Up on the rim, the world changes shape. The highlands above the Spreetshoogte Pass are cool, open and surprisingly green after the Namib, a high plateau of grass and thorn scrub that rolls away toward Windhoek. Cattle and game farms spread across it, separated by long fences and gravel roads, and the light has a clean, thin quality that is easy to love after the heat of the desert.
For a rider, the plateau means faster gravel and the chance to relax after the pass. The roads are graded, usually in decent condition, though corrugations and loose patches appear without warning. The wide-open views make distances hard to judge, and it is easy to underestimate how long a section will take. Cattle grids and sudden dips in the road are common, and a sandy patch can appear at the bottom of a dry riverbed. Keep your speed reasonable, especially when carrying luggage, and avoid riding at dusk, when wildlife is most active.
The Khomas Hochland takes its name from the Khoekhoe word for the area and the German word for highland, and the mix of languages reflects the history of the region. Farms here were established by German settlers in the colonial era, and some still carry names from that period. Before them, the land belonged to Herero and Nama peoples, and earlier still to San hunters, and traces of all three can be found in place names and rock shelters.
The ridge behind you is part of the Great Escarpment, and the contrast between the highland and the coastal plain is dramatic. Looking back west from the top, you can see the pass dropping away and the plains of the Namib stretching into haze. A cool breeze often blows here, and the nights are cold even in summer, so a warm layer is useful.
Services are almost nonexistent on this part of the route. Farms may offer accommodation, and some have campsites, but fuel is not sold on the road, and Solitaire or Windhoek are the places to refill. Carry water, spare fuel if your range is short, and enough food for a day. A satellite messenger or a plan to check in with someone is a wise precaution, because a breakdown here could mean a long wait.