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> or Bullsport Lodge<\/a><\/p>\n Bus journey 290 km, duration approx. 4 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Naukluft National Park and Olive Trail","content":" Drive to the Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park, which was founded in 1972 to protect the mountain zebras. The park is characterized by rugged rock massifs, deep river valleys and petrified waterfalls made of tuff. For your first hike, head to the Olive Trail, one of the most beautiful in the Naukluft Mountains. With great views over the park, you pass refreshing springs and old wild fig trees. Sociable weavers make excellent photo subjects and for observation. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n Ababis Guest Farm<\/a> or Bullsport Lodge<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 8 km, duration approx. 5-5.5 h, 350 m ascent<\/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":" You drive south along the Naukluft Mountains to a guest farm, where you can catch a glimpse of the sand dunes of the Namib Desert. After you arrive, a special adventure begins. With only a daypack, you begin your 2.5-day hike through the oldest desert in the world together with a ranger. While you hike and the ranger explains this unique world to you, your main luggage is transported to the first camp. You sleep under the open sky on comfortable camp beds with down duvets and you eat your dinner in style at a table set with white tablecloths. Of course, warm 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<\/p>\n Bus journey 200 km, duration approx. 3.5 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Tok Tokkie hike to the second camp and further desert overnight stay","content":" After your first night under the starry sky of Namibia, you will be woken up with a cup of hot coffee and tea right by your bed. After breakfast, you take advantage of the cool morning hours and head to your second camp. There is always something new to discover during the hike. The ranger explains how animals, insects and microorganisms have adapted to the harsh conditions in the desert. You spend lunchtime under a canopy before hiking the last few kilometers to your next camp in the afternoon. Sometimes you can see springboks or oryx antelopes here. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n Tok Tokkie<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 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 changes and you see dunes covered with camel thorn acacias. Around midday you reach the farmhouse and learn more about local environmental protection projects. Then 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 h<\/p>\n Bus journey 100 km, duration approx. 1.5 h, 50 m ascent<\/p>"},{"title":"Hiking at the red dunes of Sossusvlei","content":" 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 Desert Homestead Lodge<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 9 km, duration approx. 5-6 h, 230 m ascent<\/p>\n Bus journey 200 km, duration approx. 3 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Walvis Bay with its lagoon and flamingos","content":" After a hearty breakfast, you will continue north towards the Kuiseb River. On the way, you will enjoy a light hike in the Namib-Naukluft National Park followed by lunch. You will continue on to Walvis Bay, a lively coastal town located directly on the Atlantic coast. Namibia's largest port city is also known as Walvis Bay and has an eventful history to tell. On an excursion to Walvis Bay Lagoon, you can often see hundreds of pink flamingos. Later, drive to Swakopmund to your comfortable guest house for 2 nights. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n The Delight Hotel Swakopmund<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 5 km, duration approx. 2 h<\/p>\n Bus journey 360 km, duration approx. 5.5 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Swakopmund, Welwitschia Plain and hike in the lunar landscape","content":" After breakfast, take a trip to the Welwitschia Plain and hike through the lunar landscape. Back in Swakopmund, get to know this beautiful city better on a city tour. Founded by German colonialists in 1892, the German influence is still evident everywhere today. The afternoon is free and offers the opportunity to visit the promenade or a local caf\u00e9. Seafood and game dishes are Namibian specialties and can be sampled very well in Swakopmund. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n The Delight Hotel Swakopmund<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 7km, duration 2 h, 100 m ascent<\/p>\n Walk through the city<\/p>\n Bus journey 65 km, duration 1.5 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Landmark of Namibia: Spitzkoppe","content":" In the morning, transfer to the Pontok Mountains and Spitzkoppe. Namibia's landmark is an inselberg, which is often referred to as the \u201cMatterhorn of Namibia\u201d due to its striking shape. The Spitzkoppe is made of granite and towers impressively 700 m above the endless flat surroundings. On your hike, you will explore this rock massif and its unique formations: the rock pool and the \u201cRock Arch.\u201d This was created 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 8 km, duration approx. 4 h, 70 m ascent<\/p>\n Bus journey 260 km, duration approx. 4 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Brandberg \u2013 Namibia\u2019s highest peak","content":" Visit to the Brandberg. At 2,572 m, the Brandberg is the highest elevation in Namibia and a witness to the history of evolution with an immeasurable cultural treasure. This is why the area is often called the \"Louvre of the Desert\". Around 50,000 mostly well-preserved rock paintings by the San, some even around 4,000 years old, can be found and admired here. On a leisurely hike on paths through the sandstone rocks, you can marvel at animals such as oryx antelopes or zebras, patterns and people on the rock walls. The most famous rock painting, the White Lady in the Tsisab Gorge, should of course not be missed. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n Brandberg White Lady Lodge<\/a><\/p>\n Hike 5 km, duration approx. 5 h, 80 m ascent<\/p>"},{"title":"Safari in the Etosha National Park","content":" Batteries charged and cameras packed - today you're heading to the famous Etosha National Park. During the drive into the park to your accommodation you can see zebras, springboks and giraffes, and with a bit of luck you might also see lions, elephants, rhinos and leopards. The camera will be in constant use to capture these beautiful impressions. You'll spend the night in a camp in the south of the park. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n Okaukuejo Rest Camp (NWR)<\/a><\/p>\n Bus journey 350 km, duration: approx. 5 h<\/p>"},{"title":"Wildlife watching in the Etosha Pan","content":" You spend the whole day in Etosha National Park on safari in an open safari vehicle. The park has a large wildlife population with around 114 mammal species and over 350 bird species, making it one of the most important game reserves in Africa. The various waterholes are very busy: oryx antelopes, plains zebras, springboks and elephants linger at the refreshing water, as do the hungry lions. Today you will spend the night in another camp in the north-east of the park. (F,M,A)<\/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 the next accommodation, you will stop at the largest iron meteorite in the world. The 40-ton Hoba meteorite is located in the Otavi Mountains, about 20 kilometers west of Grootfontein, and was discovered by chance while ploughing just 100 years ago. Today, you will also visit the Maria Bronn Church and the school that goes with it. The school is mainly attended by children from the rural area, and you will get an insight into the country's school system. In the afternoon, you will reach the Waterberg Resort. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n