13 DAY NAMIBIAN HIGHLIGHT CYCLING SAFARI

Windhoek to Windhoek Accommodated & Camping
(7Nights Accommodated and 5 Nights Camping)

The name “Namib” is of Nama origin and means “vast place” and occupies an area of around 80,900 km², it is considered to be the oldest desert in the world.

Covering 4,976,800ha, the Namib Naukluft Park is the largest game reserve in Africa and the fourth largest in the world.
A visit to the spectacular dunes of Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon, where the Tsauchab River has exposed millions of years of geological history, is a must visit for any visitors to Namibia.

Day 1: WINDHOEK

Arrive in the Capitol of Namibia. Today there is time to relax and get familiar with your bike with your guide. This trip is ideal to combine the safari beauty of Namibia and is unique in by cycling on quite scenic dirt roads. Km’s are displayed for each day cycling but is flexible depending on the group.

ACCOMMODATION: SH -Arebbusch Travel Lodge
MEALS: On clients own expense

Day 2: WINDHOEK – NAMIB NAUKLUFT PARK

Leaving Windhoek at 1700m above sea level we immediately drive onto beautiful curvy gravel roads where we pass private farms and can see some local wildlife and lots of birdlife. We pass the scenic Gamsberg pass and decent down towards the Namib Naukluft Park down some passes to only 700m above sea level. Overnight outside the Park.

ACCOMMODATION: FC - Sesriem
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
KM’S CYCLE: 50 – 60km Gravel

DAY 3: DUNE 45 AND SOSSUSVLEI

Pre dawn we depart to the entrance gates to Sossusvlei. Bike tour in the Namib Naukluft Park to the red dunes of Sossusvlei.
We have some nice opportunities to stop on the way next to the road for beautiful photographic moments capturing the sunrise on the Dunes. A climb up the sand dunes will give a superb view up and down of the Tsaucab River Canyon which forms the valley between the famous sand dunes. Your guide will set up breakfast and prepare coffee at the bottom of the dune. After breakfast we take a short drive to the parking lot where you will undertake a 2 hour walk through to the beautiful Hiddenvlei in the Sossusvlei Area. We stop for lunch at Sesriem camp, after which we will go and explore the Sesriem Canyon by foot, before heading back to our Guest Farm.

ACCOMMODATION: FC - Solitaire Guest Farm or Similar
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
KM’S CYCLE: 50 km Sealed and 10km Gravel

DAY 4: NAMIB NAUKLUFT PARK TO SWAKOPMUND

Some scientists regards the Namib Desert as the oldest in the world. We will cycle via the geologically interesting Gaub and Kuiseb Pass, home to two Germans and their dog for two years during World War 2. Ostrich, springbok or gemsbok could cross our paths. Drive past Walvisbay Lagoon viewing Flamingos towards Swakopmund on the cool Atlantic with its many buildings from the former German colonial time.

ACCOMMODATION: SH – Bundu N See Hotel or Similar
MEALS: Breakfast
KM’S CYCLE: 50 – 60 Km Gravel

DAY 5: SWAKOPMUND

Optional Activity day. This day is a free day, opportunity to partake in optional adventure activities like Quad Biking, Sand Boarding, Sky diving and Dolphin Cruise. If you do not feel adventurous you can do shopping or visit the Crystal Gallery, Museums or the Aquarium by foot. Optional ride along the salt roads.

ACCOMMODATION: SH – Bundu N See Hotel or Similar
MEALS: Breakfast
KM’S CYCLE: Unlimited Salt

DAY 6: SWAKOPMUND TO BRANDBERG via THE MOON LANDSCAPE

Leaving the coast we enter the Namib Naukluft Park again inland and we will see the amazing moon landscape and the largest and oldest 1500 year old Welwitchia Mirabilis plant yet discovered. We will cycle again inland towards the imposing Brandberg Mountain in Damaraland that’s the highest in Namibia and enter the area where the rare desert elephant roam and we could spot some meerkats.

ACCOMMODATION: SH - Brandberg White Lady Lodge
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
KM’S CYCLE: 50 Km Gravel

DAY 7: BRANDBERG TO TWYFELFONTEIN

In the morning we will visit the famous rock engravings of Twyfelfontein, which gained UNESCO World Heritage Status not long ago. Transfer to the Petrified Forest for a short walk to discover this unique trees that metamorphasized into stone some 260 million years ago. We cycle through a Mopane forest on the edge of track the Herero women sell handmade articles and semi-precious stones.

ACCOMMODATION: SH - Khorixas Lodge
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
KM’S CYCLE: 60 Km Gravel

Day 8 - 10: TWYFELFONTEIN ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK

We transfer north towards to Etosha National Park, “the great white place of dry water”, which offers a variety of wildlife. Our 2 nights in Etosha will be either at Okaukuejo or Halali (subject to animal movements), where a floodlit waterhole allows for 24-hour game viewing ant the 3rd night accommodated outside the Park. Elephant and black rhinoceros are seen daily during the dry winter months and numerous other game species are also found here.

ACCOMMODATION: FC-Etosha
MEALS: 3 x Breakfasts, 2 x Lunch and 2 x Dinners
KM’S CYCLE: Optional ride on sealed roads outside Etosha NP.

Day 11: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK TO OTJIWARONGWE

Leaving Etosha for the “cheetah capitol town” of Otjiwarongwe. Visiting the Cheetah Conservation Fund to learn more about understanding the cheetah's biology and ecology is essential to stabilise the population and manage its sustainability for the future.

ACCOMMODATION: SH - Cest Si Bon Hotel or Similar
MEALS: Breakfast and Dinner
KM’S CYCLE: 60 Km Gravel

Day 12: OTJIWARONGWE TO WATERBERG NATIONAL PARK

A short drive to the Waterberg National Park with its red sandstone table mountain formation with various game species. In the afternoon we can walk up the Plateau and relax at the pool.

ACCOMMODATION: CH - Waterberg NP
MEALS: Breakfast
KM’S CYCLE: 40 km Sealed and 20 km Gravel

DAY 13: WATERBERG TO WINDHOEK

After a relaxing start we head back to the capitol of Windhoek, stopping at the handcraft market in Okahandja. Tour Ends

MEALS: Breakfast

ACCOMMODATION:

The indication in the itinerary of what type of accommodation is provided each day are guidelines only and are used to give an idea of the accommodation offered, rather that and exact description. Please keep in mind however that standards can vary from one trip to the next, and occasionally we may need to change a night-stop without advance warning. We cannot guarantee the use of particular properties. Facilities and characteristics may vary from those described.