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8 days in the Namib desert

By August 5, 2019October 3rd, 2023FinGlobal

8 days in the Namib desert

August 5, 2019

things-to-do-in-namibia

If you have ever visited the Namib Desert of Namibia, you’ll know that it is a wonderland of experiences and beauty that you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the world. Come and spend eight days in the Namib Desert and revive your senses.

The Namib Desert is over 50 million years old and is thought to be the world’s oldest desert. Consisting of thousands of kilometres of copper and red dunes and mountains that turn purple at dusk it is truly a photographer’s paradise.

Things to do in Namibia

Day One: Take a hot air balloon

To truly appreciate the vast beauty of the Namib Desert, get above it on a hot air balloon. You can take off at dawn and watch the sunrise over the dunes and most trips include either a glass of champagne or a champagne breakfast afterwards. For more information, contact Namib Sky Balloon Safaris on +264 63 683 188

Day two: Explore on horseback

You have seen the dunes from above, now is the time to get to know them on the ground and the Namibia Horse Safari Company will provide you with an amazing team and loving, skilled horses to take you on your journey. Some of the safari adventures require a certain level of horse riding skill, so ensure you are up for the challenge before you embark on your trip.

Day three: Visit the Sossusvlei and Deadvlei

Sossusvlei is the Namib Desert’s most famous pan. It is a salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes in the southern part of the Namib Desert in the Namib-Naukluft National Park of Namibia. Deadvlei is situated a few kilometres away and is an incredibly beautiful mud-cracked plain with stark trees, providing beautiful photo opportunities.

Day four: Sandboarding

Now it’s time to get up close and personal with the dunes. These iconic red dunes are what most people who visit the Namib Dessert come to see and some can reach up to 400 metres. Sandboarding down the dunes is a wonderful activity for the young and old alike and allows you to experience the landscape in a totally unique way.

Day five: Visit Kolmanskop

This is another unique spot in the Namib Desert. The town sprung up when people found diamonds lying in the dunes. It is now deserted, with the inhabitants moving on to other more profitable areas, and the desert has entered some of the buildings. You can tour the bowling alley, dairy, butchery and town hall and learn about the previous inhabitants that braved living in this stark environment.

Day six: Take a road trip on D826/C27

This is considered to be one of the most scenic drives in the whole of Namibia. The roads are surrounded by mountains and beautiful grassy plains, with plenty of scenic photo opportunities. Stop and enjoy the silence!

Day seven: Visit the wild horses of Garub Pan

The origins of these wild horses are a mystery, but there is speculation that they might have belonged to the South African military. You can find the horses on the B2 from Aus to Luderitz and they can often be seen, if you are driving towards Luderitz, at the waterhole on the right-hand side of the road. There are also plenty of signs marked ‘wild horses’ – just follow them to the lookout point.

Day eight: Go for a game drive on a quad bike

Quad biking through the dunes is a wonderful activity that allows you to truly enjoy the openness of this beautiful space. Anyone can quad bike and it is a great way to explore the dunes and perhaps spot the wildlife that lives in the desert – including spotted and brown hyena, springbok, gemsbok and ostrich.

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