FISH RIVER CANYON TO ORANGE RIVER - NAMIBIA

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This horse riding safari holiday in Namibia has a combination of dramatic canyon landscapes, spacious desert planes and the mighty Orange River. This offers both inaccessible countryside and real wilderness areas as well as fast riding without limitations. The Fish River Canyon area is internationally recognised as one of Africa's most magnificent sites and is the second largest canyon in the world. This trail crosses over three parks: Fish River Canyon Park, Gondwana Park and Aussenkehr Park, which is home to a small Namib Feral Horse population.
The riding is at all paces and this is for adventurous and fit riders with a love of nature and camping.

Trip length 12d /11n/7.5 days riding Ride price detailed prices price promise 2010: double pp £3,189/€3,549/$4,895 Departure dates 2010: 22 Apr; 5 May; 8 Jun; 16 Sep Approximate riding time per day 6 - 8 hours but some days may be even longer Riding ability required Intermediate onwards, confident at all paces, must be fit. Min age 12. Group size 5 - 12 Meeting point (getting there) Windhoek Airport Transfer Included from Windhoek Airport Flight guide London - Windhoek return £450 - £750 return. See below for flight info. Single supplement detailed prices No single rooms available. Riders must be prepared to share.

SAMPLE ITINERARY - FISH RIVER CANYON TO ORANGE RIVER

Day 1:
You will be met by the RiverCrossing Lodge at the airport and take to the lodge located in a game reserve high overlooking Windhoek for lunch depending on your arrival time. The afternoon can be spent at leisure by the pool or a chance to do a sundowner ride or visit Windhoek, a charming small city. In the evening you will have dinner with the group.

Day 2:
You will leave with the group heading towards Fish-River-Canyon area.Transfer of about 8 hours including a picnic along the way and time for foto-shooting,chat to your fellow-riders. Arrive late afternoon at Fish-River Mule Station meet your guides and local crew. Unpack your luggage into a smaller bag for the following 2 days to come. Terrain is inaccessible for larger trucks and we thus take small bags only.

Day 3:
After relaxing breakfast. Riding over variable terrain, reaching the amazing plateau, and continue along the edge until we reach HorseShoeCamp. During lunch break we admire the stunning, breathtaking view! In the afternoon along serpentines until we reach Koelkrans (the cooling rocks) with a huge waterhole surrounded by a very steep and narrow canyon. Enjoy a relaxing swim in the usually very dry area. We clim up to Horse shoe Camp.

Day 4:
From Horse Shoe Camp to Augurabis. The ride might follow a section of the Fish River where few people have set foot before. Who knows what is waiting for us! Whether we ride in the canyon or on zebra tracks around the top will depend on the water level in the river. The ride in the riverbed is difficult and demanding but then we make our way up on a steep tract to the Plato before we cross some plains to find the unexpected forest at Augurabis in the Gaap River. Augurabis is situated on Gondwana Park, a private park of about 120 000 ha dedicated to conservation and tourism. Stunning views, unbelievable space and awesome scenery!

Day 5:
Augurabis to Grenspos. Serpentine away from the canyons through bizarre weathered rocks to the southeast where the basalt ridges ends onto a vast plain, to enjoy some fast cantering and larger numbers of game like Burchell’s zebra, springbuck, ostrich and herds of oryx. As we ride in a fenceless environment we are riding wise not limited to a specific route and can go where the game is. We camp at the Mule Station from where Mule Trails Namibia is operated at the foot of Holoog Mountain on wide open terrain with a great panorama. All luggage available and back to the usual camp facilities and routine.

Day 6:
Grenspos to Mountain Camp. Ride through endless savannah into an area strewn with granite boulders and charismatic quiver trees, to arrive for lunch at Mountain Camp. The afternoon is free for leisure and relaxation and individual photographic excursions or sun downer walks. Enjoy the luxury of en-suite bath rooms, made-up proper beds and a very special evening at Mountain Camp.

Day 7:
Mountain Camp via Kanebis to Fourie se Gat (a hole dug by Mr. Fourie)We follow the road towards the Fish River Valley and then parallel to it to arrive upon wide open plains. You will most probably spot quite some different game along. We meet unlimited, ever changing scenery and camp at a cosy spot…and look forward to an unforgettable sunset over the Fish River Canyon “bad lands” to the west, the granite kopjes behind you and the sandy plains of the Gamkab basin ahead of you, with Norotshama peak on the southern horizon.

Day 8:
Fourie se Gat to Gamkab Camp. In the morning we follow the road towards the Fish River Valley and then parallel to it to arrive upon wide open plains. We meet unlimited, ever changing scenery and camp at a cosy spot next to the Gamkab River.

Day 9:
From Gamkab Camp to Boulders camp. Riding over everlasting plains to a patch of isolated sand dunes on Aussenkehr Nature Park, then on again to a camp surrounded by stacked boulders which could only have been the work of giants. Again, riding is not limited to a specific route, as we can roam freely in a vast environment.

Day 10:
The last ride. Stunning contrasts again; ride from the wide open plains into the very narrow Kings Throne canyon, onto a view point surprisingly displaying the Orange/Gariep River with its vineyards in an otherwise barren landscape. Another happy canter and some strolling through the vineyards to finally untack at Norotshama River Resort, on the banks of the Orange River. Go for a swim in the pool (or river) and enjoy sundowners on the river and dinner at the lodge.

Day 11:
Maybe go for a short canoe trip down the river and leave late morning for Klein-Aus Vista. Driving along the Orange river to Rosh Pinah and then along the Sperrgebiet (Restricted Diamond area) to Aus. In the afternoon set off on a sun downer excursion to the Wild Horses of the Namib Desert with and experienced guide.

Day 12:
Depart for Windhoek after an early breakfast, a seven hour transfer. Alternatively an option is possible to fly to Windhoek or Cape Town from Rosh Pinah airport (on day 11 when passing through Rosh Pinah) or Luderitz airport (one hour transfer from Klein-Aus Vista).


PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary is given for your guidance only and it may be altered in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

NOTES - FISH RIVER CANYON TO ORANGE RIVER

The weight limit for this ride is 13 st/187 lb/85 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
Transfers from Windhoek airport to RiverCrossing + MuleStation; full board and lodging at homesteads and lodges and good fare while camping on the trail; scenic drive to the main lookout point at the Fish River Canyon; transfer from Norotshama Lodge via Klein Aus Vista Lodge with an excursion to the Wild Horses and transfer back to Windhoek.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Drinks at lodges and homesteads; souvenirs; tips for local guides and crew; flights, if applicable, from Rosh Pinah or Lüderitzbuch.

CLIENTS WHO BOOKED THIS RIDE ALSO ENJOYED :- 
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