Namibia - the land of colours! There is no better way to experience this fascinating country than on foot on selected day hikes. The country, more than twice the size of Germany with only 2.5 million inhabitants, offers visitors a lot of space. Thorny bush savannah, rocky plateaus, the sandy deserts of the Kalahari and the Namib, the unique rugged Erongo Mountains and the wildlife-rich Etosha National Park ensure that every day is full of new impressions. In addition to the large animals such as elephants, giraffes, rhinos and lions, the small ones are in no way inferior. Be it a barking gecko, the desert chameleon or the sociable weavers that build nests the size of small cars, on foot with an experienced nature guide you have more time and peace to marvel at them. The unique 3-day hike on the Tok Tokkie Trail through the Namib Desert will certainly leave the deepest impressions. There is nothing more beautiful than lying in a warm bed under the starry sky in one of the darkest places on the planet.<\/p>\n
Travel Information<\/strong><\/p>\n The hikes only cover a few hundred meters of elevation per day. With the exception of the Namib Desert, the ground is always rocky, so sturdy shoes are highly recommended. In April and August, the nights are cool to cold at around 5-15 \u00b0C and the daytime temperatures are 25-28 \u00b0C. In October and November, just before the rainy season, the nights are around 15-25 \u00b0C. During the day, the temperatures rise to 30-36 \u00b0C.<\/em><\/p>","cost_includes":"12x \u00dcbernachtungen in Hotels, G\u00e4steh\u00e4user, Lodges mit eigenem Bad sowie 2x \u00dcbernachtungen auf Feldbetten unter freiem Himmel\r\nVerpflegung: 14x Fr\u00fchst\u00fcck, 13x Mittagessen, 14x Abendessen\r\nEintrittsgelder f\u00fcr alle genannten Aktivit\u00e4ten\r\nS\u00e4mtliche Transfers und Fahrten im klimatisierten Kleinbus\r\ndeutschsprachige Reiseleitung","cost_excludes":"Fl\u00fcge von und nach Namibia\r\nTrinkgelder\r\nNicht erw\u00e4hnte Mahlzeiten\r\nAusgaben pers\u00f6nlicher Natur","itineraries":[{"title":"Arrival and drive to the edge of the great escarpment","content":" Arrival at Hosea Kutako Airport in Windhoek to start your journey through the \u201cLand of Red Silence.\u201d Welcome at the airport by the tour guide. If you wish, you can exchange money here; your tour guide will be happy to help. Transfer to the edge of the Great Escarpment. The foothills of the Namib Desert are already visible. You will spend two nights at a charming guest farm.<\/p>\n Ababis Guest Farm<\/a><\/p>\n Bus journey 290 km, duration approx. 4 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Naukluft National Park and Olive Trail","content":" Journey to the Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park, which was founded in 1972 to protect the mountain zebras. The park is characterised by rugged rock formations, deep river valleys and petrified waterfalls of tufa rock. For your first hike, you will embark on the Olive Trail, one of the most beautiful in the Naukluft Mountains. With fantastic views over the park, the trail passes refreshing springs and ancient wild fig trees. Sociable weaver birds offer excellent photo opportunities or simply a chance to observe. (B, L, D)<\/p>\n Ababis Guest Farm<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 8 km, duration approx. 5.5 h, 350 m elevation gain Driving south along the Naukluft Mountains towards a guest farm, you can catch glimpses of the Namib Desert sand dunes. Upon arrival, a special adventure begins. With only a daypack, you and a ranger will start your 2.5-day hike through the oldest desert in the world. While you hike and the ranger explains this unique world, your main luggage will be transported to the first camp. You will sleep under the open sky on comfortable camp beds with duvets, and enjoy your dinner in style at a table set with white tablecloths. Of course, hot showers and toilets are also provided. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n Tok Tokkie<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 9 km, duration approx. 2-3 h, 80 m ascent After your first night under Namibia's starry sky, you'll be woken with a cup of hot coffee or tea right at your bedside. After breakfast, you'll make the most of the still-cool morning hours and set off for your second camp. Along the hike, there's always something new to discover. Your guide will explain how animals, insects, and small creatures have adapted to the harsh desert conditions. You'll spend midday under a canopy before hiking the last few kilometres to your next camp in the afternoon. Sometimes, you might spot springbok or oryx antelope here. (B, L, D)<\/p>\n Tok Tokkie<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 8 km, duration approx. 4-6 h, 160 m ascent<\/p>"},{"title":"Farewell to Tok Tokkie and drive to the Desert Homestead","content":" Today you say goodbye to Tok Tokkie. During the approximately 3-hour hike, the landscape and vegetation will change, and you will see dunes covered with camel thorn acacias. Around midday, you will reach the farmhouse and learn more about local environmental protection projects. Afterwards, you will drive to your next accommodation for 2 nights, the beautiful Desert Homestead Lodge. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n Desert Homestead Lodge<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 5 km, duration approx. 3 hours, 50 vertical metres Today you set off before sunrise, because a special play of colors awaits you when the dunes shimmer red-orange in the morning light. Light sandy air accompanies your hike as you climb the famous Dune 45. Then you continue deeper and deeper into the dune fields of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. The wind has done all the work here and the dunes, which are up to 380 m high, are among the largest in the world. They are part of the Namib Sand Sea and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bizarrely shaped acacia tree skeletons in the huge, dried-out clay pan are the landmark of Sossusvlei. You continue to Sesriem Canyon and marvel at the 1 km long and 30 m deep gorge that the Tsauchab River has eaten into the rock. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 9 km, duration approx. 5-6 h, 230 m ascent The morning features a hike at the guest farm. After a substantial breakfast, you continue north towards the Kuiseb River. en route, you'll enjoy a gentle hike in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, followed by lunch. You'll then continue your journey, arriving in Walvis Bay, a lively coastal town situated directly on the Atlantic Ocean. Namibia's largest harbour city is also known as Walfischbucht and has a colourful history to tell. On an excursion to the Walvis Bay Lagoon, you can often observe hundreds of pink flamingos. Later, you'll drive to Swakopmund to your comfortable hotel for 2 nights. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n The Delight Hotel Swakopmund<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 5 km, duration approx. 2 h Swakopmund has two faces: one is the established town centre, where German influence is omnipresent in the architecture, and the other is the residential areas of the indigenous population. Due to the apartheid policy of the South Africans, which shaped Namibia for 65 years, so-called townships were founded. Due to ongoing immigration from rural areas, these are growing, particularly in the central and southern towns. A visit to the market and a kindergarten will give you firsthand insight into this other side of town life. The Delight Hotel Swakopmund<\/a><\/p>\n Hike on trails through the moonscape 7 km, 2 h, 100 m elevation gain In the morning, transfer to the Pontok Mountains and Spitzkoppe. Namibia's landmark is an inselberg, which due to its distinctive shape is often referred to as the \u201eMatterhorn of Namibia\u201c. Spitzkoppe is made of granite and impressively towers 700m above its endlessly flat surroundings. On your hike, you will explore this rock massif and its unique formations: ascent to one of the Pontok peaks with fabulous panoramic views, the Bushmen Paradise rock engravings, and the Rock Arch rock bridge. This was formed by wind erosion and offers a great photo opportunity. After the hike, transfer to the next accommodation. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n Brandberg White Lady Lodge<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 4 km, duration approx. 3 h, 520 m ascent Besuch des Brandbergs. Mit 2.572 m ist der Brandberg die h\u00f6chste Erhebung in Namibia und ein Zeitzeuge der Evolutionsgeschichte mit einen unermesslichen Kulturschatz. Daher wird das Gebiet auch gern \"Louvre der W\u00fcste\" genannt. Ca. 50.000 meist gut erhaltene Felsmalereien der San, manche sogar ca. 4.000 Jahre alt, sind hier zu finden und zu bewundern. Auf einer gem\u00fctlichen Wanderung auf Pfaden durch die Sandsteinfelsen k\u00f6nnen Sie sowohl Tiere wie Oryx Antilopen oder Zebras, als auch Muster und Menschen an den Felsw\u00e4nden bestaunen. Die wohl bekannteste Felsmalerei, die Wei\u00dfe Dame in der Tsisab-Schlucht, darf dabei nat\u00fcrlich nicht fehlen. Wer mag kann anschliessend \u00fcber die von Mopaneb\u00e4umen und Akazienb\u00fcschen bewachsene Ebene zur Lodge zur\u00fcckwandern. (F,M,A)<\/p>\n Brandberg White Lady Lodge<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 7 km, approx. 3 h, 120 m elevation gain or 16 km, approx. 6 h, 140 m elevation gain<\/p>"},{"title":"Safari in the Etosha National Park","content":" Batteries charged and cameras packed \u2013 today you're off to the famous Etosha National Park. During the drive into the park to your accommodation, you can expect to see zebras, springboks and giraffes, and with a bit of luck, perhaps even lions, elephants, rhinos and leopards. Your camera will be in constant use, capturing these wonderful sights. You will be staying at a lodge outside the park. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n Eldorado Lodge<\/a><\/p>\n Driving distance 350 km, duration approx. 5 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Wildlife watching in the Etosha Pan","content":" You will spend the entire day on safari in Etosha National Park in an open safari vehicle. With around 114 mammal species and over 350 bird species, the park boasts a large wildlife population, making it one of Africa's most important wildlife reserves. Waterholes are busy with various animals: oryx antelopes, plains zebras, springboks, and elephants are found at the refreshing water. The hungry lions are there too. Today, you'll be staying at another camp in the northeast of the park. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n Namutoni Rest Camp (NWR)<\/a><\/p>\n Bus journey 170 km, duration approx. 9 h<\/p>"},{"title":"School visit and Hoba meteorite","content":" On the way to your next accommodation, you will stop at the largest iron meteorite in the world. The 40-tonne Hoba meteorite is located in the Otavi Mountains, about 20 kilometres west of Grootfontein, and was only accidentally discovered 100 years ago while ploughing. In the afternoon, you will reach your lodge in the Waterberg Wilderness area. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n
Bus journey 130 km, duration approx. 2 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Tok Tokkie hike to the first camp and overnight in the desert","content":"
Bus journey 200 km, duration approx. 3.5 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Tok Tokkie hike to the second camp and further desert overnight stay","content":"
Bus journey 100 km, duration approx. 1.5 hours<\/p>"},{"title":"Hiking at the red dunes of Sossusvlei","content":"
Bus journey 300 km, duration approx. 4 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Walvis Bay with its lagoon and flamingos","content":"
Road distance 240 km, duration approx. 4 hours<\/p>"},{"title":"Swakopmund, Welwitschia Plain and hike in the lunar landscape","content":"
In the afternoon, they hike through the bizarre moonscape and see the peculiar Welwitschia plants. (F,M,A)<\/p>\n
Walk through the city
Bus journey 65 km, duration 1.5 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Landmark of Namibia: Spitzkoppe","content":"
Bus journey 260 km, duration approx. 4 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Brandberg \u2013 Namibia\u2019s highest peak","content":"