Thanks all for following and comments. :thumleft: I will post one more short 4x4 episode from return home with Bertie
Regarding drigin car on these tracks - I'm no 4x4 or even car boffin (have done probably 2 - 3 car safaris in 12 years I lived here), so take whatever I say with that in mind (and I'm sure there are tons of threads about this are on 4x4 forums, as this is the main highlight of Southern Africa - or rather Africa, for them as well). I do have semi-kitted Hilux 4x4 - mostly for my family and friends as I use bikes for travel - and have done Damaraland & Kaokoland in it last year as a support driving shotgun to my father.
I would say this: Most of the tracks we have ridden are easily doable in 4x4. The only places where it gets technical is Robbie's pass (I personally wouldn't go there in 4x4, but I'm sure proper 4x4 affecionados looking for technical driving would and have) and VZP - that one we have done in my Hilux, and it requires focus and strong determination in places, but is doable by normal driver who is not complete moron in 4x4.
Is it doable in 4x2? I don't know, most of it probably yes, but there are usually few places every day that may catch you out, and you might not be able to get yourself out of those without 4x4 and low range. I personally wouldn't go there in 4x2 (that is the routes we have ridden - I can suggest route that would be perfectly fine in 4x2) even though I drive 99% of time off tar in 4x2 mode in my Hilux. I use 4x4/low range only for tricky bits and to recover the car if stuck in mud or sand, but on those occasions I find it indispensable.
For example I wouldn't want to go down VZP without low range, as it gets really steep and uneven and without low range you will have to be very good with your breaks and they will have to be very good as well. Low range gives you much more control of the car in tricky situation like that. Here are some pictures of the tricky sections on VZP (most of them are 20 - 30 meters long max, but some of them require to rebuild the road);
Also I believe 4x4 and low range are crucial to recover the car once is stuck, like here (Puros canyon):
But in some cases even 4x4 and low range may not be enough - so come well prepared with stuff to get yourself out of the pinch, like shovels, towing ropes, metal/plastic plates for foundation and I would recommend high jack (I have no experience with winches that to me seems a bit over the top). And of course 2 spare wheels, 1 may be pushing it (at least if you are driving solo like we were). For example we came upon this Patrol stuck in mud in the reefs in ugab river. It took us over 3 hours to get him out, and that was with Hilux available for tow. I couldn't believe my eyes when we hitched the patrol to Hilux and tried number of times to rip it out (low range, high range, steady and slow, with run up, etc.)) from both front and back, and the bloody Nissan literaly didn't even flinch (and yes we dug trenches all around the car). It seemed like it was just a top of huge concrete block burried deep in the ground.
They had tons of kit on that Patrol, but one thing they (and us) didn't have was high jack. What eventually got it out was when the guy dug a hole under the rear diff, put his normal jack under the diff with some plate underneath it and managed to jack it up a bit. Hilux was then able with run up to rip it out of that mud hole. So immediately after the trip I bought High jack, which I didn't see a point of till then. It was fun (there were lion spoor all over the mud we were working in so walking through those reefs looking for some wood to put under wheels was exciting to say the least), but I wouldn't want to do it in a hurry again:
As far as 'kitted' 4x4 goes - as with bikes my recommendation would be go as minimal as possible. I have aluminium canopy and roof tent and ****, but this time my father (who used the car there before with all that crap on) insisted on going minimal - i.e. no canopy, no roof tent, just tonnal cover to hide spare wheel and jerry cans from preying eyes, and all the crap packed behind the front seats (take rear seats out). The only stuff you absolutely must have is that stuff I mentioned above to get yourself disentangled from tricky situation, and of course camping gear and lots of water - that one my father was a bit cavallier on, but I was nazi on that - have water not only for your expected route if things go well, but also for non-sunny day scenario if you have to sit it out there for few days, or walk out.
My 2c - take it with big grain of salt.
Anyway I know I will go back, hopefully sooner than later and would love to follow your route.
