The Namib Desert trail is the flagship ride of Namibia. On this tough and challenging 11 day ride you cover 400 km across the desert. You have the opportunity to see all of Namibia's landscapes, from the highlands and semi-desert sheep farms, down the magnificent escarpment, through stoney and mountainous desert, red sand dunes and finally the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. Not for the faint hearted, this is a long distance adventure. Sooner or later all serious riders end up here!
No supplement if willing to share. Otherwise:
2012: £149/€185/$235
SAMPLE ITINERARY - NAMIB DESERT TRAIL
Day 1:
You will be met at Windhoek International Airport and transferred to Windhoek to rest and refresh. At 14h30 your riding group departs on a 2-hour road transfer to a guest farm, where we overnight. At the farm you are introduced to your riding guides and fellow-riders, acquaint yourself with the awesome terrain and enjoy traditional hospitality before a good night’s sleep.
Day 2: We start off cross-country on game and cattle tracks, through the bush savannah of the central highlands (1500-2000m above sea level) towards the escarpment, where the highlands drop into the wide plains below. Passing steep rock faces in constantly changing colours that give way to inspiring views of endless hills. Camping African-style, enjoy a good meal cooked on the campfire while chatting about the day's events. Retire to your tent or sleep under the stars.
Day 3: A long and exerting, but particularly memorable day awaits. Over tricky terrain, along dry riverbeds; along the tracks of mountain zebra, oryx and baboons, past leopard caves and thorn bushes. This is unspoiled countryside with stunning panoramic views... and you are sure to appreciate a hot shower and a good meal at the end of this day! Our camp is en route down the escarpment, remote and rugged, on a Namibian cattle farm.
Day 4: We take this day a little slower, riding to the fringe of the Namib Desert. Our campsite is situated below the Gamsberg, the third highest mountain in Namibia. After another beautiful day, sunset is a predicatably dramatic show.
Day 5:
Through the semi-desert between the Gaub and Kuiseb valleys; past remote farms, heading towards the 500,000 ha Namib-Naukluft Park where we have exclusive traversing rights for horses.
Day 6: We enter the largest nature conservation area in Africa (an area as large as the British Isles). The Skeleton Coast, Namib Naukluft and Sperrgebiet Parks extend the length of Namibia’s 2,000km coastline, 100km inland at the widest point. We ride through the bizarre Kuiseb Canyon and camp at the oasis of Arunvlei. Marvel at the incredibly beautiful African sunset and myriad of stars in an area acclaimed worldwide for clarity of the night sky. Strongly recommended reading before this safari is the unique tale of escape and survival in this desert, told in the autobiography “The Sheltering Desert” by Henno Martin; together with his friend Herman and dog Otto, they sought shelter in the Arunvlei area from the madness of the Second World War (www.the-sheltering-desert.com).
Day 7:
A long, tough riding day and non-stop sunshine. Longsleeved shirts, broad-rimmed helmet covers and maximum UV protection recommended. Spot shy mountain zebra, oryx, ostrich, springbok and if you’re lucky, desert warthogs while crossing gravel plains ‘as the crow flies’. We stop at Ganab -a borehole that provides much-needed water for game in the desert, for lunch. Rest before heading to Hotsas -the Tinkas and Tumas plains. Considering the distance covered today, our camp with the prospect of chilled drinks and a relaxed dinner is a particularly welcome sight.
Day 8: An exhuberant canter towards Poacher's Turn and Marble Mountains, infinite space and tremendous solitude, encountering strange shapes and the first mirages - fascinating survival devices of desert adapted creatures.
Day 9: Continue through true desert landscapes, habitat of the ancient and unique Welwitschia plants. Close to the coast we enter spectacular Moon Valley. Our last night on the ride and we camp out under the stars, around the campfire near Goanikontes, in the dry Swakop River bed.
Day 10:
This day is a big push on our final leg to reach the coast. An exhilirating long canter up the Swakop valley to the dunes and then, at last, the Atlantic ocean shore at Swakopmund. Our first glimpse of a town in ten days and the possibility of riding your horse for the last time ...along an endless beach! We overnight in comfortable holiday chalets while our horses enjoy their well-deserved rest in a cosy stable. We meet for a farewell diner in the evening.
Day 11: ‘Goodbye’ after breakfast and return to Windhoek by scheduled bus, arriving into the centre of Windhoek for around midday.
PLEASE NOTE: Itinerary routes and accommodation are subject to change, due to circumstances unforseen and beyond our control.
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
Ground transfers from and to Windhoek airport on dates of arrival and departure, according to the set itinerary,
full board and lodging at guest farm/Bush Camp on trail; bottled and canned drinks on trail; comfortable accommodation (B&B) in Swakopmund. Drinks (except in lodges and restaurants)
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
International flights; drinks at lodges; souvenirs; tips for local guides and crew; activities in Swakopmund e.g. dolphin cruise or desert quad biking; lunch and dinners in Swakopmund, Rider’s weight limit strictly 85kg in riding gear. Fit riders over 85kg, please enquire about surcharges for additional horse/s.
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What you see on our web site is exactly how much your invoice will come to and this will not change once booked. Unlike some other companies the prices on our web site are fully inclusive of often hidden extras such as: VAT, Sales Tax, state taxes, city taxes, service charges, non-optional tips, fuel surcharges which can add 20% or more to the advertised cost. Prices are available in £ sterling, Euros and US$. Once invoiced, prices are guaranteed against adverse currency fluctuations. Contact us for package prices which include flights from the UK and see each ride for exact details of all items in individual itineraries.
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