Trekking at Klein Aus Vista & Schutztruppe Trail

 

Trekking at Klein Aus Vista, Schutztruppe Trail view point

Next full day at Klein Aus Vista, we head for one of the hiking trails, the 11 km “Schutztruppe Trail”. 

We start at the campsite, where we stayed in 2009 and follow the trail as it climbs 400m to the viewpoint with its breath-taking views over the desert plains down below. This is how far we got with our two young children in 2009. We spend some time here again, now 13 years later, and recall the many wonderful trips with our children to Namibia while we try to locate the exact same spot, we took a photo. We absorb the energy from the surroundings, enjoying the expansive view over the endless desert horizons.

Schutztruppe Trail

Once recharged, we return back the same way before our trail descends into a small valley, where we cross the dry riverbed. We continue over the mountain foot slopes, strewn with numerous big boulders and occasional trees. When we hit a T- junction, we turn right and pass through a gate. Then we walk along a beautiful and alley-like row of trees, past huge boulders, and connect with a dry riverbed.

Then, the trail joins one of the Schutztruppe support roads that linked the frontline in the west to the water and provision supplies in the east of the Aus Mountains.

Schutztruppe Trail

We descend down into the Geisterschlucht Valley (Ghost Valley) on a steep and winding track, the same that the foot soldiers, mules and horses used to cross the mountains during WW1. 

Descend down into Geisterschlucht Valley
 (Ghost Valley)

We pass an old Hudson car with bullet holes (!)

 

Diamond thieves and bullet holes!

Towards the end of the trail, we see well-preserved ramparts and try to imagine what it was like to be in the position of German soldiers, crouching behind the ramparts while waiting for the enemy.

Old ramparts

Finally, we reach the campsite again after a splendid hike.

We wish we had time to do some longer trails - we have to return again in the future!