A rugged weekend on the pan – off-road adventure in Namibia

Imagine a large, flat white pan with eerie stretches of nothing but twirling whirlwinds and the odd empty beer can blowing around in the dust. Now envisage your self-modified off-road vehicle (or something of similar calibre on wheels) running wild through the endless stretches of desiccated desert sand, and you’ve put yourself at the Koës Rally – a Namibian adventure like few others. 

Presented on the dry expanse of the Koës Pan in the south of Namibia, the annual rally comprises 150 kilometres of off-road terrain, with challenges such as dune diving, drag racing and an obstacle course forming part of the weekend’s festivities. Think pipe cars, racing bakkies, quads and off-road motorbikes, lots of macho men, an ample supply of beer and Jägermeister, and you have the ultimate adrenaline and dust package.

Held during the first weekend of July (5–6 July), the Koës Rally is a blood-pumping event of note for 4×4 or bikers’ fanatics. And no sweat if rugged off-road driving is not your thing. Just come for the social part of the race – you’ll never see Koës in the same dusty light again!

As an added bonus, you’ll find yourself in the small village of Koës in Kalahari country, smack-bam between nothing and nowhere. You might even run into a Bushman or two, so don’t forget your camera!

For further information contact Bonsai Combrink at Koës Hotel: 063 25 2716