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Activity Level: M
Start / Finish: Windhoek / Windhoek
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Desert Surprise
You expect certain things from Namibia: sand dunes, big skies, lions and long stretches of vast, sun-blasted emptiness. You don’t expect cool coastal breezes, dolphins, bratwurst and logistical ease—unless you go to Namibia with us. Boasting spectacular biking, abundant wildlife and all sorts of “what the heck?” surprises, our adventures here explore every corner of this diverse land, mixing the Africa you know with the one you didn’t: seal-spotting and seafood on the Skeleton Coast, haunting UNESCO-protected human heritage; visits with the indigenous Himba people of Kaokoland; quick flights hither and yon; and the best bits of German colonial rule. Namibia: it’s like everywhere, all at once.
Here’s a sample of what you can expect on your custom-designed Bespoke Namibia adventure. Intrigued? Contact a Bespoke Trip Planner for further details.
Day 1 Rendezvous with your guides for cocktails and orientation in Windhoek
Day 2 Hunt lions, cheetahs and leopards with your camera at a private game reserve
Day 3 Bike through tiny farmlands and among the acacia trees in the bush, and over the vibrantly coloured hills of the northern desert
Day 4 Talk with a local expert about Namibia’s unique desert lions and elephants
Day 5 Ride along the quiet roads of Twyfelfontein en route to 6,000-year-old Stone Age engravings at a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Day 6 Relax with a “sundowner” before dinner under the star-filled African sky
Day 7 Explore a Himba village before a spectacular bush dinner at your hotel
Day 8 Walk the seaside promenades of the German colonial town of Swakopmund
Day 9 Spot dolphins and seals on a private boat cruise in Walvis Bay
Day 10 Wake up before dawn to watch the sunrise over the towering, burnt-red sand dunes of Sossusvlei
Day 11 Breakfast in Sossusvlei, then enda nawa in Windhoek
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Hotel Heinitzburg, Windhoek
This impressive structure was commissioned in 1914 by Count von Schwerin for his fiancée, Margarethe von Heinitz. In 1996 the castle was turned into a hotel. Situated on “Luxury Hill,” the Heinitzburg has a great view of the city.
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Onguma Plains Fort Camp, Etosha National Park
Inspired by the exquisite nature that surrounds it, Onguma blends beautifully into the landscape and offers that elusive combination of elegance and unobtrusiveness. Built on the edge of Fisher’s Pan, the camp is comprised of twelve spacious rooms in a U shape that allows for direct views of the waterhole (lit at night) from each and every bed. The luxurious individual accommodations include ourdoor showers and an expansive deck area; in the local Heroro language, Onguma means “the place you don’t want to leave.”
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Doro !Nawas Lodge, Damaraland
Located in a dry river valley, Doro !Nawas is a new lodge built and operated by Wilderness Safaris in conjunction with the local Doro !Nawas community. This unique lodge has 16 individual tents featuring private facilities, verandas and indoor and outdoor showers. At night you can roll your bed onto the veranda and sleep under the stars.
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Okahirongo Elephant Lodge, Kaokoland
The Okahirongo Elephant Lodge allows us to immerse ourselves in absolute silence and complete privacy in a unique and extraordinary landscape. The lodge consists of seven stone cottages with large en-suite bathrooms complete with indoor and open air showers. Each room has a spacious private gazebo with a sun bed for relaxing and soaking up the environment.
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Hansa Hotel, Swakopmund
Dating from 1905, the Hansa Hotel is probably not what you would expect to find in little Swakopmund. And its history is just an unusual: the “hotel” was born after a town hairdresser moved his business into the two-storey building and, with more rooms than he could use, decided to rent some to travellers. These days, it prides itself on being the oldest hotel in the country.
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Little Kulala, Kulala Wilderness Reserve
Eight thatched & canvas chalets or “Kulalas” (Kulala in the Oshiwambo language means “to sleep”) are set on elevated wooden platforms to provide maximum airflow. Each unit has its own private bathroom and wrap-around veranda with a small plunge pool. An option for outdoor enthusiasts: an internal staircase leads to the flat rooftop of each unit, providing the ideal setting to spend the evening stargazing in private. The camp also offers bedrolls for the rooftop, should you wish to sleep under the stars. The main area has a lounge, dining room, bar and curio shop, all under thatch. There is also an outdoor swimming pool with an amazing view of the dunes.
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Cycling through wild Namibia
By Margo Pfeiff, Special to The Chronicle
Sunday, March 22, 2009
"A journey of giraffes!" someone shouted, pointing to a dozen of the creatures cantering the shoreline of a shimmering white salt plain. Then came cries of "troop of baboons!" and "sounder of warthogs!" Spend your days cycling amid a plethora of plains in a Sahara of sand in the parched outback of Namibia, and you learn a whole new lexicon - from the Latin name for the bizarre, two-leafed indigenous Welwitschia mirabilis plant to textbook terms for packs o' critters.
A dazzle of zebras. A crash of rhinos. I think the heat was getting to us.
Our slim and trim "manic mechanic," Tjipe ("Chippy"), who kept our full-suspension mountain bikes in working order, pulled off the bumpy dirt road ahead and flagged us off-piste into the shade of a dry riverbed where - voila! - a lavish lunch had been laid out, complete with icy beers and chilly wines to wash down 30 dusty miles. We had just been watered when our guide, Chris Goodwin, held up a hand to shush us. "There's an elephant coming!"
Chris was always joking around, so we just laughed, trying to remember if elephants came in hides, herds or heffalumps. "Get in the truck!" he whisper-hissed.
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Moderate
This trip is rated Moderate. The terrain is not particular hilly, though the combination of gravel roads and occasional winds offer some challenges. On several days, travellers have the option of skipping the ride in favour of game viewing. Similarly, hikes offer moderate challenges along with spectacular views.
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