JANUARY - DECEMBER

* * ITINERARY* *

WINDHOECK - HENTIES BAY - OMARURU RIVER - UIS - BRANDBERG - TWYFELFONTEIN - GAI-AS FOUNTAIN - RHINO CAMP - MESSUM CRATER - CAPE CROSS - WALVISBAAI - SWAKOPMUND - WINDHOEK

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DAY 1  WINDHOEK - HENTIES BAY

UPON ARRIVAL AT HOSEA KUTAKO AIRPORT, WINDHOEK, AN  ADVENTURES REPRESENTATIVE WILL MEET YOU, AND WE THEN DEPART BY ROAD TO THE ACCOMMODATION IN HENTIES BAY.

TONIGHT WE STAY ON A BED AND BREAKFAST BASIS.

DAY 2  HENTIES  BAY - BRANDBERG

WE ARE DEPARTING FROM THE HENTIESBAAI ESTABLISHMENT ON THE QUAD BIKES AND FOLLOW THE RIVER COURSE OF THE OMARURU RIVER TO THE WHITE LADY LODGE WHERE WE WILL STAY IN THE LODGE OVERNIGHT, WHICH IS SITUATED CLOSE TO THE BRANDBERG.

WE RIDE FOR SOME 80 KILOMETERS IN THE DRY RIVERBED OF THE OMARURU RIVER ON A SANDY TRACK. THE SCENERY IS BEAUTIFUL AND WE MIGHT SEE SOME SPRINGBOK AND KUDU.

THE LAST 30 KILOMETERS TO UIS IS GRAVEL ROAD. AFTER A VISIT TO THE ABANDONED TIN MINE WE DEPART TO THE BRANDBERG, WITH THE HIGHEST PEAK IN NAMIBIA, KÖNINGSTEIN ON A GOOD GRAVEL ROAD (34 KILOMETERS). WE THEN RIDE AROUND THE BRANDBERG ON A GOOD TRACK UNTIL WE REACH THE WELWITSCHIA FLATS ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. THESE FASCINATING PLANTS ARE PROTECTED AND SOME OF THEM ARE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD.

DAY 3  BRANDBERG - TWYFELFONTEIN

AFTER BREAKFAST WE DEPART ON QUAD BIKES TO TWYFELFONTEIN, WHERE WE WILL VISIT THE BURNT MOUNTAIN, ORGAN PIPES AND ROCK ENGRAVINGS. THE MAIN ATTRACTION AT TWYFELFONTEIN (DOUBTFUL SPRING), AT THE HEAD OF THE GRASSY ABA HUAB VALLEY, IS ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE GALLARIES OF ROCK ART IN AFRICA. THE ORIGINAL NAME OF THIS WATER RESOURCE WAS /UI-//AIS (SURROUNDED BY ROCKS), BUT IN 1947 IT WAS RENAMED BY EUROPEAN SETTLER MR. D. LEVIN, WHO DEEMED ITS DAILY OUTPUT OF ONE CUBIC LITER OF WATER INSUFFICIENT IN THIS ARID ENVIRONMENT.

TWYFELFONTEIN'S ROCK ENGRAVINGS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS PETROGLYPHS, WERE MADE BY CUTTING THROUGH THE HARD PATINA COVERING THE LOCAL SANDSTONE. IN TIME, THIS SKIN REFORMED OVER THE ENGRAVINGS, PROTECTING THEM FROM EROSION. MOST OF THEM DATE BACK AT LEAST 6000 YEARS TO THE EARLY STONE AGE AND ARE PROBABLY THE WORK OF ANCIENT SAN HUNTERS. FROM COLOR DIFFERENTIATION AND WEATHERING, RESEARCHERS HAVE IDENTIFIED AT LEAST SIX DISTINCT PHASES, BUT SOME ARE CLEARLY THE WORK OF COPY-CAT ARTISTS AND PROBABLY DATE FROM THE 19TH CENTURY. ANIMALS, ANIMAL TRACKS AND GEOMETRIC DESIGNS ARE WELL REPRESENTED BUT THERE ARE SURPRISINGLY FEW HUMAN FIGURES. MANY OF THE ENGRAVINGS DEPICT ANIMALS THAT ARE NO LONGER FOUND IN THE AREA - ELEPHANTS, RHINOS, GIRAFFES AND LIONS - AND AN ENGRAVING OF A SEA LION INDICATES CONTACTS WITH THE COAST MORE THAN 100 KILOMETERS AWAY. ANOTHER PORTRAYS A LION WITH PAW PRINTS INSTEAD OF FEET AND AN ODDLY ANGULAR TAIL.

THE BURNT MOUNTAIN IS A BRILLIANTLY COLORED HILL OF DARK MAROON, BLACK AND CHARCOAL ROCK. THIS NATURAL PHENOMENON WAS FORMED 120 MILLION YEARS AGO WHEN VOLCANIC MAGNA FORCED ITS WAY AS A LARGE SHEET INTO BLACK, CARBONACEOUS SHALE. THE HIGH TEMPERATURES - ABOUT 2,500 F( 1 400 CELSIUS) - BAKED THE SHALE, LEAVING A BLACK , CHARRED MASS WITH BROWN, RED AND YELLOW PATCHES , PRODUCED BY THE OXIDATION OF IRON-BEARING MINERALS.

OVERNIGHT TWYFELFONTEIN LODGE ALTERNATIVELY MOWANI LODGE IN CASE THE RESERVATION IS MADE EARLY ENOUGH AND THERE ARE STILL ENOUGH ROOMS AVAILABLE. (IF THE MOWANI IS REQUESTED WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 100,00 EURO PER PERSON), A BRAND NEW LODGE IN THIS AREA. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE EXCLUSIVE LODGE, A LOT DIFFERENT TO MOWANI.

DAY 4  TWYFELFONTEIN - RHINO CAMP

AFTER BREAKFAST WE HAVE THE OPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY OF BALLOONING AT TWYFELFONTAIN, WHICH IS VERY NEARBY (PRICE PER PERSON 2000,00 N$ PER HALF HOUR). AFTER THAT WE WILL BE DEPARTING TO RHINO CAMP. THE TOUR TAKES US THROUGH MOUNTAINS, PLAINS AND SPECTACULAR VALLEYS TO THE RHINO CAMP AT THE UGAB RIVER. EN ROUTE WE VISIT A PETRIFIED FOREST AND THA GAI-AS FOUNTAIN, THE ONLY WATER SOURCE FOR MILES IN THE BARREN LANDSCAPE. THE TRACK OF 106 KM FROM TWYFELFONTEIN TO RHINO CAMP IS GOOD TO DIFFICULT WITH MOST BEAUTIFUL SCENERY. WE MIGHT SEE OSTRICH, SPRINGBOK AND GEMSBOK ON THE PLAINS. IF WE ARE LUCKY WE WILL EVEN SEE SOME DESERT ELEPHANTS AS WELL AS RHINOS.

AFTER A HOT SHOWER AND A DELICIOUS DINNER WE OVERNIGHT AT RHINO CAMP.

DAY 5  RHINO CAMP - CAPE CROSS

TODAY WE WILL BE DEPARTING TO CAPE CROSS THROUGH THE MESSUM CRATER. DRIVING IS DONE IN THE OLD MESSUM RIVER, WITH PLENTY OF WELWITSCHIAS AND BEAUTIFUL ROCK FORMATIONS.

CAPE CROSS HAS THE BEST-KNOWN BREEDING COLONY OF CAPE FUR SEALS (ARCTOCEPHALUS PUSILLUS) ALONG THE NAMIB COAST. THIS APPEALING SPECIES ISN’T A TRUE SEAL AT ALL, BUT AN EARED SEAL, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A SPECIES OF SEA LION. FUR SEALS HAVE A THICK LAYER OF SHORT FUR BENEATH THE COARSER GUARD HAIRS, WHICH REMAIN DRY AND TRAP AIR FOR INSULATION. THIS ENABLES THE ANIMALS TO MAINTAIN AN INTERNAL BODY TEMPERATURE OF 37° CELSIUS AND SPEND LONG PERIODS IN COLD WATERS. AT CAPE CROSS, A LARGE COLONY OF THESE SEALS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RICH CONCENTRATIONS OF FISH IN THE COLD BENGUELA CURRENT.

WE ARE STAYING OVER IN THE CAPE CROSS LODGE ON A BED AND BREAKFAST BASIS. OUR TOUR ENDS AT CAPE CROSS AND THE LAST NIGHT WE SPEND AGAIN AT HENTIESBAY. TOTAL LENGTH OF OUR TOUR IS APPROXIMATELY 500KM.

DAY 6  CAPE CROSS - SWAKOPMUND

TODAY WE TRANSFER YOU TO SWAKOPMUND, TO ENJOY A REAL GOOD QUAD EXPERIENCE IN THE DUNES BETWEEN WALVISBAAI AND SWAKOPMUND, WITH A GOOD LUNCH AT DUNE 7 , ONE OF THE HIGHEST AROUND THAT AREA. HERE WE EXPERIENCE THE REAL G FORCE FOR THE LAST TIME. WE SPEND THE EVENING IN SWAKOPMUND IN A GOOD RESTAURANT, ALA CARTE, (OPTIONAL EXTRA) AND STAY IN A LA MER, A PENSION, FOR THE NIGHT.

DAY 7  SWAKOPMUND - WINDHOEK

TODAY WE TAKE THE CHANCE OF SHOPPING FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS IN SWAKOPMUND AND AFTERWARDS OUR TRANSFER IS LEAVING FOR WINDHOEK THE CAPITAL CITY TO GET BACK TO THE AIRPORT IN TIME FOR THOSE THAT ARE LEAVING.

VARIOUS

INCLUDED:

• ACCOMMODATION ON A SHARED BASIS

• BREAKFAST / DINNER WHEN CAMPING

• MATTRESS AND GROUND SHEET WHEN CAMPING

• SERVICES OF GUIDES (SPEAKING ENGLISH OR GERMAN)
  

• SUPPORT VEHICLE FROM START TO FINISH

• MOTO: SUZUKI 400 HARDENDURO / QUAD BIKES : HYUNDAI 450
  

• EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION AND ARRANGEMENTS

• ROAD TRANSFERS

NOT INCLUDED:

• SCHEDULED FLIGHTS AND DEPARTURE TAXES

• VISA ARRANGEMENTS AND CHARGES

• COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE – BAGGAGE, CANCELLATION, CURTAILMENT, MEDICAL, EMERGENCY

• EVACUATION BACK HOME & MONEY

• TELEPHONE CALLS

• PERSONAL BAR ACCOUNT (INCLUDING MINI BAR)

• ACTIVITIES NOT SPECIFIED
• LUNCH (PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN SNACKS)
• DRINKS
• DINNER IN LODGES
  

• SLEEPING BAG AND PILLOW
• DEPOSIT (CASH)

• LAUNDRY

NOTES:

WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT ONLY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND MOBILE PEOPLE JOIN THIS ITINERARY.

THIS ITINERARY IS AVAILABLE TO A MINIMUM OF 6 PEOPLE

OVERNIGHTS:
ALL THE LUXURY APARTMENTS ARE VERY COMFORTABLE AND ANIMAL PROOF. WE ARE VERY WELL EQUIPPED FOR CAMPING, WITH SAFE AND SECURE TENTS, EXCEPTIONAL GOOD MATRASSES AND WARM SHOWER.
CATERING:
MOST OF THE PRODUCTS ARE HOMEMADE AND FRESH. NAMIBIA’S CUISINE OFFERS VERY GOOD MEAT. COLD DRINKS, BEER AND HOT DRINKS.
REQUIREMENTS: SLEEPINGBAGS AND BIKEGEAR ARE NECESSARY. THE MONTHS FROM MAY TO AUGUST TEND TO BE VERY COLD AT NIGHT TIME 5-10 DEGREES CENTIGRADE. AT DAY BETWEEN 25 AND 30 DEGREES. SEPTEMBER TO MARCH ARE THE HOTTEST MONTHS.
HIRE MOTORBIKES: SUZUKI DRZ 400 HARD ENDURO

INDIVIDUAL EXTENSION: WE LIKE TO HELP YOU IF YOU WISH TO EXTEND YOUR STAY IN NAMIBIA. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT US.

PRICES

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR PRICES. THANK YOU.

CHANGES OF PRICE / PROGRAM POSSIBLE.

THE SAHARA OFFROAD GMBH GENERAL TRAVELLING CONDITIONS APPLY.

WE WILL BE PLEASED TO SEND YOU A REGISTRATION FORM. PLEASE DO NOT HESTITATE TO CONTACT US SHOULD YOU REQUIRE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

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