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The South of Namibia is full of beautiful locations, not just the Sossusvlei. That is why this week-long tour of the south of Namibia shows you more than just that. While heading to Sossusvlei and Dune 45, you will first make a stop past the Kalahari Desert. After a night in The Kalahari, we travel to the Fish River canyon, where you will enjoy The Mesosaurus Fossil Site. Now we will go west to Luderitz. Here you will enjoy the views of the Bay and the old Colonial-style buildings. From here we head back North where we will find Sossusvlei with its famous dunes. Two days at Sossusvlei are followed by a drive back to Windhoek.
Spreading across Botswana, South Africa and Namibia, the Kalahari meaning 'the great thirst' is an exceptionally beautiful living desert. The landscape is characterised by a large semi-arid sandy savannah draped over a gently rolling inland sea of sand covering most of Botswana and large parts of Namibia and South Africa. It is also the last bastion of the indigenous San people with the modern world having enveloped all the other areas they once roamed. The Namibian portion is made up of red sands covered in thin, wispy, mostly golden grass and dotted with acacia trees and wide-ranging wildlife including gemsbok, impala, jackals and cheetah.
You will be collected at your Windhoek accommodation between 07:30 and 08:00 you start your journey south on the main highway, travelling through the thin strip of Kalahari Desert that protrudes onto the eastern side of Namibia. Stopping at small towns along the way including Rehoboth, the traditional home of the Baster people and on to Kalkrand where you bid the main road farewell and head off into the Kalahari. The Kalahari Desert often surprises people when they first see it. It is very different from the Namib. First of all, remember that the Kalahari is not a desert. It receives more rain than a true desert should. The Kalahari is a fossil desert. Don’t expect to find tall Sossusvlei-style dunes devoid of greenery here. The Kalahari’s dunes are very different. They are often equally beautiful, but usually greener and less stark – and with this vegetation comes its ability to support more flora and fauna than a true desert.
Late this afternoon you hop onto an open vehicle for a late afternoon sunset drive.
Located in Mariental, Namibia, Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch Campsite offers guests a lovely camping experience set in tranquil surroundings. The establishment features a total of five camping sites, each with an ablution block, shower, wash basin and toilet. Guests can enjoy meals and drinks at the nearby lodge restaurant and bar. Other lodge facilities campers have access to include a swimming pool and a library. Activities guests can enjoy at Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch Campsite include day and night-time game drives, cheetah feedings, bush walks, horseback safaris, helicopter rides and much more.
The Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch, situated in Mariental, Namibia, offers guests an afternoon game drive. The activity includes a game drive in the reserve, viewing a variety of game such as giraffe, kudu, zebra, oryx, blue wildebeest and eland. Guests are able to experience breathtaking views of the reserve which has some of the highest dunes in the region, with views over the pan.
The Kalahari has more than 150 bird species for guests who are bird enthusiasts. The well-known suricate, more commonly known as a meerkat can also to be seen. As the day draws to a close, guests are treated to a sundowner on the dune, complemented by refreshments and a Namibian snack, while enjoying a breathtaking sunset over the Kalahari.
Carving out an epic rocky wonderland in the south of Namibia, the Fish River has created Africa’s largest and the world’s second-largest canyon. Hot, dry and stony, the Fish River Canyon measures a whopping 160 kilometres in length, at times 27 kilometres in width and 550 metres in depth. The awe-inspiring natural beauty of this ancient geological marvel draws visitors from around the globe. For those looking for adventure, the intense 85-kilometre Fish River Hiking Trail through1.5 billion years of geological history will definitely thrill avid adventure enthusiasts, and for visitors looking to relax, head over to the canyon's southern end to enjoy a soak in the mineral waters of the renowned hot springs of Ai-Ais, or take in the spectacularly scenic views from Hobas Restcamp as well as numerous other viewpoints along its rim. Other popular activities include scenic chartered flights, horse riding, nature drives and seasonal kayaking.
An early morning departure to the town of Mariental and south to Keetmanshoop. Just outside the town, you have the opportunity to visit the Mesosaurus Fossil Site.
You travel via the town of Keetmanshoop for overnight camping in the Fish River area. Here you have the opportunity to see the Quivertree. Quiver trees are not in fact trees, they are a type of aloe, (Aloe dichotoma), so called because the branches fork “dictomously”. These weird-looking plants dot the landscape in this part of the world and are locally common, however, they are one of the world’s rarest flora species.
Nature lovers are right on this campsite with lawn and shade trees. A quick visit to the bar or restaurant of the Canyon Roadhouse takes you back to the good old days of the automobile. There is also a swimming pool. Location: approximately 20 km east of the Fish River Canyon on the C 37.
The Mesosaurus Fossil Site and Quiver Tree Dolerite Park, located near Keetmanshoop, encompasses the well-preserved Mesosaurus Fossil Site, a sprawling Quiver Tree Forest with over 5,000 specimens, and eroded dolorite rock formations. Amidst the stark and mesmerising landscapes, guests can appreciate the ancient lakebed's history. Activities include guided tours of Mesosaurus fossils and Quiver trees, hikes, sundowner drives, and a self-drive route for 4x4 or high-clearance vehicles.
Basis: Full board plus - dinner, bed, breakfast, lunch and activities
Included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Mesosaurus fossil site, Quiver tree forest
Sandwiched between the rugged and stark Atlantic Coast and the arid desert of Namibia, the town of Luderitz is located in an incredible unique geographical setting. This seaside town is something of an anomaly frozen in time – a piece of 19th-century Bavaria bordering the pinkish sand dunes of the Namib Desert. Lutheran churches, German bakeries, and colonial buildings boasting German art nouveau architecture are dotted about the settlement, while its windswept beaches are home to flamingos, ostriches, seals, and penguins. The nearby ghost town of Kolmanskop, which has been taken over by the desert dunes, is another fascinating must-see attraction, located approximately 10 kilometres from Luderitz central, along with the herd of wild desert-adapted horses near the small town of Aus.
The Fish River Canyon in Namibia is (allegedly) the 2nd largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon. The immensity of this magnificent landscape is truly breathtaking. The towering rock faces and deep ravines were formed by water erosion and the collapse of the valley due to movements in the earth’s crust over 500 million years ago. Today the canyon measures 160km long up to 27km wide and almost 550m at its deepest. It is fair to say that when you arrive at the canyon though, its exact location is a bit of a mystery as the 500m vertical drop from the flat dry plateau is completely out of view.
Early morning, you head to the main viewpoint where you can see how impressive this canyon actually is.
This is an ideal opportunity for photos and to spend some time experiencing this amazing sight. Viewing from the top you can see the river sparkling in the sunlight far below us, and can barely imagine how many millennia it took for the forces of erosion to carve such a magnificent vista.
Time to pack up camp and move on to your next destination, the coastal town of Lüderitz where its colonial-style buildings cling to the rocks overlooking the bay, on some days a deep iridescent blue, on others grey and stormy, the crisp fresh climate, fishing boats bobbing up and down on the Atlantic horizon, penguins and seals diving beneath the waves, give the town a curious other-worldly allure.
You aim to arrive at your guest house in the late afternoon. Dinner will be at the client’s own expense tonight.
Kairos Cottage is a unique bed and breakfast accommodation boasting stunning sea views! The guests can enjoy a lovely breakfast from their menu while being serenaded with a song or two. You offer five rooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom with a shower and spectacular sea views and sunsets. Good quality linen and towels are provided, and each room also has a television and coffee station with a bar fridge. At Kairos Cottage, you will experience a supreme moment that you will never forget!
Carving out an epic rocky wonderland in the south of Namibia, the Fish River has created Africa’s largest and the world’s second-largest canyon. Hot, dry and stony, the Fish River Canyon measures a whopping 160 kilometres in length, at times 27 kilometres in width and 550 metres in depth. The awe-inspiring natural beauty of this ancient geological marvel draws visitors from around the globe. For those looking for adventure, the intense 85-kilometre Fish River Hiking Trail through1.5 billion years of geological history will definitely thrill avid adventure enthusiasts, and for visitors looking to relax, head over to the canyon's southern end to enjoy a soak in the mineral waters of the renowned hot springs of Ai-Ais, or take in the spectacularly scenic views from Hobas Restcamp as well as numerous other viewpoints along its rim. Other popular activities include scenic chartered flights, horse riding, nature drives and seasonal kayaking.
Sandwiched between the rugged and stark Atlantic Coast and the arid desert of Namibia, the town of Luderitz is located in an incredible unique geographical setting. This seaside town is something of an anomaly frozen in time – a piece of 19th-century Bavaria bordering the pinkish sand dunes of the Namib Desert. Lutheran churches, German bakeries, and colonial buildings boasting German art nouveau architecture are dotted about the settlement, while its windswept beaches are home to flamingos, ostriches, seals, and penguins. The nearby ghost town of Kolmanskop, which has been taken over by the desert dunes, is another fascinating must-see attraction, located approximately 10 kilometres from Luderitz central, along with the herd of wild desert-adapted horses near the small town of Aus.
Perched above the plains of the Namib Desert in the rocky Aus Mountains, the small village of Aus lies at the heart of phenomenal botanic diversity. Aus serves as an excellent base from which to see the area’s major attraction: the feral horses of the Namib Desert, which run wild and free in the sparsely vegetated plains. The best place for viewings is at the water trough at Garub, which lies just twenty kilometres away from Aus. Visitors can gain insight into the Succulent Karoo by visiting beautiful Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park, home to the most biodiverse desert in the world. Don't miss the opportunity to camp under the famously clear Namibian night sky and experience the desert landscape on horseback.
There is time to join an optional extra excursion, a marine trip, take a cruise around Luderitz Bay and, weather permitting, to Halifax Island to see the Jackass Penguins. N.B: The boat cruise is subject to availability and, if undertaken, will be for the client's own risk and expense.
Time to explore Luderitz Town with its traditional German architecture and later you will take a drive out to Diaz Point to see the bird life, hopefully, a few seals and the stone cross replica, originally erected by the Portuguese mariner Bartholome Diaz.
Straight after the marine trip, you drive out to Kolmanskop, a desert ghost town about 20 km out of Luderitz. It was built in the 1920s during the diamond rush and was abandoned when bigger and better diamonds were found further along the coast. The area is still abandoned and the desert has encroached over the entire town, giving an eerie feeling and real meaning to the word “ghost”.
You sleep tonight at Klein Aus Vista, a private reserve, beautifully located in the Aus Mountain Range, (Huib-Hoch-Plateau region). The road takes us through the “forbidden Zone” so named because in years gone by, the alluvial diamonds found in Namibia were simply scattered across the desert and you again have time to enjoy the sunset over the mountains.
Large old camel thorn trees greet camping guests at the Desert Horse Campsite in a small valley of the Aus Mountains. Each of the ten sites is equipped with a tap, table, grill and windbreak. Neat shower and toilet facilities are within easy reach of each site. Barbecue packs are available at the reception of Desert Horse Inn (1.5 km); those who like to skip cooking for a change are more than welcome at the Inn's restaurant (subject to space available, please enquire upon arrival). Note there are no power point outlets at the Desert Horse camp. If you have equipment that need to be charged it can be done at reception of Desert Horse Inn. Location: 2 km west of Aus on the B4 (Aus/Wild Horses/Kolmanskuppe/Lüderitz).
Amongst the sands of the Namib, the crumbling buildings of a small, once-luxurious town emerge from the drifting dunes. This ghost town is Kolmanskop, a reminder of the wealth of a time when diamonds could be picked by hand from the desert, and a remarkable photographic opportunity with few equals anywhere on earth.
Garub Desert Horses are found on the very barren eastern fringe of the Namib Desert and have adapted to the harsh conditions and the arid land which now fulfils all their needs. Research has determined that the horses are a harmonious part of the desert ecosystem and have found their home at Garub.
As there is no accommodation at Sossusvlei, visitors to this desert wilderness are likely to end up staying at Sesriem, 65 kilometres away, where camps and lodges serve as a base from which to explore the dunes. Sesriem Canyon, a deep chasm carved through the rocks by water, is a striking natural feature of the area that is best explored on foot. Stony walls rise up sharply on both sides of the canyon, while birds roost in its crags and lizards dart along the ledges. The canyon’s name was coined when early settlers used it as a water source, using six lengths of leather (‘ses riem – six thongs) tied together to lower buckets into the water at the base of the canyon.)
Turning north, you once again head deep into the ancient southern Namib, travelling on small gravel roads and passing some tiny rural communities along the way. The scenery is harsh, and sometimes forbidding. The process of erosion in these areas is well advanced and you pass time rounded “koppies” arid terrain and outcrops of tortured rock.
Traversing this bleak yet beautiful landscape, the terrain begins to change and we cross some open grass savannah and farmlands before the terrain begins to give way to the immense red sand dune desert of the Namib. We aim to arrive at your camp during the late afternoon and watch the colours glow and change on distant mountains to the east.
At the entry to Sossusvlei is Sesriem Canyon, At the foot of the gorge, which plunges down to 30 to 40 m, are pools that become replenished after good rains. Located perfectly at the entry to Sossusvlei inside the park gate is Sesriem Camping, right beside the gate into the desert and just a short drive from Sesriem Canyon where centuries of erosion have incised a narrow gorge about 1 km in length.
It is perfect for campers who want to experience the beauty of the Namib Desert with the sun setting over the Elim dune then the stars emerging until they fill the sky above you and the clicking of the desert barking Geckos and distant howl of the Jackal. Sit by the fire and imagine what you will do.
After a good night's rest its up early (one hour before sunrise) for a drive to the Sossusvlei where you can climb a sand dune and watch the colours change as the sun rises over the horizon slipping its morning warmth over the Namib desert dunes. Sesriem derives its name from the time when earlier pioneers tied six lengths of rawhide thongs (riem) together to draw water from the pools. Accommodation at Sesriem is provided in 24 campsites. Facilities found there include a gas station, convenience store and a secure parking area.
Elim Dune is located just outside Sesriem, Namibia. It is the nearest dune to Sesriem and the first in a series of gigantic dunes. Atop Elim Dune, the colours at sunset are vivid and constantly changing, providing a strong contrast between the surrounding blue Naukluft Mountains on the east and the red dunes to the west. The dune is a hundred meters in height, and visitors can climb it from a parking spot beside it in more or less an hour.
A pre-dawn start is essential this morning as you want to catch the soft light of the sunrise in the desert. After passing through Sesriem, the gateway to the dunes and driving into the heart of the dune field, you reach Sossusvlei itself by walking the last 5 km through the dunes.
The walk is like nothing else, in the cool of the morning, with soft sunlight just beginning to play over the dunes creating a sharp light and shadow contrast across the whole desert. Ancient mineral pans, stunted camel thorn trees and the chance of seeing a gemsbok or maybe an ostrich make the photo opportunities perfect.
YOu spend the morning in and around Sossusvlei, also visiting Dune 45, and as the day wears on wyoue return to Sesriem for lunch to escape the heat of the afternoon. As the day cools off in the late afternoon you will take a short excursion to the Sesriem Canyon.
Named for its location 45 kilometres past the town of Sesriem, Dune 45 is renowned for its elegant shape, which – along with its position close to the road – have earned it the distinction of ‘most photographed dune in the world’. If you’re not keen on the strenuous hike to the top of Big Daddy, Dune 45 is a more forgiving alternative, standing at only 80 metres and featuring a much gentler gradient.
This ancient clay pan was once an oasis, studded with acacias and fed by a river that suddenly changed course, leaving the earth to dry up along with the trees it previously supported. So dry were the climatic conditions that the trees never decomposed – instead they were entirely leached of moisture so that today, 900 years later, they remain as desiccated, blackened sentinels dotting the pan’s cracked surface. Surrounded by the red-pink dunes of the Namibia Desert, they create a surreal spectacle that is a photographer's dream.
Located in the scenic Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei is where you will find the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib. The clear blue skies contrast with the giant red dunes to make this one of the most scenic natural wonders of Africa and a photographer's heaven. This awe-inspiring destination is possibly Namibia's premier attraction, with its unique dunes rising to almost 400 metres - making them some of the highest in the world. These iconic dunes come alive in morning and evening light and draw photography enthusiasts from around the globe. Sossusvlei is home to a variety of desert wildlife including oryx, springbok, ostrich and a variety of reptiles. Visitors can climb 'Big Daddy', one of Sossusvlei’s tallest dunes; explore Deadvlei, a white, salty, claypan dotted with ancient trees; or for the more extravagant, scenic flights and hot air ballooning on offer, followed by a once-in-a-lifetime champagne breakfast amidst these majestic dunes.
Sesriem Canyon, a deep chasm carved through the rocks by water, is a striking natural feature of the area that is best explored on foot. Stony walls rise up sharply on both sides of the canyon, while birds roost in its crags and lizards dart along the ledges. The canyon’s name was coined when early settlers used it as a water source, using six lengths of leather (‘ses riem – six thongs) tied together to lower buckets into the water at the base of the canyon.
After breakfast, you begin your journey, over the mountains and along scenic roads, back to Windhoek. You will travel over the Naukluft Mountains and also the Khomas Hochland Range, through beautiful mountain passes on your way back to civilization.
You are due back into the city in the late afternoon / early evening and you will be dropped off at your accommodation on your return.
Located in southwestern Africa, Namibia boasts a well-developed infrastructure, some of the best tourist facilities in Africa, and an impressive list of breathtaking natural wonders. Visitors can explore the capital of Windhoek and discover the lovely coastal town of Swakopmund boasting remnants of the country’s German influence, reflected in the architecture, culture, cuisine, and the annual Oktoberfest celebrations.
To properly appreciate this extraordinary country, you will have to venture out of the cities to explore the remarkable natural landscapes Namibia has to offer. These include: the impressive Fish River Canyon; the vast Etosha National Park teeming with abundant wildlife, such as lions, desert-adapted elephants, and the Hartmann's Mountain Zebra; the hauntingly beautiful Kalahari Desert; and of course the Namib Desert stretching for over 2000 km along the magnificent Atlantic Coast. Namibia is an ideal destination for travelers seeking an unforgettable African experience in a uniquely beautiful untamed wilderness.
3 meals a day as listed except in Luderitz.
Hosea Kutako International Airport
239 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 30 per person
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