Windhoek – Kalahari Desert – Keetmanshoop – Fish River Canyon – Aus – Lüderitz Helmeringhausen – Sesriem / Sossusvlei – Gamsberg Pass –Windhoek
Day 1:
Drive from Windhoek to Dordabis and visit the oldest Karakul weaving-mill of Namibia. Continue south via Uhlenhorst and Stampriet through the red dune landscape of the Kalahari. The Kalahari is not really a desert but rather a savannah-like thornveld well covered in trees and plants with an average summer rainfall of 250mm.Lunch packs en route. Dinner / bed / breakfast at a lodge near Stampriet.
Day 2:
After Breakfast travel to Keetmanshoop, the main town of the south, where we see some historical buildings including the “Klipkerk”, a church built in 1895 from roughly hewn Dolerite blocks. We also visit the Quiver tree Forest – a concentration of about 250 of the extraordinary tree plants, Aloe dichotoma. Bushmen used its hollow branches as quivers. Lunch packs en route. Afterwards proceed to our overnight destination in the vicinity of the Fish River Canyon. Dinner / bed / Breakfast at the Cañon Lodge.
Day 3:
Visit the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world and undoubtedly the finest natural wonder in Namibia. This gigantic ravine, in places almost 500 metres deep, has been gorged out of vast undulated plains in the course of millions of years. Afterwards proceed to the coastal town of Lüderitz via Seeheim and Aus. This route takes you through unforgettable moon landscapes of endless desert vistas and bizarre rock formations. Lunch en route and a stop over at Garub to view the Wild Horses of the Namib Desert. Dinner / bed / breakfast at a well-appointed hotel or guesthouse in Lüderitz.
Day 4:
The morning is spent in Lüderitz, the first German settlement in Namibia, named after the merchant Adolf Lüderitz from Bremen, who bought this area from the Nama in 1883. This small harbor town is perched on rugged black rock, offset by the deep blue waters of the bay. The numerous historical buildings reflect the interesting history of this town, which is intimately linked to the German colonial era. We visit the “ghost town” of Kolmanskop, (where diamonds were first discovered in Namibia), as well as Diaz Point where a limestone-cross (Padrao) was erected in 1488 by the famous Portuguese seafarer Bartholomew Diaz. After lunch we travel to Aus for our overnight stay. Dinner / bed / breakfast at a lodge at Aus.
Day 5:
After breakfast you may want to visit the ruins of the Prisoner of War Camp for German soldiers dating from 1915. Afterwards drive along the awesome loneliness of the “Schwarzrand” past the historic village of Bethanien towards Maltahöhe. As we drive down Tsaris Pass we descend into the spectacular dune landscape of the Namib desert. Dinner / bed / breakfast at a lodge near Sesriem.
Day 6:
Early in the morning we depart on an excursion to Sossusvlei, a large clay pan in the centre of the Namib Desert surrounded by the highest sand dunes in the world. Make the effort and climb one of the spectacular dunes and the sight of the dynamic and living desert may overwhelm you. Afterwards we visit Sesriem Canyon: As a result of erosion over many centuries, a narrow gorge of about one kilometre in length was formed about 30 to 40 metres deep. Early explorers had to tie six lengths of thongs together to draw water from the pools in the canyon, hence the name “Sesriem”. Lunch en route. Dinner / bed / breakfast at a lodge near Sesriem.
Day 7:
After breakfast return to Windhoek via the rolling hills of the picturesque “Khomas Hochland”. This is a large ridge of higher ground in the centre of the country. Rivers have eroded many deep valleys and altitudes range between 1,700 and 2,000 m above sea level. Lunch packs en route. Arrive in Windhoek in the late afternoon.
Prices as per separate Price-List.
Services included: Overland trip and all sightseeing as per itinerary. Overnight in double rooms with private shower/bath and toilet. Breakfast and dinner. English speaking tour guide.
Not included: Expenses of a personal nature, e.g. drinks, lunches and telephone calls as well as tips in the restaurants tips.
Departure Dates: No fixed departure dates. Tours are undertaken on request.
Please note: These are standard tours. However, we can also offer tailor-made tours according to your requests.