7 Days / 6 Nights - Two Deserts Tour

TOUR INFORMATION: TOUR CODE:                       SD003 Type of Tour:                      Accommodated Self Drive Tour (Fly & Drive) Departure Date:                 Any date of your choice & Last minute bookings Departure Location:         Windhoek – Airport or City Tour Ends:                          Windhoek – Airport or City ROUTING HIGHLIGHTS: Windhoek – Western Kalahari – Namib Naukluft Park – Sossusvlei – Sesriem Canyon - Swakopmund - Windhoek Car Rental: The type of vehicle rented will depend on your group size and amount of luggage and personal preference. NOTES: Our suggested itineraries are ideally suited to the first time or seasoned visitors alike; we assist and guide you all the way.  This tour can also be done as a Private Guided Safari or Fly-In Safari. As Custom Design Travel Specialists we can tailor-make any itinerary to suit your individual needs, interests, style and travel budget.

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Tour Summary:

Itinerary:

Day 1
Windhoek
On arrival at the Windhoek Airport you will be met by a company representative who will present you with your travel vouchers and assist you with the collection of your rental vehicle. Continue to the capital city, Windhoek. The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure in Windhoek to view the historical landmarks of this cosmopolitan city or to do any last minute shopping for your tour.

Windhoek is often described as a city with a “continental” atmosphere due to its architecture (historical buildings dating back to the German colonial rule), cuisine, culture, dress and educational institutions. Windhoek portrays the colour, sounds and tempo of a modern African city with its displays of African drums and woodcarvings on the pavements, which contrast with the elegant shops offering sophisticated Swakara garments and Namibian gemstones. Sidewalk cafes offering Namibian style breakfasts (Frühschoppen), which can be enjoyed with a glass of sparkling wine or locally brewed draught beer. In addition to steak houses and coffee bars serving snacks, the city has a wide range of a la carte restaurants offering German, French, Taiwanese, Portuguese, Italian, African and Chinese cuisine.

Accommodation: Windhoek Country Club Resort
The desert oasis theme of the Windhoek Country Club Resort is no coincidence. The hotel is a true haven of charm and hospitality, situated in the picturesque Namibian town of Windhoek. Exceptional service, superb conference facilities and luxury accommodation in a tranquil desert setting, have ensured that this hotel maintains its premier position in the Namibian tourism industry. The resort is situated on the outskirts of Windhoek and therefore only a five-minute drive from any business meeting or cultural shopping experience. Bordering on a championship 18-hole golf course, this luxurious hotel is every golf enthusiast's dream.

Day 2
Kalahari Desert
After breakfast departure from Windhoek continuing south through the Khomas Region towards the town of Rehoboth. Rehoboth is home to the “Baster Community” a fiercely independent group of people who are the descendants of a group of farmers of mixed European and Khoisan blood. These people first migrated to the area from the Cape in 1870 where they established a settlement at the site of an abandoned Rhenish Mission Station.

Continue south towards the small settlement of Kalkrand before heading in an easterly direction towards the western Kalahari Basin to Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch, which is situated in the western Kalahari Basin where the red dunes meet the deep blue sky, and the sun sets in an explosion of colour, where some of the last few Bushmen roam in freedom and harmony with the land.

Accommodation: Bagatelle Kalahari Dune Lodge
Nature drives during the early morning and late afternoon will enable you not only to view the diversified animal and bird life, but also the unique dune topography and vegetation. A traditional sundowner on a red Kalahari sand dune will be the perfect way to watch the sun sink away into the distant dunes.

Day 3
Namib Naukluft Park
After a leisurely breakfast and participating in the morning scheduled activities depart from Intu Afrika. Continue towards the central Hardap Region and the town of Mariental. Despite Mariental’s quiet success, it is not however the most exciting or interesting places in Namibia. Wind-swept and dusty in spring and autumn, ferociously hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter, Mariental is home to a large number of Nama-speaking people, descendants of the early Khoi inhabitants of Namibia. The town, however, does provide essential services in the area, including fuel stations, grocery stores and banks.

From Mariental continue in a westerly direction past the southern edge of Namibia’s largest Dam, the Hardap Dam, towards the small town of Maltahöhe. This town nestled on the edge of the Namib Desert, was founded in 1900 and was once an important agricultural centre. The nearby farm Nomtsas was established as a sheep farm of some 100 00ha. Later Maltahöhe became the centre of the karakul trade but years of drought and the collapse of the karakul price brought hard times to the town. The town remains as a small support town providing all the necessary services and infra structure for the local farming community.

From Maltahöhe your journey continues on a gravel road descending the spectacular Tsarishoogte Pass into the Namib Desert, before reaching the Namib Naukluft Park. Late afternoon arrival at the Kulala Desert Lodge located on the eastern boundary of the Namib Naukluft Park.

Accommodation: Mountain Homestead
Mountain Homestead is situated 34 kilometres from Sesriem, the entrance to Sossusvlei. The camp is situated on the 21,000ha Kulala Wilderness Reserve with wonderful desert scenery. It affords access to Sossusvlei, but also offers privacy and exclusivity. The property harbours vast desert plains and rugged mountains with views onto the dunes in the distance.
The main living area at Mountain Homestead is under thatch with a pool. The lodge offers an outdoor deck where guests enjoy dinner under the stars and a dedicated stargazing platform with a powerful telescope for those keen on admiring the night skies.

Day 4
Namib Naukluft Park
This morning participate in an optional extra-guided excursion into the Namib Desert to the Namib "Sand Sea" and the Sossusvlei Dune belt. Sossusvlei is a word from Nama descent, which directly translated means a place with many endings. Many visitors to Namibia say that no part of the desert is more stunning than Sossusvlei, with its monumentally high dunes, the shadows of their sinuous crests continually changing as the day waxes and wanes. Gigantic star-shaped mountains of sand, the highest estimated at 325 m. The warm tints of the sand, ranging from pale apricot to brick orange and deep red, contrast vividly with the dazzling white surfaces of the deflationary clay pans at some of their bases. A picnic breakfast will be served under the spreading Camel Thorn Acacia Trees in Sossusvlei before returning to the lodge by midday.

The Mountain Homestead has excellent riding horses, all docile and easy to handle. You can choose between several outrides options. Most popular are the sunrise and sunset rides, taking in the desert scenery with its unique fauna and flora. This is not a game rich area due to the harsh environment, however, what game is seen is interesting and dramatized by the contrast between desert and the magnificent animals like Springbok, Oryx and Ostrich who survive and eke out an existence on these arid plains.

Accommodation: Mountain Homestead

Day 5
Swakopmund
After a leisurely breakfast departure in a northerly direction towards the settlement of Solitaire. This route runs parallel to the Namib Naukluft Park for most of the way except for a short corridor, which joins the plains of the Namib Desert to the Naukluft Mountain Range. This serves as a migratory corridor for the Oryx Antelope, which migrate between their summer and winter-feeding grounds.

Solitaire has a filling station and a small shop, which sells, soft drinks, snacks and basic supplies. The name Solitaire is derived from the lone dead tree standing next to the service station. From Solitaire continue travelling in a northerly direction adjacent to the Namib Naukluft Park. This route follows the gravel plains of the Namib Desert through the spectacular Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons before crossing the Namib Desert on route to the commercial harbour town of Walvis Bay. The drive from Walvis Bay to Swakopmund leads you between the dramatic coastal dues and the ocean.

Swakopmund is considered as Namibia’s premier coastal resort and is a popular destination with Namibian’s as a welcome respite from the heat of the interior. The town is also noted for its Old World charm and relaxed atmosphere. Founded in 1892 during the period of German colonial rule it served as the territory’s main harbour for years. Today this quaint town nestled between desert and ocean is enhanced by lush green lawns, palm trees and carefully tended gardens. There is a good selection of restaurants and coffee shops selling traditional German cakes and pastries, while the coastline and the desert respectively offer many options for adventure or relaxation.

Accommodation: Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment Centre
The Swakopmund Hotel is a four-star luxury establishment built in and around the impeccably restored historical station building at Swakopmund. This stylish up market hotel complex is undoubtedly Swakopmund's most splendid facility. From the light and airy hotel foyer to the 90 spacious bedroom units and two Presidential Suites, all with en-suite facilities. Guests are hosted in luxurious surroundings with a winning combination of the friendly hospitality for which Namibia is renowned.

Day 6
Swakopmund
Today can be spent at leisure relaxing at the hotel or exploring the picturesque coastal towns of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.

An optional extra "Dolphin Cruise" excursion may be conducted from the Walvis Bay Harbour. Departing from the Walvis Bay Yacht Club your skipper will lead you through the commercial vessels docked at the Walvis Bay harbour, Namibia’s largest port, while clearing harbour port control. Passing the small craft harbour the central basin of the harbour is exited heading north, visiting Bird Island and providing spectacular scenes of the desert dune landscape enhanced by the contrast between the ocean and the dunes. Highlights of the excursion include close encounters with Cape Fur Seals and bow riding Dolphins while crossing the harbour mouth to Pelican Point. While drifting past seal colonies fresh oysters and sparkling wine can be enjoyed. Return to the Walvis Bay Yacht Club via the lagoon and flamingo colonies. If you are interested in the ocean, marine mammals or aquatic birds this would be the ideal opportunity to experience the Atlantic Ocean. Fresh Oysters, Sparkling wine, soft drinks and light snacks are served on board.

Additional excursions into the desert can include quad biking, dune boarding, and visits into the Namib Naukluft Park to the Moon Valley formation and the "Welwitschia Plains".

Experience the sheer thrill of riding a four wheeled motorbike through Namibia’s boundless expanse of shifting sand dunes along a route approximately 35km. After the engines are revved up and ready to roll an experienced guide will lead you from the Swakop River Mouth twisting and turning down the riverbed. Feel the freedom of riding through one of nature’s great wildernesses as you cut through the plans and head to the dunes. As the towering dunes approach weave your way through the smaller ones towards the “Amphitheatre”. With “power Up”, blast your way to the top of the first big dune on a sea of sand waves via the “Roller Coaster” to the top of “Big Billy” where you stop for a drink and to capture the stark and savage beauty of the Namib desert. After riding down the “Devils Dip” (Guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping) ride the berms, spirals and slopes as we cruise towards the “Table Top”, a great dune that offers a spectacular view of the sea to one side and the desert on another.

This excursion is suitable for all ages, no previous riding experience is necessary. For non-riders semi-automatic 160CC quad bikes are available and for the more experienced manual 200CC quad bikes are available. The tour includes a pre-trip safety talk, a lesson in riding quad bikes and environment friendly riding methods, helmet, goggles, gloves, fuel, transport and soft drinks.

Should you decide to visit the Namib Naukluft Park you will need to obtain an entrance permit from the offices of the Namibia Wildlife Resorts in Swakopmund. Departing from Swakopmund continue inland in an easterly direction towards the interior. Shortly after passing the “Martin Luther” steam tractor join the route indicated as the Namib Naukluft Park. Follow this route taking the indicators leading to the “Moon Landscape” formation and the “Welwitschia Drive” with its classic examples of the ancient Welwitschia plant species.

Accommodation: Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment Centre

Day 7
Windhoek
After a leisurely breakfast depart from Swakopmund returning to Windhoek along the main route crossing the "gravel plains" of the Namib Desert towards the small towns of Usakos, Karibib and Okahandja.

Usakos had its hay days up until the 1960’s where it served as a service centre for the narrow gauge railway line between Swakopmund and Otavi. Once the steam locomotives were replaced by diesel locomotives the town lapsed into its present sleepy state.

The main attractions in Karibib include the colonial buildings, the gemstone and mineral exhibition at the Henckert Tourist Center, the Marble works and the Navachab Gold mine.

Okahandja is one of Namibia’s oldest established settlements and is the administrative centre of the Herero-speaking people. Numerous of the former Herero leaders are buried here and an annual procession through the town to the Herero graves commemorate those who died during the wars against the Nama’s and Germans. Optional excursions on route include a visit to the open - air wood carving centre and the Herero Graves.

From Okahandja join the main route continuing in a southerly direction towards Windhoek. Late afternoon arrival back in Windhoek before continuing to the Windhoek Airport for your scheduled flight departure.

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Our tours are merely suggested itineraries and therefore can be tailor-made to suit your specific needs. Our Self Drive Tour routings are also suitable as a Guided Safari or Fly-In Safari. Routes can be amended according to your preference Accommodation can be changed to suit your style and budget Accommodation meal basis can be booked according to your requirements Extra nights can be added depending on your arrival and departure flight times and the pace that you want to travel