Autovermietung Savanna CC

31/07/2025

Brandberg Mountain: A Sacred Namibian Treasure

Brandberg Mountain (called Daureb by the locals) is steeped in ancient mystery and San legend. It’s a spiritual hotspot believed to hold powerful energies and ancestral spirits. At the heart of these legends is the famous White Lady rock painting, tucked away in the Tsisab ravine. Despite the name, the figure might actually be a male shaman, possibly a healer, painted in white body paint: symbolic, sacred, and deeply rooted in San beliefs.

The Brandberg is more than just a mountain. It’s a national monument, a sanctuary of over 45,000 rock paintings, and a sacred domain where shamans once connected with the spirit world. Discovered by explorer Reinhard Maack in 1918, the White Lady gained international fame, despite being a bit of a misnomer!

To explore Brandberg and its mystical treasures, visitors must go with local guides, who offer enriching walks through this awe-inspiring landscape of myths, geology, and history.

18/07/2025

Weekend loading….

🇳🇦

15/07/2025

Tsumeb (meaning “place of the moss”, named by the Nama people), one of Namibia's biggest mining towns in the North, was first home to the San (Bushmen). In 1851 Sir Francis Galton, a British explorer, made note of copper ore deposits in the vicinity of what later became the town of Tsumeb.

Industrial mining only began in 1900, largely due to the area's remoteness. The first batch of ore was transported to Swakopmund by ox-wagon, from there it was shipped to Europe.

After the completion of a railway line between Swakopmund and Tsumeb in 1906, the town experienced an economic boom.

The German troops sank some of their weapons into the lake in July 1915 before surrendering to the superior South African Army. Some weapons were retrieved again later and, after being restored, are now displayed in the museum in Tsumeb.

The surroundings offer a lot of activities, including visiting 2 sinkhole lakes:
Lake Otjikoto and Lake Guinas (""Gwee-nus""). Guinas has been in existence for so long that a unique species of fish, Tilapia guinasana, has evolved in its waters.

Things to do:
Ghaub Cave
Hoba Meteorite (about 40 minutes' drive from town)
Otjikoto Lake & Lake Guinas
Helvi Mpingana Kondombolo Cultural Village
Tsumeb Arts and Crafts Centre - The Crafts Shop
Tsumeb Museum
Hiking and Biking Trails
Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology
Ongopolo Mine

PHOTO CREDIT: Tsumeb Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

07/07/2025

Gravel Road Bingo – because Namibia's backroads aren't just a journey, they're an adventure with plot twists! From sore bums to surprise warthogs, tick off your wildest (and dustiest) moments one bingo square at a time. How many can you score before your next fuel stop?

25/06/2025

Fossils, Footprints & Ancient Giants: Namibia’s Prehistoric Playground
Ever wondered what Namibia looked like 200 million years ago? Spoiler alert: it was wild. Think giant reptiles stomping through riverbeds, ancient seas teeming with life, and creatures so bizarre they’d make a warthog do a double take.

The Otjihaenamaparero Dinosaur Tracks
Just outside Kalkfeld, near Mount Etjo, lies one of Namibia’s most jaw-dropping time capsules: the Otjihaenamaparero dinosaur tracks. These fossilized footprints, preserved in the Etjo Sandstone, date back to the Early Jurassic period—about 190 million years ago. The site features two intersecting trackways: larger prints measuring 12–15 cm in length and spaced approximately 80 cm apart, likely made by a ceratosauria, and smaller ones about 7 cm long and 28–33 cm apart, attributed to a syntarsus.

Declared a national monument in 1951, these tracks offer a tangible connection to the prehistoric past, inviting visitors to walk alongside the ancient giants that once roamed Namibia.

Mesosaurus: The Ancient Swimmer
Traveling south to the Keetmanshoop area, you’ll encounter the Mesosaurus Fossil Site. Mesosaurus, a small, crocodile-like reptile from the Early Permian period (~280 million years ago), is one of the earliest known aquatic reptiles. Fossils of this creature have been found in both Namibia and Brazil, providing key evidence for the theory of continental drift.

The site offers guided tours where you can see well-preserved fossils embedded in the rock, offering a glimpse into a time when southern Africa was part of the supercontinent Gondwana.

Gaiasia jennyae: The Prehistoric Predator
In 2024, paleontologists unearthed a new prehistoric predator in Namibia: Gaiasia jennyae. This 2.5-meter-long, salamander-like creature lived around 280 million years ago, predating the dinosaurs. With a broad, flat head and sharp fangs, it was likely an apex predator of its time. ​

The discovery of Gaiasia jennyae adds to Namibia’s rich fossil record, showcasing the country’s significance in understanding prehistoric life.

Ready to Time Travel?
Namibia’s fossil sites are not just for scientists—they’re for anyone with a sense of adventure and curiosity. So, pack your gear, hop into a 4x4, and set off on a journey through time. Who knows what ancient secrets you’ll uncover?

Photo Credit: Elisabeth Dürr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

15/06/2025

To the dads who taught us how to change a tyre and how to tackle life’s bumpy roads, Happy Father’s Day! Whether you're king of the braai or navigator of every road trip, today’s your day to take the wheel

30/05/2025

Welcome to the Namib Desert - where time forgot to press fast-forward and the sand has been partying in place for over 55 million years. Yes, you read that right. This ancient beauty is officially the oldest desert on Earth!

Stretching more than 2,000 kilometres along the Atlantic coast of Namibia, the Namib is a masterpiece of nature's extremes. Towering red dunes (some of the highest in the world!), mysterious "fairy circles," and an eerie fog that rolls in from the ocean like it’s got secrets to keep.

But don’t let the dry vibes fool you — the Namib is teeming with life. From the hardy Welwitschia plant (basically the desert's great-grandparent, living up to 1,500 years!) to dancing lizards, fog-drinking beetles, fascinating burrowing spiders and our clever friend the sidewinder snake, this place is full of survivors. Other wildlife includes desert-adapted elephants, oryx, and geckos.

Ideal for: Dune climbing and desert photography.
Best season for visiting: April to October, when the desert is less scorching.

It’s wild, it’s weird, it’s wonderful — and it’s just waiting for you to explore it in a trusty 4x4

25/05/2025

Happy Africa Day!
We’re tooting our horns (and not just the 4x4s) for this wild, wonderful, and wildly wonderful continent we call home. From sand dunes to safari dreams — Africa, you’ve got it all. And we’re just lucky warthogs cruising through your magic.

21/05/2025

"The Skeleton Coast—​Namibia’s hauntingly beautiful stretch of shoreline where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Namib Desert in a dramatic display of nature’s raw power. This desolate coast has earned its eerie moniker from the countless shipwrecks and bleached bones that litter its sands, remnants of the perilous journey many vessels undertook through its fog-laden waters and treacherous currents.​

Over the centuries, it's estimated that around 500 ships have met their end along this unforgiving coastline, making it one of the world's largest ship graveyards. The combination of dense fog from the cold Benguela Current, unpredictable weather, and the lack of natural harbours turned this area into a maritime nightmare.​

Among the most iconic wrecks is the Eduard Bohlen, a German cargo ship that ran aground in 1909. Today, its rusting hull lies eerily 400 meters inland, a testament to the shifting sands of the desert

Equally legendary is the Dunedin Star, a British liner that stranded in 1942, leading to a dramatic and perilous rescue operation that involved ships, aircraft, and overland convoys

Other notable wrecks include the Otavi, which sank in 1945 and remains relatively intact in Spencer Bay, and the Zeila, a fishing trawler that ran aground near Henties Bay in 2008, now a popular spot for photographers and curious travelers

These skeletal remains serve as poignant reminders of nature's might and the perils faced by those who dared to navigate these waters. Exploring the Skeleton Coast offers a unique glimpse into a maritime past where each rusting hull tells a story of adventure, misfortune, and the relentless forces of the sea and desert.​

So, if you're planning a journey through Namibia, consider venturing to this enigmatic coastline. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a photography buff, or simply someone drawn to the allure of the unknown, the Skeleton Coast promises an experience that's as haunting as it is unforgettable."

Toyota rentals in Windhoek. Our car hire company offers 4x4 & Camping vehicles for hire in Namibia. Savanna car hire is quality Car Rental in Namibia with most advanced car rental packages in Windhoek, Namibia.

15/05/2025

Tucked along Namibia’s dramatic coastline, Walvis Bay—meaning "Bay of Whales"—has a seafaring story that stretches back to the Age of Exploration. First charted by the Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão in 1485, and later by Bartholomeus Diaz in 1487, this natural deep-water harbour became a key waypoint for explorers sailing down Africa’s west coast. Its strategic and sheltered location quickly caught the eye of passing ships, lured by the rich marine life that teemed in the cold Atlantic waters.

By the late 1700s, the bay was buzzing with activity. The Dutch East India Company saw its potential as a vital stopover between Cape Town and the Netherlands, especially for whalers and fishermen drawn to the area’s plentiful fish stocks. Walvis Bay was officially founded in 1793 by Dutch settlers from the Cape Colony, turning the once-quiet harbour into a small but significant trading post.

However, the winds of power shifted quickly. Just a few years later, a British war vessel sailed in and hoisted a new flag. The British recognized the bay’s commercial value and cemented their claim in 1878 by formally incorporating Walvis Bay into the British Crown's holdings. From then on, it blossomed into a hub for maritime trade, with bustling docks and merchant vessels coming and going.

At the outbreak of World War I, even German forces couldn’t resist its pull—they briefly occupied the town, underscoring its ongoing importance. Today, Walvis Bay remains Namibia’s busiest port and a vibrant meeting point of history, commerce, and coastal charm.

ACTIVITIES:
Catamaran Tour
4x4 Desert Excursions
Scenic Photography
Kayaking
Visit Sandwich Harbour
Visit the Salt Works & Salt Pans
Seal & Dolphin Cruise
Township Tour
Visit the Moonlandscape
See the Welwitschia
Climb Dune 7
Dune Surfing
Diamond Area tour
Walvisbae boardwalk
Visit Pelican Point

11/05/2025

Happy Mother’s Day from Namibia!
Today we’re celebrating the queens of adventure - the ones who packed the snacks, sang the road trip songs, and made every journey unforgettable.
Here’s to you, moms - you’re the real off-road heroes!

07/05/2025

What a difference a few months (and a lot of rain) can make!

Last September, we captured the Namib in the grip of a harsh drought. Fast forward to May, and wow — the same spots between Helmeringhausen and Aus, and along the Orange River in the Sperrgebiet, are now bursting with life.

Nature’s comeback game is strong.