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!

(The gates open at sunrise) We will drive for about 30 minutes while appreciating the beauty of the sun that is rising over the amazing red dunes. The dunes in this area are some of the highest in the world, reaching almost 400 meters, and provides opportunity to capture wonderful images in the beautiful morning and evening light.

For the adventurous you have the option of climbing the dunes, sliding down them or enjoy a brisk walk to Dead Vlei. You will have plenty of time to enjoy the many highlights that surrounds Sossusvlei itself.
• Dune 45, the most photographed dune on earth (situated 45 km past Sesriem on the road to Sossusvlei)
• Hiddenvlei, perfect if you are looking for solitude in the desert
• The magnificently tall Big Daddy dune
• Deadvlei, a paradise for photographers, as it is punctuated by blackened, dead acacia trees, in vivid contrast to the shiny white of the salty floor of the pan and the intense orange of the dunes

We will encounter and learn more about the fascinating wildlife of the Namib Desert with the help of a local expert. We will look for geckos, scorpions, snakes, lizards, birds and beetles as well as the incredible plant life that survives in this harsh and seemingly inhospitable environment. Some of the special creatures we might see include Namib Sand Gecko, Namaqua Chameleon, Shovel-snouted Lizard, Tractrac Chat and even Peringuey’s or Horned Adder.

The Living Desert Tour is a unique 4x4 adventure which specializes in bringing the desert to life while sharing the awesome beauty of the Namib Desert with travellers from all over the world. The coastal dune belt may seem barren and lifeless to many people, but in fact it is alive with a fascinating variety of little desert adapted animals, which are able to survive on the life-giving fog which consistently rolls in from the cold Atlantic Ocean.

Come see the Dancing White Lady Spider (Carparachne aureoflava) cartwheel 44 turns per second down a dune to escape the enemy. Admire the transparent Namib Dune Gecko (Pachydactylus rangei) with webbed feet that are equivalent to snow shoes. Learn about the different beetles and insects and how they survive in the dune desert. Follow in the tracks of a legless Lizard (Fitsimmon’s Burrowing Skink), observe Sand Diving Lizards (Meroles Anchieta) dancing on the hot sand, Sidewinder Snakes (Perinquey’s Adder), Desert Chameleons and many more fascinating creatures. Learn about the geology, structure and formation of the desert, and admire the vast and beautiful landscapes while enjoying a scenic dune drive combined with fun and adrenalin.

This bleak and evocatively named area is one of the most unusual coastal wildernesses on the planet, protecting about a third of Namibia’s long coastline.

After visiting one of the many shipwrecks along the coast for some dramatic photographs, we will turn inland towards spectacular Damaraland. We will drive past the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain. In the distance we will also see the Spitzkoppe (sharp head), one of Namibia’s most recognizable landmarks.

This beautiful mountainous region is home to an assortment of scientifically important desert-adapted wildlife such as elephant, rhino, zebra and lion, which somehow survive and thrive in this near-barren landscape. We hope to see some of them; a special treat indeed!

The Twyfelfontein rock engravings are the most significant rock-engraving site in Namibia. More than 2,500 engravings are found at 17 main sites, as well as several rock paintings. Its one of four top rock art sites in Southern Africa, the home of ancient mankind.

Especially interesting are large images of elephant, rhino, and a lion with spoor instead of paws, and human feet. There are two main routes. A shorter trail taking in some 5 sites & taking about ¾ hour to walk around. A longer trail which takes in 8 sites & will take about 1 hour to complete accompanied by a local guide to explain the stories behind each incredible etching.

A visit to the fossilized tree trunks is equally absorbing. The stone ‘trees’ lying on the ground are so well preserved they seem like logs. The Petrified Forest consists of at least 50 trees which are between 240 & 300 million years old.

Here you will also find one of the world’s botanical curiosities, the strange-looking Welwitschia. Although it does not resemble a tree at all, the Welwitschia is nevertheless classified as one, & much of its stem is underground. Only 2 leathery leaves of up to 8m long & 1,5m wide are produced on the gnarled stem, but the leaves are shredded by searing winds & extreme temperatures into a tangled mass, creating the impression of a multitude of leaves.

We will spend a couple of hours learning about their history, culture and get an insight into their daily lives.

Etosha National Park in northern Namibia offers you the chance to spot game in a wonderful natural setting. Enjoy a fascinating African wildlife adventure in Namibia in search of wildlife like megaherbivores such as giraffe, elephant black and white rhino as well as predators like lion, cheetah and leopard.

Travel from waterhole to waterhole and observe as herds of elephants slowly make their way towards the waterhole right in front of you. One elephant first checks out if the waterhole is safe, then the whole herd, with babies in tow, follows. You may see them putting their trunks in the muddy water and spraying themselves until they look white.

The park itself covers 22,270 kms², and gets its name from the salt pan that makes up approx. 23% of the park. Once a massive lake, the Etosha Pan is now mostly dry, with the exception of good rainfall years when the pan fills up enough to become a breeding ground for flamingos that migrate between Walvis Bay and Sua Pan in Botswana

Etosha is home to 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, a variety of reptiles and even 1 species of fish. The game viewing is diverse and due to the dry nature of the region it is not uncommon to spot multiple species (including both predators and prey) hanging around the same waterhole.