My passion is exploring the remote areas and wildlife in Africa and sharing it with others in a way that you feel like you're on the adventure with me. Please jump in the passenger seat and buckle up, I promise it will be interesting!
If you'd like to really join in or support the adventures, please consider doing so via my Patroen Channel: www.patreon.com/roamingyak
Sorry , bit confused, you say you turned around but you never show the river?? but then you camp at the river? is there is trick or restricted area or places that is ok?
Yes I did mate. For a few minutes. I was planning on staying for a while and getting some nice shots, but the campsite on the river was closed, so just had a quick visit which was disappointing.... this link shows the river parts: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0VQ60Hp88f0.html I get there in a later series as well :-)
I would never go back to Sossusvlei again, they've ruined it with that road and buses. Used to sleep in there all alone. They took the wilderness out of it
Beautiful! I am planning on exploring this area in summer 2025. I would be a novice driving a 4x4 toyota hilux and I'm wondering if Marienfluss, D3707 and any other tracks to get there would be ok for me to drive on. Any thoughts or recommendations? Thank you for taking us with you on your trips!
It all depends on how sensible you are - if mildly sensible and willing to back out when it gets beyond your limits, then I'd say go for it! Just allow plenty of time so you aren't rushing. Good luck!!
Great to see photos of Sid. I lived in Brazzaville from 1988-1990 and knew him as a youngster as I regularly visited the orphanage where he was cared for in readiness for his release.
Hi Beth, thanks for watching and the very very interesting message. So he would have been 20-22 years old when I saw him in 2010 I guess...? It is fair to say he grew into quite a size! It was a jaw dropping/tingle down the spine experience to see him up close.
Beautiful drive Mr Yak. If you recall, did you drive the sand section in low range, and if so, which gear? Looks like you switched back to high range just before the tar. Interested to know the likelihood of getting stuck there, looked like fairly soft sand?
Thanks Mr Neil, low range is a good idea, my default would be 3rd gear to start with and then change up or down as you need too. It was all fairly easy as there are other tyre tracks to follow in so not much virgin sand to plough through. As ever, time of the day and sunshine/hot sand dependent answers. Enjoy it!
I can’t watch your videos right now because it makes me want to hit the road and get away, as far away as possible, a bulged disc means I’m house bound for the foreseeable future. I don’t think I’d have the courage to be so vulnerable in a foreign country like you have been. Hats off to you sir for being so calm and composed and unflappable cruising around in your Landy.
I understand. Before making these films I rarely looked at my photos as they made me feel the same way... Thanks... I find Namibia pretty 'easy' compared to Somalia, Congo etc and I have to say I really enjoyed having everything to myself. I too have had bad spinal issues - loosing a lot of weight and exercising (lifting gentle weights, cycling) has largely fixed it. Let me know an email if you'd like some more details, it was all pretty easy, diet is 80% of it.... Healthy Keto Diet with Intermittent Fasting, easy and fantastic.
I was there a week ago and also entirely on my own at Dead Vlei. This turned out to be a disadvantage when I got stuck in the sand on the way out and had to wait 3 hours for someone to help me out of there!
Great video as usual. Next is watching your Sossusvlei video - looking forward to it as it is my no. 1 favorite in Namibia. Keep up the good work and stay safe. Best for now.
Sorry I missed this one mate, I didn't get a notification on this one and it did not appear on my feed ! Yours is the only channel I have notifications turned on, not sure what's going on with youtube.......on another note, I'm so glad you got back into recording you journey......Great episode .
This was an awesome video! The sand driving part was amazing and I could honestly watch that kind of content for days. The on road portion was very calming and I found myself reflecting on life as I usually do when I’m on the highway. I’m Looking forward to more wonderful content!
OH! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! 😃😃😍 Thats what I was hoping - people could have their own thoughts and feelings as they drive along in such a pretty place...
Hard to say, I am fairly sure the driver had the windows down and the 6x9 speakers and sub woofer pumped up! "Just sixteen, a pickup truck, out of money, out of luck. I've got nowhere to call my own, hit the gas, and here I go. I'm running free yeah, I'm running free. I'm running free yeah, Oh I'm running free." ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-t42zllg8Tp0.html
The off road part was mesmerising for me, the road part not so much, but all good nonetheless. You should do a talking head companion video for this. The road part reminds me of my travels in Aus (great memories).....but we need more of Darrin. Still loved the vid mate.......
Thanks Martin 😃😃 I also found it a bit mesmerising - just watching it back now I ended up burning my dinner as I lost focus on the stove 😂 I thought it would be nice to let you all have your own thoughts and enjoy driving the Landy along... It was a unique experience that I wanted to share somehow... though I know the video would be better if it had more of my singing perhaps?
Oh please, no more singing...... only joking mate. Serious question Darrin, could you make available a paid for download of your documentaries series episodes, maybe include content that is only available to this format, behind the scenes, making of etc. I would defo be up for buying content I can keep forever. Just an idea, next best thing to having a hard copy like dvd or blueray.
I have looked into options like this, but they all require paying a monthly hosting fee, plus I'd need to find a way to upload hundreds of gigabytes of video when I have a very poor internet connection at the moment... I kind of figured with my poor viewing figures I'd be unlikely to sell enough per month to cover the monthly fee's charged... Plus I have no control over others rediting my wildlife footage for example and uploading it themselves onto social media, so its a bit of a tricky wicket, but I will continue to have a look at it, I'd like to do something like this.
Yes, subscription fees make that option a risk for you mate, and the added worry of unscrupulous types using you content for their benefit. You could have mail order usb drives, that would be a hassle ,but at least there's no fees to you. Like I've said before, I've still got a copy of your dvd and youtube may not be a thing in the future or if your channel gets taken down (unlikely) then it's gone forever, you films should be preserved, they really are that good in my opinion, rant over, haha.
Howdy Big D! And I don’t mean Dallas! The blue sky against the red dunes is striking! And the isolation caused by the isolation is ironic eh? Thanks again for the share and saddle up!
@@mikereeler9021 They were all empty so I could choose any of them.. so I stayed in the one inside the park gate so I could just go first thing without having to wait for the staff to come and pay etc
Please sit back and enjoy the drive out of Sossusvlei with the setting sun behind you, completely alone with no other visitors in the area, a truly unique experience!
My wife and I roamed 3800 km around Namibia in a Jimny August last year. Loved the place. Never saw a fellow Kiwi the whole time. Seeing you get a tyre replaced. We rolled into Luderitz with nail embedded in one. They fixed it for $NZ 25 in two hours. Thinking that was too cheap I went down to the supermarket and got them some beers. Which went down well.
Hi mate, thanks for stopping by and watching... It is quite hard not to love the beauty of the place all round. The tyre fix wasn't cheap by local standards by the sounds, but glad you helped give the perception that we are a bunch of drunkards 😀🤣🤣 People are generally on very low pay so appreciate any thoughtful gifts. Hopefully see you on the road the next tome you visit 😀
@@roamingyakNamibia is a hard sell tourist destination here in N.Z. Unfair I know. But most people are soft. Want ‘comfort zone’ ‘instagram photo op’ destinations. When I get pushback. Worried looks when I tell people I’m off to Namibia, Iran, Bolivia etc. I reverse perceptions. Ask them to tell me what they believe someone from those countries thinks about Christchurch? Major earthquake & mosque shootings must spring to mind. Your videos do a lot to address the misconceptions about Namibia. Message to anyone thinking about visiting Namibia and worried about safety. Your biggest threat is your own stupidity, lack of attention or skills on the road. Cheers. Paul
@@InterestingFingz The only time I have been robbed (in visiting over 110+ countries) was in NZ. The only time I've had my vehicle stolen was in NZ. Enough said!
Oh, thanks mate! And thanks for being kind enough to comment as well... 😀 Only RU-vid can answer that question unfortunately - but please feel free to share it with others to try and force them along a bit. Cheers, Darrin
Glad it was helpful! 🕷️🕸️ 🤣 About 20% of the time, on the 2nd or 3rd flush sometimes, a huge spider crawls out a bit wet and wanders off, truly spooky!
Howdy Big D! Well thanks for the update on your past travels! Makes me wish to get back for another outing in Namibia! Been there four times and loved it every time…but you have experienced it so in depth and in such a unique time that cannot be duplicated…Baie Dankie ! 🤠🇺🇸🇨🇱🙏
A big thanks mate! I'm glad it came across well, they were mostly just phone snaps so wasn't sure if I should use them... The quality of footage takes a big jump up from here!
I hope you all enjoy the last episode in this first introduction series! Please let me know what you have thought of it so far!? And I especially hope Martin enjoys my couple of lines of very in tune and 'better than Willie' singing which I left in just for him! 😂🤣
Good to see you turning out content again. Sorry for not becoming a patreon, but my hard earned Nam$"s really don"t translate well with any currency, so useless. Toyota?......hell flippen NO!!! You have the best vehicle for the job right there.
Thanks mate. Don't worry, I completely understand and am happy to know that you'd do it if you could comfortably, it gives me hope that I'm doing something right with my films. Keep on trucking in sunny Namibia, and hope to see you on the road one day! Cheers, Darrin
Good one - just love those back roads and tracks. The lock-down quite a bit (or in your case a serious one) of a bugger though. Eagerly waiting for what happens next and for the rest of the pandemic period ! Keep well and go slow.
Howdy Big D! Amazing storytelling! Really enjoying the beauty and solitude of northern Namibian landscape! What a challenging time and especially for you as the wandering continues…can’t wait for the next episode! 🙏🤠🇺🇸🇨🇱
