#but basically my activity will be nonexistent or sporadic | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

kotsume · 4 years ago

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my observations as a content creator :) warning: it’s long

if you’re reading this, don’t think too deeply about what i wrote - it’s just my analysis of fan blogs and some fandoms (so it’s all from my perspective). do what you want with this information, and feel free to lmk what you think ;)

*i tried to include as many anime-applicable blogs as i could remember*

multifandom reblog blogs (ones who track a tag):

@/allanimanga: lots of original content every day. does not reblog from tag anymore bc most members who had that job are inactive. i’m an admin and i’ve been told not to worry about reblogging from the tag, and just make content. has member privilege abuse from certain users; normally you make content for the blog and you get to reblog your stuff over in a 1:1 ratio, but they will just use the blog to promote themselves without contributing. it’s really sad but there’s nothing we can do bc most of the time it’s an admin.

@/animacia: was debating whether or not to put this one. reblogs mainstream anime (sailor moon, studio ghibli) and has a tag, but the tag itself does not seem to be actively used as the most recent post can see tagged for this blog dates back to june 2019 (more than a year ago). it’s an active blog regardless of slow tag activity.

@/animationsource: active, but very picky? idk man they either do or don’t reblog your stuff. it’s a hit or miss with them. seems to have member privilege abuse/preference (explained up there). not too sure if they have a queue or just reblog sporadically.

@/anisource: active. seems to run on a large, backlogged queue bc their tag is full of stuff that has yet to be reblogged. edits will probably take a while to be reblogged, but they’ll eventually get there!

@/dailyanime: new blog, but from what i’ve experienced, they will queue it, and your post will be reblogged in 1-3 days (it probably depends on how much is in their queue).

@/fyanimegifs: will reblog your stuff, but they have a very slow queue.

@/graphicsources: not really active; spontaneous at best. don’t count on them to reblog your stuff.

@/fyeahshoujo: not really active, but not completely inactive.

@/fysportsanime & @/sportsanimedaily: active. seems to have a backlogged queue, but just wait and you’ll be reblogged! it will take some time because there are lots of posts.

@/animangascenery & @/otomokatsuhiro (#oldanimeedit - changes url from time to time? that’s why i included the tag they track): inactive unless a member looks at the tag. in that case, they will most likely reblog the tagged post. typically mass reblogs/queues from the tag every once in a while.

@/bbelcher & @/fyeahmovies: will reblog ghibli and makoto shinkai stuff. bonus points if you have added a text description to gifs. 80% dependable.

@/filmgifs, @/filmtv, @/stream, @/movie-gifs, etc. (basically big reblog fansites that aren’t anime-oriented, but do reblog mainstream anime movies): 90% chance they will not reblog anything from you if there is no text description. add text descriptions to studio ghibli/makoto shinkai film gifs and make it pretty! use text gradients!! that will increase your chances of being reblogged by them. they don’t reblog seasonal anime.

a note: many creators use tags as a way of reaching a broader audience. it's really helpful for smaller blogs who would like to share their content to others, but do not have the means/numbers to do so. just bc some people don't utilize tags to their full potential, it doesn't mean it isn't useful, so pls don’t try to act superior to those who want more exposure. everyone deserves a chance at getting the attention they deserve for their hard work!

studio ghibli reblog blogs:

@/ghiblisdaily: great. amazing. i love them!! will reblog from you 99.9% of the time. probably the most reliable ghibli blog as of right now. uploads original content

@/fyghibli: used to be good at reblogging from tag, but has gone kind of inactive. i think they’re becoming more active again, but it’s very sporadic.

@/kikisdeliveryservices: they track a variety of studio ghibli related tags, and they do reblog a lot, but i don’t think they’re as consistent as ghiblisdaily. lots of original content.

@/oh-totoro: not really active, but when they are (and they reblog from you), your activity skyrockets.

@/dailyghibli: not active.

@/daily-ghibli: sometimes active, a little wishy-washy. they seem to be reblogging a little bit more consistently now?

@/princessghibli: not active, but reblogs here and there.

@/ghibligif: a new blog, but decently active. will reblog post from their tracked tag within a day. lots of original content.

main point: there are many studio ghibli blogs (wayyyy more than i’ve listed here), but only around 3-4 active ones. choose your tags with what you think will give you the best exposure bc if you have too much, tumblr will go “fuck you” and not show your post at all :)

random anime fandoms:

i’ll really only be including ones i’m in, or know a bit about.

haikyuu, bnha, kny, yoi: healthy and very active. content for these fandoms do well even if they’re not in season. has multiple active fan blogs (except for yoi tho - they’re all inactive for the most part).

noragami, ohshc, ons, snk, tg, swnku: active fandoms. edits will do moderately well bc most people have seen these.

popular sports anime (knb, free, dna, tsurune? idk i don’t watch much sports anime): they do okay. i rarely see any new sports anime edits beside haikyuu, but people do love their sports anime. has active sports fan blogs.

pokemon & sailor moon: old but gold. lots of people love these anime bc it’s part of their childhood. still very popular amongst tumblr users.

violet evergarden: does moderately well. @/fyeahvioletevergarden will reblog your stuff if you choose to tag them (big boost)! with the new movie coming up soon, there may be a resurgence in activity, but the most recent movie did not have much content made for it, so that hope may be crushed.

tpn: not very active, but with the new season coming up soon, there will be a resurgence in activity.

ditf: kind of dead, but lots of people love zero two. edits do moderately well.

sao: dead. absolutely dead. i thought there would be some activity bc it’s in season right now, but no, it’s a dead fandom. low key sao sucks tho. idek where the plot is going; i’m just hoping for an end.

hxh, one piece, fma, code geass: i’m not in it, but i think they do okay bc they have a large following, just not as well as haikyuu or bnha (but they’re still very popular). it depends on your blog demographic tho.

mp100, opm, bsd, given: kind of medium-tier fandoms. not as prevalent as haikyuu or bnha, but there are still edits being made for these anime. they don’t really have any active fan blogs (besides given i think) bc none of them are airing rn.

makoto shinkai & studio ghibli films: they do great! everybody loves good scenery, and the films are very well known and loved by all!

some seasonal anime (spring/summer 2020)

fruits basket: well this reboot blew up and overshadowed everything in it’s path. tbh only edits posted on the first day of the new episode do well. it’s a very competitive fandom for creators.

kaguya sama love is war: first season was good, edits did well. second season drifted off into the shadow of fruits basket. relatively obscure fandom for how popular it is amongst people (non-creators).

tower of god: popular with creators. now that it’s not airing, no one gifs it. respective fan blog is doing its best with content from the manhwa.

fugou keiji balance unlimited: people were simping even before the first ep came out, and then the anime went on hiatus for a few months. now that it’s started to air again, everyone acts like it never existed in the first place... was a good fandom up until the hiatus and now it will probably take a while to recover.

god of high school: nonexistent even tho it’s a popular pick this season (summer 2020). in the shadow of fruits basket.

deca-dence, bna, great pretender, kakushigoto, the misfit at demon king academy, rent-a-girlfriend: *sigh* didn’t see much of it on my dash. lesser-watched seasonal anime in comparison to fruits basket and tower of god (all relative to tumblr). there are gifs being made, but you have to follow the right blogs.

main point: if there’s any seasonal anime paired up against fruits basket at the same time, fruits basket will win and the former will be left in the dust.

#i've been itching to write this for a while #just my thoughts as a #content creator who uses tags #feel free to correct me on anything #or give me a new perspective #text #mine #mytext

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suicunerider · 4 years ago

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On hiatus! (Indefinitely):

I don’t typically post big updates like this. But I wanted to get it out now before tomorrow. I had my first cataract removal surgery on April 5, and tomorrow April 19 I’m going to be going in to get the other one removed. Because I suffer from amblyopia, or lazy eye, my left eye has always been my dominant eye. It’s basically taken over any tasks the right would do like depth perception.

Since the left eye is going to be operated on tomorrow, I’m not sure how this is going to affect me being online going forward in the coming days or weeks. I could heal very quickly and be back on Tumblr, or I could have a slow healing process where I need help getting around and doing day-to-day things like cooking and cleaning. So going forward my activity on here is going to be very sporadic while I heal, or nonexistent. If that’s the case and I’m not sure when I’m going to return, but it shouldn’t be too long. I’m guessing at least by May, if not June or July. But who knows. I could be back by next week if I don’t have to have laser surgery to remove this film that tends to form over the new artificial lenses.

Thank you for reading! See y’all later!

#ooc

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thedrown · 4 years ago

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Interloper Rework!

Hellooo everyone, sorry for the sporadic doodles been adjusting to the new stylus/tablet and also working on some ref sheets that can be time consuming. Now then as you know I have several comic ideas the main ones being my vigilante comic BLAABR and a Star Wars story set during the Clone Wars called GOTS. While both of these series are pretty fleshed out both story and character wise, my newer series are still developing and as such my Imperial era Star Wars story “Interloper” is getting another rework! Details bellow if interested in how it will affect the fledgling story/art of characters from this series.

So then, for a quick refresher since it’s been ages since the last upload, Star Wars Interloper is a Star Wars story set during the Imperial era following the small crew of an Imperial Light Cruiser as they engage in counter espionage predominately within the more autonomous zone of the Corporate Sector. The main cast include a young Umbaran pilot of a prototype TIE/Umbaran fighter, a spunky Rodian engineer, a nervous Pyke nurse, a Whiphid bodyguard and her Twilek boss, an Inquisitorus reject turned force adept spy, and the ex-shoretrooper captain of the whole ship. The villains were a cell of highly aggressive rebels separate from the mainline Alliance who were seeking to lay siege to the Corporate Sector to deal a major blow to the Imperial economy via terroristic means as this cadre of diverse victims of the Empire have little to lose and burn with vengeance. That’s really the long and short of it and thinking of a mainline story of these two parties engaging has been difficult to an extent. I eventually added characters from a scrapped Old Republic idea to be in a second arc so to speak with this one focused on an Imperial Moff going rogue with his fleet within Unknown Space seeking to build a true Sith empire that follows his pureblooded ancestry. This story idea held much more weight than the first and has been easier to flesh out yet getting there remained the issue.

Enter another facet, a character from GOTS named Kanta Cym, who seemingly dies at the end of the series, survives via the dark side of the force and manages to cheat death via cloning but finds herself without any force abilities as a result and continues her studies of the ancient Sith unhindered by the Jedi as the Empire now reigns. Originally this was little more than a character epilogue post GOTS but I’ve taken more and more of an interest in fleshing this idea out thinking of her struggles without the force, survival in the slums of city worlds, and meeting a comrade in a shapeshifting Shiido bounty hunter as they evade the Empire, cartels, and a band of Jedi in hiding all the while she attempts to rekindle her force abilities by donning the mask of Darth Nihilus albeit with detrimental repercussions from overuse.

So! I intend to essentially merge these stories into one, taking the stronger narrative of Cym’s endeavours during the Imperial era with the colourful cast and look through Imperial eyes of Interloper. Essentially the story now will follow Kanta as the protagonist for a time as we follow her efforts to pursue the dark side alongside her compatriot (whom I may change from a Shiido to a Harch) and the early antagonists being this rogue Jedi group. This portion will be fairly short and culminate with the Jedi being caught by Adaso’s men thus bridging the two stories as Cym is quietly brought into the fold given Adaso’s meager command and leniency brining her and her comrade aboard as a new spy for the crew (though he only knows of her borderline nonexistent force abilities not her past with the Jedi or Dark Side). And from here we enter Interlopers original plot with the Rebel cell albeit now with a more active protagonist as the Umbaran was very inactive as a protag and lacking in character while Kanta will replace the original spy character from Interloper. Kanta being unaligned with or caring about the Empire as well as her highly peculiar personality will give the plot more life and act not as a parallel or counter to the extremist Rebels, but essentially just being another character with neither being the “good” guy and both seeing the other as little more than obstacles which will allow for the characterization of the Interloper crew like originally intended whilst also keeping the central conflict engaging instead of feeling like just another skirmish. Similarly the spy character now being former Jedi and dark side student Kanta over the original spy character will work far greater in the second arc given it’s central plot point of the Sith species and darksiders acting as the primary antagonists.

Basically, moving forward this new Interloper iteration will be the perfect blend of every small scale Star Wars story I’ve invested in but found unable to turn into a full story. That said, the central themes of Interloper will be unchanged, it will still be a series from an Imperial perspective focusing on Adaso’s crew despite Kanta’s addition to the main cast. The exploration of the Sith and Kanta’s furthering of her efforts to reconnect to the force won’t be lost either as the second arc will provide ample material to do so while the first Rebel arc can instead look more at her relationship with Nihilus and her becoming accustomed to this new era and her new clone body. Now then, expect (much needed) updates to the existing Interloper cast with new backstories where necessary as well as some new characters/new versions of characters and unfortunately the deletion of some characters who won’t make the cut. Thank you and Stay Tuned!

#original story #star wars #interloper #empire #sith

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gamenu · 5 years ago

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So! My birthday is tomorrow (March 14th) you guys! As well as Nicole’s. With that said, I’m leaving today to go visit the BF ( @jazztro ). So my activity is going to be incredibly sporadic if basically nonexistent for the next few days!

#༼ 🌟 OOC: AFK and probably eating Pizza Rolls ༽#I need to sleep tbh #cause I have to be up in 3 hours to catch my train at fuckin' 5 am

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bigtinyworldtravel · 5 years ago

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How does one see Namibia? Full of wildlife, massive sand dunes, and vast distances, there’s really only one way to see it all: renting a car and driving yourself. Just be prepared to drive on the lefthand side of the roads, and be ready for very little pavement!

But then, where does one stay in this developing country? You might find some resort-style lodges near the larger towns, but if you’re on a budget like we are, the best option is a campground. Even in the winter, desert temperatures are mild, and precipitation is nonexistent in such an arid climate.

As adventure types, we don’t shy away from camping when we travel, but that activity requires quite a bit of specialty equipment – extra gear we didn’t exactly want to lug all the way around the world with us. Fortunately, there’s a popular solution in Namibia to the needs of both transportation and accommodation.

Hop aboard and see what life was like spending three weeks in our 4×4 camping truck!

About the truck

First things first, let’s talk about the truck that sustained us for 20 days in the Namibian desert.

Our vehicle was like any other truck: four doors, manual transmission, diesel engine, two spare tires, two batteries, two gas tanks, and – of course – four-wheel drive. Aaron was our brave driver for the entire duration. By this point, he was quite practiced at driving on the “wrong” side of the road, and he wasn’t as preoccupied as I was with photography. I spent most of my time in the passenger seat up front… unless I was scouting for wildlife, in which case I sat like the awkward third wheel in movies: dead center in the back (seriously, no one chooses that seat – especially if they’re the only one back there!).

All our gear could be safely stowed in the bed of the truck, secured by a hard canopy with convenient locking access panels on each side. Aside from the occasional need to fill up and restock on food and water, we had all the necessary basics.

About the roads

Driving from the airport into Windhoek, proper, is misleading. The entire route is tarred roads and highways, and the city appears to be quite developed. Even driving several hours north to Etosha, we never left pavement. But once you get into the park and venture elsewhere in the country, you’ll find nothing but dirt and gravel.

We quickly learned that the letters in the road names denoted (more or less) the quality of that road. B roads are generally tarred highways; we really like these roads. C roads are usually fairly well-graded gravel roads. After enough D roads, we learned to look forward to these C roads.

And D roads? Those are the ones we dreaded… small, bumpy, and less-frequently maintained. They often traverse regular river and creek beds. Though these were all dry when we were there (July), I could see these being rather treacherous in the wet season. These are also best described as washboard roads (this is an interesting simulation on how they form), and some got so bad, we had to take breaks to combat motion sickness. We groaned whenever Google routed us to a D road.

Now, some C roads are also washboarded – particularly the more frequented ones and those with faster traffic like the route into Sossusvlei – and some D roads are better than C roads. And yes, there are E and F roads (these are usually barely paths across the desert).

Is a 4×4 necessary?

When deciding on a vehicle for Namibia, we debated back and forth on whether to get a 4×4 truck or an everyday (and far less expensive) car (or some combination of the two). Most roads are dirt that a car could handle (albeit less comfortably), and we weren’t intending to do much off-roading. In fact, we only used four-wheel drive once the entire time we were there. So was the extra expense worth it?

Yes. For a few reasons.

First, it was comforting to have the peace of mind should we get stuck anywhere. We didn’t plan to do anything so extreme as to suspect we’d run into trouble, but in a place as unpredictable as Namibia, we felt better prepared.

Next, while roads could mostly be navigated via car, they’re almost all rough gravel (see above). Four-wheel drive isn’t always necessary, but high clearance certainly came in handy on more than one occasion!

Third, we liked having the option of 4×4 for the one situation where we *really* needed it. The road to Sossusvlei was deep sand and absolutely required four-wheel drive. Being able to drive it ourselves meant we could skip the expensive and time-restrictive shuttle provided by the park.

And finally, it served not only as our transportation for our duration in Namibia; it was also our lodging. While we theoretically could have slept in a car, the tent that came with our truck was far more comfortable.

What comes with the truck?

Every company will be different, of course, but ours came fully equipped with everything we needed to live out in the bush: pots, pans, kettle, dishes, can opener (for our favorite Koo Chakalaka), propane, chairs, table, lighter, spare water, a powered refrigerator/cooler, and even a braai (grill).

We were also given essentials like an air compressor, tire gauge, axe, spade, and extension cord.

But what about the tent and sleeping bags?

These come on top of the truck! Yep! No fears of a wayward hyena coming to sniff at tasty human burritos just laying on the ground for the taking in the middle of the night. Sleep in comfort atop your truck!

The tent was surprisingly comfortable. As it’s permanently installed on the roof rack, it can afford the luxury of a real foam pad as insulation. Paired with military-grade canvas above, the inside is quite cozy.

Our truck came with two cool-weather sleeping bags, two full-sized pillows, and a couple of spare blankets should we get cold (we did a few times). This all just stayed in the tent, waiting for us for when we next stopped for the night.

How do you set up the tent?

The setup was a breeze! Far simpler than any other tent I’ve worked with. Come nightfall, we just had to remove the cover, release the tie-down straps, extend the ladder, unfold the tent, and insert the support poles. Boom!

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Teardown was similarly easy, effectively doing the same in reverse (and adding some fabric tucking action as you fold the tent).

It was all quite convenient!

Some tips:

The poles could be a bit tricky at times. I sometimes found it easier to insert the bottom of the pole into the frame and then bend the pole to hook the other end onto the canvas (while we mostly saw everyone doing the opposite).

Climbing the ladder to insert the poles on the ladder side makes it far easier to do so.

Be careful that the ladder doesn’t come apart. If the tabs that lock it into place get stuck in the up/open position, you might find you get half the ladder in your hands when trying to extend it (we did this a couple of times).

Mind the ladder that you don’t accidentally scrape the vehicle while setting up the tent.

Don’t try to drive the truck while the tent is deployed 🙂

Secure the cover inside the truck or somewhere out of the elements at night. The wind often picks up a bit in the middle of the night, and having that thing slap against your tent in the pitch darkness is one of the most terrifying ways to wake up… trust us.

About renting

Renting one of these trucks is much like renting any other vehicle. However, since roads are particularly rough, you should definitely have full insurance (either already covered by your policy at home or as an add-on with the rental). And due to the strenuous conditions on the vehicle, you’ll have more paperwork to sign, promising you won’t speed (seriously, please don’t; it’s quite dangerous to do so) or go recklessly off-road.

It is customary for companies to charge a deposit on the truck. This covers incidentals like any scrapes you might acquire while driving through bushes (which you really shouldn’t do because you should stick to the roads) and a gas top-off. You could also be held liable for any accidents, flat tires, or cracked windshields (depending on your insurance coverage).

Some companies (including the one we went with) will even offer an airport pickup/drop-off service. We had an extra day on either side, so we didn’t take advantage of this, but it is useful to not need an extra rental or taxi into Windhoek (where you’re most likely to pick one of these up).

Our experience

We rented our truck from Travel Namibia in Windhoek. This is a small company, owned by a husband and wife team who are incredibly nice people. They were in the process of relocating their office, so we picked up our vehicle from their residence.

When we arrived, Kato welcomed us into her home and offered us tea while we filled out the paperwork (standard liability agreements, fees for additional damage, etc.). We talked about our travels thus far, and she was fascinated with our journey. In fact, she ended up following our very sporadic social media posts of Etosha pictures while we were about and had a lot of compliments for the pictures upon our return.

She and her husband gave us some pointers on where to go within Etosha, and they insisted we call them straight away if we had any issues setting up the tent, if we broke down, or if we otherwise needed help or advice with any aspect of our excursion. We even scraped a bush one of our first days in Etosha, and I was certain they’d use that as an excuse to charge the polishing fee (any other mainstream company would have). But they looked at the paint and deemed the light scrape superficial. I felt like we were borrowing a truck from a good friend rather than renting from a business.

The truck itself really did become our home during those three weeks. It ran well and never let us down, despite the rough conditions we subjected it to. And against all odds, we didn’t get a single flat (Kato said we were the first!).

The tent was remarkably comfortable, and we looked forward to crashing each night in its cozy interior. All in all, it wasn’t a bad way to live for those weeks.

We loved renting from Travel Namibia, and we happily recommend them. You can find their booking details here.

A day in the life

06:27 – wake up to the birds beginning to stir, along with some of our early-riser neighbors

06:36 – finally drag ourselves out from under the warmth of our comfy sleeping bags, apply some deodorant, throw on some extra layers, and don a hat or a buff

06:42 – Aaron pulls out the propane tank, a pot, and a couple of bowls to start heating up some breakfast: the usual chakalaka or beans poured over rice and spruced up with our all-purpose seasoning, paired with rooibos tea with honey. Meanwhile, I pack up as much of the tent as I can without his assistance

06:45 – Aaron helps pack in the excess fabric of the tent while I slowly fold it up, and we get it all strapped down and covered. Breakfast heats on the stove

06:51 – we scoop up breakfast and pack up everything else into the truck

06:54 – we take our bowls and tea cups up to the watering hole to hopefully catch some early wildlife while we eat; nothing comes

07:26 – we drive out to the camp gate to await the new day

07:28 – the gates are already open, so we’re off!

07:49 – we pull over to take some pictures of an early morning jackel

07:55 – we reach our first watering hole, where we spy a few hyenas

08:37 – we stop to photograph some wandering wildebeasts, ostriches, and the ever-present springbok

09:23 – we spot our very first lions! thanks to the help of some other stopped vehicles

09:37 – we stop to hang out with a giraffe for a little while

10:08 – we see a lone elephant off across the field

11:50 – we arrive at another watering hole and park for a bit

11:52 – a huge herd of zebras come into the watering hole, and we take loads of pictures

12:12 – another watering hole; this time, springbok and oryx

12:18 – we notice a hornbill in the trees!

12:51 – wildebeasts and zebras on the side of the road

13:10 – a new watering hole with lots of black-faced impala chasing each other around

13:21 – elephants race into the area, scattering the impala and taking over the scene

13:43 – giraffes finally have a go at the water as the elephants disperse

14:08 – we finally leave the watering hole

15:26 – we stop in at one of the campgrounds to break for lunch: some leftover rice and chakalaka

16:02 – we start to head back in the direction of our campground

16:26 – we spot another lone elephant in the distance

16:38 – we come across a single rhino nearby!

17:03 – we arrive early back at our campground, well before the gates will close at sunset at 18:30 and set up the tent

17:13 – we take a fast shower (only if it’s warm enough, as most showers are open-air)

17:39 – we heat up some quick dinner: mixing it up with some potatoes and beans with our special seasoning

17:58 – we walk over to the watering hole inside our campground for the evening show and see a herd of elephants are already there!

18:14 – a rhino also shows up on the scene

18:31 – the rhino gets a bit too close, sparking a confrontation with one of the larger elephant bulls

18:41 – a small feral cat skitters across the area surrounding the watering hole

18:48 – the elephants finally depart, leaving the rhino alone at the water

19:17 – a flock of birds invades the watering hole, raising a boisterous chorus where it was silent only moments before – a nightly occurrence

19:41 – we call it a night and return to our campsite to get ready for bed, the early sunset training us to tire much earlier in the evening

20:01 – we wind down the evening with a quick episode of anime on our iPad, at the perfect height when draped over one of the bungee supports inside the tent

20:42 – after what actually ended up being two episodes of anime, we finally turn off our solar-powered puff lantern (also conveniently hung from another bungee support) and snuggle into our sleeping bags to crash and get up early the next morning to do it all over again!

General truck tips

Stay alert while driving. Distances in Namibia are quite long, and it’s easy to zone out. Take regular breaks to take in the scenery and rest your mind for the next long haul. This could also save you from making costly mistakes that could lead to rolling the vehicle or hitting something in the road.

Watch for wildlife. There aren’t many fences to protect the roads, and you’re likely to encounter anything from springbok and warthogs to cows and goats. They can appear suddenly, so always be on the lookout.

Don’t drive at night. The abundance of wildlife is the primary reason. There are no street lights, and animals are more active at night. Besides, it isn’t much fun to drive at night (or have to set up the tent after dark). It’s much more enjoyable to spend this time stargazing, instead.

Keep your windows closed while driving through cities. Sadly, petty crime is quite common, particularly in the populated areas. Open windows are an invitation for quick grab-and-run. Even in smaller towns, many poorer citizens will take every opportunity to convince tourists to purchase their wares (usually handmade bracelets and other trinkets). It’s easier to say no with closed windows (and only open them if you’d like to actually buy something from them).

Be mindful of areas where you can get out of your vehicle. This is particularly true in Etosha National Park. With the abundance of dangerous wildlife, you should stay inside your truck at all times. Only exit in designated areas.

Resist the urge to speed. With the road conditions in Namibia, this should be a no-brainer. Washboard roads already aren’t pleasant at high speeds, and speed on gravel is a recipe for an accident (or a punctured tire). Besides, the views are worth taking in – not passing by.

If someone passes you, slow to let their dust clear. Don’t be that person who insists on being the fastest on the road (see the point above). If someone wants to pass, just let them.. and then let their dust clear. Hanging out in someone’s dust cloud reduces visibility and could increase your risk of a rock in your windshield. We seldom even encountered other drivers on the road (usually other travelers), so it wasn’t an issue to just slow down when we did.

Carry your passport. You should do this anyway. But it’s particularly important in Namibia, as you might encounter periodic checkpoints on the roads. Officers (sometimes pretty imposingly armed) might ask for your destination, identification, and if you’re transporting any produce. Some larger vehicles were even stopped and inspected, though we weren’t really subjected to this.

Know the names of the places you’ve left and where you’re going next. We were asked this everywhere we went: every new campground, park, attraction, and checkpoint. Should you go missing, there is a paper-trail log of where you’ve been and where you intended to go next – much like a through-hiking registry.

Memorize your license plate number. This goes with the above. Every campsite we checked in at asked for this, and we were caught, on more than one occasion, needing to dash quickly outside to remember the elusive digits on our license plate. It wasn’t until one of our last days that we realized our helpful rental agency were kind enough to jot this down right on the keychain.. doh!

When driving on dirt, open the canopy vent. Thats right: open the vent on the back of the truck. This sounded entirely counterintuitive to us; wouldn’t opening it let more dust in? But no! This actually breaks an otherwise vacuum situation, which would suck in dust kicked up from the rear tires. We made the mistake of forgetting to open this only once, and our things were simply covered in dust. There’s honestly no preventing dust, but this reduces the intensity.

Use four-wheel drive only when you need to. This should be very rare. We only used it once; two-wheel drive was sufficient for almost all conditions. I could see our needing this more during the wet season, but we were fine during the winter. And even if you do need it, familiarize yourself with how to engage it and which situations require which gears.

First, only switch the drive mode while the vehicle is at a complete stop. Use four-wheel low when driving very slowly (generally over very uneven and solid, boulder-road situations), and use the high gear if you’ll require more speed (like the soft-ground situations we had going to Deadvlei). Don’t push the engine too much while in these gears, or you might wear out the clutch.

Fill up as soon as you see the gauge beginning to drop below the F(ull) indicator. Our truck had two gas tanks. This meant we could fill up less frequently, but with gas stations being sparse on the desert roads, you really want to take advantage of them. Our truck burned the spare tank first, so the indicator only moved once we started using the fuel in the second/primary tank. We filled up every time we noticed the needle falling below F, which ensured we never ran out of gas.

Regularly check your tire pressure. This is important to monitor for any impending flats. If you notice the pressure declining, get it checked out (many gas stations offer tire repair service) before it becomes a more costly repair. And as desert temperatures fluctuate drastically, maintaining your tire pressure within the optimal range could protect your tires from punctures.

Final thoughts

Fair warning: renting one of these trucks is expensive. All in, our truck cost us about N$1586 ($110 USD) per day (for two people). They’re very popular, and you will see countless others on your journey through Namibia. But it’s clear to see why. The places this truck took us, and the fact that it served as both our transportation and lodging (not including campsite fees) for the three weeks, it was well worth the cost.

Have you ever stayed in one of these trucks? Tell us all about your experience in the comments below!

We were not offered any discounts or free services by Travel Namibia in exchange for a positive review. While we later agreed to provide them some promotional materials and a mention on our blog – for which we are being compensated – we do this because we genuinely enjoyed our experience with them and would wholeheartedly recommend their services to our friends and family.

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We spent 20 days in a #4x4 #camping truck. Click to get the inside scoop on all you need to know about #renting and driving one of these trucks in #Namibia! #drivenamibia #desertcamping How does one see Namibia? Full of wildlife, massive sand dunes, and vast distances, there's really only one way to see it all: renting a car and driving yourself.

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