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Day 1: Travel to Namibia

Scheduled flight overnight with Air Namibia from Frankfurt (Main) which takes you directly to Windhoek.

Day 2: Windhoek - Auas Mountains (Introduction)

Arriving in the early morning at Hosea Kutako International Airport, our tourguide will welcome you. After a one-hour journey you arrive at Windhoek Mountain Lodge. This comfortable lodge, located at the southern foothills of the Auas Mountains, is the starting point for all our Gravel Travel tours in Namibia. After a hearty breakfast, there is space for acclimatising and relaxing at the pool. The Windhoek Mountain Lodge offers a beautiful view of the surrounding mountain ranges and wide bush savannah. We have a general tour briefing in this afternoon and give introdution to the bikes and GPS devices. Subsequently, we go on an introductory ride (approx. 100 km) where you can familiarise with the road conditions and the technology. Later on you can enjoy a first sundowner at the viewing platform near the lodge before our legendary bushman fondue is served for dinner …

3. Tag: Windhoek Mountain Lodge + Einführungsrunde

Gut ausgeschlafen und entspannt befassen wir uns heute mit einer ausführlichen Reisebesprechung sowie einer gründlichen Einweisung in die Motorräder und die GPS-Geräte. Anschließend geht es auf eine halbtägige Eingewöhnungstour, wo Sie sich mit den Straßenverhältnissen und der Technik in Ruhe vertraut machen können, damit wir am nächsten Morgen gut gerüstet und bestens vorbereitet starten können.

Day 3: Windhoek - Mount Etjo

After breakfast we meet for a short morning briefing with some specific hints for this day stage – and off we go: Today’s destination is the Mount Etjo Safari Lodge. We pass Windhoek on the brink and leave the tarred road fairly quick to submerge into the hilly Khomas-Hochland. The gravel road leads us through farmland and highland bushveld. Far past town of Okahandja, we come through the old missionary village Otjimbingwe and the town Omaruru until we finally reach the striking table mountain, Mount Etjo, located in the vastness of the mountanious landscape. The tasteful luxerious safari lodge leaves nothing to be desired…

Day 4: Mount Etjo - Waterberg

Actually, too beautiful for sleeping off: When you are woken up by hippos or hear the lions roar in the distance. Today is safari time. We go for an exciting game drive with a 4x4 vehicle - discover giraffes, zebras, antelopes, rhinos and elephants in the bush. After that we start our next stage towards east. The route leads us across remote farm roads, past the Omatako Mountains, and on soft, red slopes through the traditional tribal homeland of the pastoral Hereros, through Okakara until we finally arrive at the Waterberg Plateau. This huge table mountain is, for Namibian conditions, extraordinarily rich in water and green, lush vegetation. Thus it is blessed with a high biodiversity. Today, the plateau itself is a valuable nature reserve. An incredible view into infinite distances is guaranteed from each chalet and those who like can also explore one of the exciting hiking trails.

Day 5: Waterberg - Vingerklip
Vingerklip Lodge (1 Night)

We leave the Waterberg on a broad, smooth course surrounded by green landscapes and deep red termite hills. Some game species are active during the day and giraffe, kudu, dwarf antelope, guinea fowl and warthog might be seen along the road, if not hidden in high grass. Today’s stage leads us out of this Kalahari region towards north. Behind the small town Otjiwarongo we at once submerge to lonelier gravel roads towards west and meander through the typical mopane bush savannah. In the range of the Ugab Terrace the landscape suddenly changes - terrific and pictoresque are the table mountains which rise from the flat savannah. We have arrived our destination for today with the extremely cosy Vingerklip Lodge. The lodge is located not far from a unique rock formation, a huge rock finger amidst a beautiful panorama.

Day 6: Vingerklip - Grootberg
Grootberg Lodge (1 Night)

After a nice breakfast we start our next trip across the Ugab terraces towards north, along the settlements of the Damara people, pass the village Khorixas, which offers the necessary institutions like schools, a hospital, a post office and supermarkets for the central Damaraland. In Khorixas we have a fuel stop. Through the huge Huab river valley we finally reach the Etendeka Plateau passing lonely gravel roads. The always changing beautiful landscapes ensure that it’s not getting boring. The great feeling that lion, elephant and rhino still belong here to the repertoire of a free natural environment accompanies the impressions. At the end of the Grootberg Pass we reach our destination for today, the Grootberg Lodge, magically embedded at the plateau edge above the canyon of the Klip River…

Day 7: Grootberg - Opuwo
Opuwo Lodge (1 Night)

Taking the wonderful impressions of this unique place with us, we head further north. This stage leads us upwards to the southern Kaokoveld where especially the Himba people are living. Already the Grootberg pass that we leave towards Palmwag could possibly bring us elephant sight. It follows one of the most beautiful route section through the northern Damaraland up to Sesfontein. This region is extremely rich in game: springbok, giraffe, zebra and gemsbok could cross our way. The red, brusque rocky landscape is open and clear. The more we go north, the more often we pass settlements and shepherds cross the roads with goats and cattle. When suddenly giant and incredibly thick trees, the baobabs, appear at the wayside, we have almost arrived at Opuwo with it’s Black Africa feeling: our accommodation is located at the village border on a mountain –  beautiful hotel - the Opuwo Country Lodge.

Day 8: Opuwo - Khowarib
Khowarib Lodge (1 Night)

Although, we had done this stage yesterday, this beautiful route section is not going to be boring. After breakfast we visit a traditional Himba village to have a small glimpse into their cultural lifestyle. Then we drive back on a curvy road towards south. Shortly before we reach our destination, we make a stop in Ongongo - a natural warm water spring. It is hard to believe that water bubbles out of the rocks, just in the middle of the desert. This crystal clear „pool“ is nice for a wonderful refreshment. Today’s accommodation is the Khowarib Lodge. Beautifully located in the deep notched river valley of the Hoanib. At night elephants often pass by the cosy tent chalets.

Day 9: Khowarib - Twyfelfontein

Today’s trip leads us further back towards south. We drive back into Damaraland with it’s unique table mountains crossing the scenically beautiful Grootberg pass. Our destination for today is the Twyfelfontein Country Lodge, a unique and luxurious place set in an extreme landscape near the famous rock paintings and engravings with World Heritage status. Directly in front of the lodge you can admire a small impression of this … and dinner at the rustic terrace is a splendid pleasure.

Day 10: Twyfelfontein - Erongo

Coming from Twyfelfontein, we pass the Aba-Huab, Goantagab and Ugab river beds. Desert elephants preferentially stay along these larger tree-lined river courses. For that reason, it is always good to keep your eyes open for the grey giants. However in this area, the elephants are as red powdered as the rocky landscape that we cross. We pass several Damara settlements along the gravel roads and the Brandberg massif is getting closer and closer. East of that we have reached Uis. After a quick fuel-stop, we head for the Spitzkoppe which is protruding steeply out of the open landscape. The closer we get, the more fascinating this enormous stone formation appears. Here we drive right through and enjoy this surreal scenery. Our destination for today is now east of us - the Erongo Mountains, a so-called inselberg complex with enormous outer walls. With over 2.300 m over sea level, it belongs to the highest mountain formations of Namibia. The Ai-Aiba Rockpainting Lodge is wonderfully embedded in the pictoresque landscape of round, smooth rocks as we have already seen them at Spitzkoppe. San People or Bushmen settled here long before and their well preserved rock paintings are worth seeing.

Day 11: Erongo - Kobo Kobo

Today we have to start early to have enough time for the upcoming stage towards south. We leave the Erongo Mountains passing rustic rocks towards west. With a bit of luck, we can possibly see the Brandberg which is now 90 km away. Along the steep walls of the Erongo, an old volcano ruin, we follow a rough gravel road until we reach Usakos. After a small part tarred road to Karibib, we submerge in the wild mountain landscape which finally leads us into the huge Swakop river bed. We then reach the Bosua Pass which leads us from 1.800m to 1.100 m - from a viewpoint, we can already look towards the Namib Desert. In the afternoon,at the edge of the Namib Naukluft Park, we reach the final track to Kobo Kobo Hills, our last destination before returning to Windhoek. This hidden place is beautifully located between granite rock formations on a private game reserve…

Day 12: Kobo Kobo - Windhoek

After everyone has slept off and had a nice breakfast, we only unwillingly go for our last stage. But the many gravel passes provide pure riding fun. We drive over the Us Pass to the big escarpment up into the Khomas-Hochland – lot’s of up and downhill, the route is very curvy. In the afternoon we are back at Gravel Travel homebase, the Windhoek Mountain Lodge. We are already expected by our team to sit together with a refreshing sundowner drink. Later we enjoy a great BBQ under stars - and have all the night to pass the days and impressions in review.

Day 13: Return Flight from Namibia

This day is completely available for staying on the lodge or to make a trip to the city of Windhoek because at least the Air Namibia flight is going to start in the evening. So, it is possible to visit some sights and to go to a bazaar or to the shops where you can buy a lot of traditional handcrafted things. In the early evening, our shuttle brings you to the Hosea Kutako International Airport.

Day 14: Arrival in Germany

Arrival in the early morning at Frankfurt (Main) and your individual onward journey via train or flight to your hometown.