Damaraland is a rugged and remote area, sprinkled with big river systems. This is a ride for confident riders as the horses are very well aware they are in big game country!
Your Itinerary
Day 1 -
Welcome to Namibia! Windhoek Airport Shuttle service will collect you from Windhoek International (Hosea Kutako) Airport to your first overnight in Windhoek. Meet fellow riders and your host and guide Andrew Gillies for pre-ride briefing and dinner.
Day 2 -
After an early breakfast next day, we journey north (about a 7-hour transfer including a lunch stop en-route) through some spectacular Namibian landscapes to our camp at Twyfelfontein (Doubtful spring) with a visit to the world heritage site rock engravings at Twyfelfontein itself.
Day 3-6 -
With the rising sun at our backs, we begin our westward journey to the distant Atlantic. In these ephemeral river systems, the cycles of rainfall dictate the seasonal movement of game which is not concentrated, but we can encounter Elephants, Rhino, Oryx, Springbok, and other desert-adapted game.
Here huge glacial valleys, impressive Tableland mountains, exhumed by erosion, and folds and fractures resulting from cataclysmic eruptions present a well-preserved snapshot of a land of great antiquity.
Day 7-9 -
Leaving the river valleys, we now cross the vastness of open plains with the striking massive of the Brandberg (burning mountain) forming a dramatic backdrop. Here endless plains allow for some fast-paced riding as we approach the dramatic Messum Caldera, the eroded remains of a massive collapsed volcano.
Day 10 -
Our last ride takes us to the ocean at last – the spectacularly formidable Skeleton Coast, apparently so called for the wrecked hulks of stranded ships which dot this coastline. The cold upwelling Benguela current results in some diverse weather conditions from hot desert easterlies to cold south Atlantic westerly’s – a place of extremes!
We overnight in the small coastal town of Henties Bay in a private house with the most spectacular view over the Atlantic Ocean. Our last meal together is freshly caught Atlantic Fish done to perfection over the coals.
Day 11 -
After breakfast the transfer leaves early for Windhoek (a 6-hour commute) arriving at Windhoek Airport in time for flights leaving after 15:00
What's included?
Included:
- All riding (7 days)
- Accommodation (2 nights accommodated (first and last), 8 nights camping).
- meals and drinks while on the ride – excluded are drinks at lodges, restaurants, and petrol stations en-route.
- Ground transfers from Windhoek International Airport (Hosea Kutako) to starting point of ride and return transfer to Windhoek International airport on day of departure.
- A visit to the World Heritage site of the Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings.
Excluded:
- Extra horse charge for riders 85kg and over in riding gear.
- Single supplement (will be waived if prepared to share guesthouse accommodation)
- Personal drinks and refreshments at all lodges, restaurants and petrol stations en-route.
- Accommodation and transfers not listed on the itinerary.
- Any extra transfers (for any reason including flight delays) other than those included in the itinerary – will be for guest’s personal account.
- Additional activities and packages (we are happy to assist with recommendations)
- Safari staff gratuities.
Departure Dates 2021:
- 23 June – 03 July
- 20 August – 30 August
