Red Sands of Namibia

Arrive Windhoek & NamibRand Nature Reserve, NAMIBIA

Welcome to Namibia. You are welcomed upon arrival in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, and escorted onto a scheduled light aircraft flight into the NamibRand Nature Reserve. The reserve is a vast 445,000-acre conservation area in the pristine Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world.

Upon landing at the Wolwedans Airstrip, you are met by your lodge guide and taken to the Wolwedans Dunes Lodge. Perched on top of a dune plateau, the lodge offers panoramic desert vistas in all directions.

This afternoon, take a scenic nature drive through the NamibRand Nature Reserve, well known for its diverse desert landscapes. Expansive sand and gravel plains and endless stretches of grass savannah, alternate with majestic mountain ranges and vegetated dune belts of deep red sand. A vast array of animals, insects and plants have adapted to this generally inhospitable region. Discover the fascinating variety of flora and fauna, and admire the reflective colors of the landscape that change as the day progresses.

Tonight enjoy dinner in this beautiful remote environment. ​(L,D)

NamibRand Nature Reserve

Enjoy a full day of memorable activities, including scenic game drives amidst the dramatic scenery of the NamibRand Nature Reserve. This is the largest conservation area in Namibia, and the site of some of Africa's most breathtaking scenery. You can see the four Namib-Rand distinct natural habitats - steep, rocky mountain ranges, enormous savannahs, vegetated dunes of deep red sand, and clay pans. Look for the prolific antelope, including the predominant Oryx gazelle, and springbok that inhabit the park, as well as its more than 100 bird species.

Take an early morning safari to view the effects of the morning light, and to catch the wildlife when they are most active. Spend the afternoon relaxing at your all-inclusive lodge, and then take a late afternoon excursion to explore the area further. ​(B,L,D) 

NamibRand Nature Reserve to Sossusvlei

After breakfast, you are transferred a short distance to Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, in the northern foothills of the reserve. Set amongst ancient camel thorn trees on the dry Auab riverbed, your accommodations offer deluxe facilities in proximity to the towering red sand dunes of the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world.

Enjoy lunch at the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, with the afternoon at your leisure to relax or take part in the many scheduled lodge activities, including a desert nature drive or dune walk, or eco quad-bike ride, – each led by an expert local guide.

After dinner, spend time at the observatory, where the local astronomer tells you all about the Namibian night sky. ​(B,L,D)

Sossusvlei

Arise early this morning for a magical excursion with your local guide into the Namib Naukluft National Park, also known as Sossusvlei. Famous for its towering apricot-colored sand dunes which follow the Tsauchab River Valley, Sossusvlei itself is actually a clay pan set amidst star shaped dunes. Standing 985 feet above the surrounding plains, these are the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world.

Entering the park gates at sunrise, witness how the soft light and early morning shadows accentuate the towering shapes and curves of the dunes. Your local guide gives you an insight on the formation of the Namib Desert, and on its myriad of fascinating creatures and plants that have adapted to survive these harsh environs. You take a break to savor a relaxing picnic breakfast under the shade of a camel thorn tree.

While en route back to the lodge, stop to view Sesriem Canyon. This narrow 1-mile long, 100-foot deep gorge was formed through centuries of erosion by the Tsauchab River. Arrive at the lodge in the early afternoon, in time for a late lunch.

The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure – relax after your exhilarating morning in the dunes, or take another guided lodge activity, perhaps a guided sundowner drive, guided walk, or quad bike ride in the dunes. ​(B,L,D)

Sossusvlei to Damaraland

After a leisurely breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your scenic light aircraft flight north to Damaraland, getting fantastic views of Namibia’s landscape.

After a re-fueling stop in Swakopmund, arrive at the Twyfelfontein Airstrip. Here you are met and escorted on the short transfer to Mowani Mountain Camp, your home for the next two nights.

Damaraland is a pristine wilderness of wind-eroded table-topped mountains, dunes, gravel plains and ancient river terraces. This afternoon, a guided excursion takes you through the interesting geological sites of the region. View Burnt Mountain, a rounded hill that appears a dull black, but seems to catch fire at sunrise and sunset. The dramatic colors are caused by a 125 million year old chemical reaction when molten lava penetrated the organic shale and limestone deposits, resulting in contact metamorphism. Explore the Organ Pipes, a mass of towering perpendicular dolerite columns slowly exposed by river erosion. Visit the fascinating and famous 6,000 year old rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are more than 3,000 bushman carvings here, making this one of the largest concentrations of petroglyphs in Africa.

Return to camp just before sunset, with time to freshen up before dinner. Enjoy pre-dinner drinks on Mowani’s sundowner rock, a short stroll from the camp, for a stunning view of the sunset. ​(B,L,D)

Damaraland Exploration

This morning, take an exciting 4WD excursion along the ephemeral Aba Huab River Valley, offering panoramic vistas of Damaraland’s stark plains and the soaring Brandberg Mountains. Explore this remarkable region and search for game, including Gemsbok, springbok, lion, cheetah, black rhino, and the elusive desert adapted elephants. Damaraland is home to a variety of desert adapted wildlife and hidden desert treasures.

The Desert Adapted Elephant in the Namib, walk further for water and food than any other elephant in Africa, with distances between waterholes as great as 50 miles. These large family herds walk and feed at night and rest during the day. To meet their nutritional and bulk requirements, they browse on no fewer than 74 of the 103 plant species that grow in their range. They are not a separate species or subspecies; they are an eco-type unique to Namibia, behaviorally adapted to these hyper-arid conditions.

Return to camp for lunch, with the afternoon free to take a walk around the camp area with a local guide, or relax and enjoy some leisure time. ​(B,L,D)

Damaraland to Windhoek

Arise before breakfast for a relaxing morning walk, taking your last look at this remarkable landscape, and perhaps spying a few of the early rising local creatures.

After breakfast, you are transferred to the Twyfelfontein airstrip for your scheduled light aircraft flight to Windhoek. You are met upon arrival, and escorted to your luxury boutique hotel. Nestled in an olive tree plantation, your hotel offers views of the Windhoek Mountains. This afternoon, relax by the pool set amid the olive grove, or perhaps explore Windhoek. (B)

Depart Windhoek

Enjoy your last morning in Namibia before you are transferred to the Windhoek airport for your departing flight home or on to your next destination. ​(B)