in this region but I packed my bags and headed off on what was an unforgettable experience.
The BMW Driving Experience of South Africa recently took over from BMW Multiday Tours. The experience was an interesting one, with what is a predominantly road-biased X3. To help the vehicles handle the harsh terrain, BMW South Africa has retro-fitted some off-road enhancements to the cars.
These additions include a raised ride height by almost 50mm for increased clearance, full aluminium under-body protection plates with increased departure angles, a set of larger all-terrain tyres for added grip and durability, a pre-air filter with protective mesh grille to prevent desert sand from entering the engine and a full-sized spare wheel firmly fixed in the luggage compartment. Even with the enhancements, the proof is in the pudding and Namibia was not going to go easy on us, something that the landscape reminded us of moments after we arrived.
Day 1: Windhoek to Ai Aiba lodge
When we think of Namibia we tend to think of sand dunes, desert and hot, dry weather. That didn’t happen, instead, our convoy of BMW X3’s was met with an unfamiliar sight in a desert; rain. Not just a little, more than what I have ever experienced in my life. The heavens opened and the gravel roads very quickly turned into dangerous rivers. We had to navigate these rivers that riddled our path and even though our BMWs were raised by 50mm, the water was still a danger. Convoy leader, Bernie Williams, took on the first river after which he helped the rest of the convoy navigate through safely even though it was a scary experience with the constant rain and slow pace.
I was behind the wheel of the X3 and as I moved into the river I could feel the water pushing up against the side of the SUV, the road was slippery and the car was moving about. The xDrive system was indeed working overtime but with the expert guidance from our leader, both Ernest Page from Cars.co.za and I made it through, there were no words for what we experienced so we both just gave a nervous giggle while looking at each other. It was still 100km to our overnight destination and by the looks of it; we were in for exciting times. We arrived at the beautiful Ai Aiba lodge and with the storm clouds behind us and the crisp sky giving us a breathtaking sunset we climbed onto a game viewing vehicle and headed out into the bush where we got to see some iconic animals that attract so many people to this majestic continent.
Day 2: The road to Swakopmund
The next morning I had my breakfast while watching a crocodile placidly swim past only a few meters away from me, the stillness of the morning was so peaceful and undisturbed, however, I could not ignore the building anticipation that the road ahead was going to be long and would see us traverse winding gravel roads through this beautiful country. Thank goodness we were in a convoy because if something had to happen I doubt I would find help any time soon with the roads mostly empty and hardly another human in sight. As we wandered further into the unknown we arrived at our lunch stop and had a quick refresh of the body and a view that uplifts the soul.
After lunch, we headed out into even more of the vast open spaces; our journey saw us navigate a dry river bed filled with rocks which the X3 conquered with ease. We stopped over at an old abandoned copper mine a few kilometres outside of Swakopmund, the silence, the emptiness, the broken buildings, it all felt as if we were on a different planet. A few hours and many kilometres later we arrived at our hotel in Swakopmund, while we were tired from our trip we spent some time reminiscing about the day while watching the sunset. We were excited as the next day we would experience the famous Namibian dunes.
Day 3: The Dunes
The dunes are for many people what define Namibia, that and the wide open spaces of the Namib desert. After enjoying a quick breakfast on the beach we decreased our tyre pressure and headed off into the sand-filled landscape. Sand driving is not as easy as it looks; it takes skill and concentration, two things which I might lack. Nevertheless, Bernie, the convoy leader gave clear and easy instructions for us to follow. The X3 is more than capable than we thought and managed to take on the dunes.
It does, however, take a steady right foot and we were instructed to never stop in an abrupt fashion, rather let the car gradually come to a stop. My advice is to never turn too sharply, leave a big enough gap to the car in front and listen to the instructor. As mentioned earlier I have had the privilege of driving in the Namib before but it took some time to familiarise myself to the sandy landscape, especially the activity of going down dunes. There is no grip, you are suspended in the air by the seat belt, the brake pedal is meaningless and then on top of that, you are told to accelerate to gain control. It is truly a sensory overload. The under-body plates of the X3 help with approaching the crest of a dune and it also protects the bumper from paint damage.
As the day went on the members of the convoy started getting used to the sand and were allowed to play in a sand bowl. From the top of a dune, we headed down, accelerating to speeds of around 100 km/h before banking to the right (think dune surfing). We then would head back up the other side of the bowl and race down again. Luckily I didn’t eat much earlier because the forces experienced by your body during the activity are very strange. It was fun but very quickly turned into a competition to see who could get the best showboating shot for the cameras.
The drive back, in my opinion, was the most enjoyable, this time we did not drive in convoy but rather split up, driving along the coast, ocean to the left, dunes on the right. Get it wrong here, you will get stuck and you are done. While the icy Atlantic Ocean was kissing the wheels of my X3, I used all of the 190kW and 620Nm that the 3.0-litre turbo diesel had on offer. Once clear from the narrowing path we were met with a wide open coastline and my driving partner and I just sat back and took in the moment while heading back to civilization.
Day 4: The journey home
Our trip home was not much different than on the trip in, it once again included long gravel roads which we would have to do at pace. With breathtaking views and hardly anyone else in sight, the BMW X3 took all of the kilometres in its stride. It was able to conquer the harsh terrain while offering up a very comfortable driving experience.
The interior remains a high-quality environment with ample space and a host of features. I was impressed by the off-road ability, sure, it’s not going to climb a mountain as well as a Toyota Land Cruiser but it got us through the though Namibian landscape without fail and dealt with harsh terrain which is more than what the average owner will ever need. The enhancements added to these specific cars were just to protect them more than increasing the vehicle’s abilities.
The tour is a must for those looking to experience something different. If Namibia is a bit out of reach then don’t worry because these tours operate in the Western Cape as well. At a cost of between R75 000 to R100 000 for the Namibian trip which includes flights to Windhoek and back, might be a bit steep for most Rand earners but keep in mind that a four-day trip is also available. After the four-day experience, I can highly recommend this trip; it is an experience like no other. Namibia is a very difficult place to surmise, its beauty is hidden in its vast open spaces, its loneliness.
For more information visit: https://www.bmwdrivingexperience.co.za/
