We will drive through the Khomas Highland and down the escarpment (remember Windhoek sits at 1,700 metres/ 5,600 feet above sea level!) via one of the many scenic mountain passes down into the Namib Desert. We will also pass through the small oasis town of Solitaire. As the nearest big towns are Walvis Bay (233 kilometres/145 miles away) and Windhoek (251 kilometres/156 miles away), it has been a common stopover and meeting place for tourists from all over the globe for more than 60 years. Solitaire is not only famous for being the only fuel stop between Sossusvlei and Swakopmund, but also for McGregor’s Bakery, which proudly serves its world-renowned fresh apple pie on a daily basis. Read More
We will drive through the Khomas Highland and down the escarpment (remember Windhoek sits at 1,700 metres/ 5,600 feet above sea level!) via one of the many scenic mountain passes down into the Namib Desert. We will also pass through the small oasis town of Solitaire. As the nearest big towns are Walvis Bay (233 kilometres/145 miles away) and Windhoek (251 kilometres/156 miles away), it has been a common stopover and meeting place for tourists from all over the globe for more than 60 years. Solitaire is not only famous for being the only fuel stop between Sossusvlei and Swakopmund, but also for McGregor’s Bakery, which proudly serves its world-renowned fresh apple pie on a daily basis.
Our journey will take about 4 to 5 hours, depending on the number of stops for photographs of this remarkable area. If it is your first time seeing the unfathomably vast Namib desert, it really is something truly spectacular. The dunes in this area are some of the highest in the world, reaching almost 300 meters (1,000 feet) from bottom to top! The characteristic red colour of the dunes developed over many millions of years, and was deposited into the Atlantic Ocean from the Orange River much further south. The Benguela current then carried this sand northwards, to be deposited back onto the land by the ocean’s surf. From here the wind carried the red sand inland to form these dunes over time. This rippling “dune sea” of the Namib-Naukluft National Park was proclaimed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013, and officially named the Namib Sand Sea.
During our drive we will certainly start seeing some of Namibia’s fantastic fauna and flora, including Common Ostrich, Gemsbok, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Sociable Weavers or even a Greater Kudu.
We will reach our well-chosen accommodation in time for a late lunch, after which there will be time to either rest in the comfortable rooms or around the swimming pool area, or go for a stroll around the lodge grounds looking for interesting smaller fauna and local flora. Our accommodation for tonight is in an area perfectly situated to explore the surrounding desert and its many attractions, and the staff are very knowledgeable about their surroundings and its inhabitants.
We will get together in the late afternoon and go on a two or three hour long sundowner dune drive with the lodge’s expert guide, enjoying the incredible landscapes and learning about the desert and its many secrets. This really is a fun and informative excursion, and the sunset photographs will be your computer’s background screen for a long time to come!
After our exciting drive we will return to the lodge for some socialising in the bar area, and then enjoy an authentic Namibian dinner in the excellent restaurant. Then we are off to bed for a good night’s rest. Remember to listen out for some owls or nightjars, or even a jackal calling, while on your way to your room; this is the Africa we love!
