Damaraland

Motorbike tour

Damaraland

The „Damaraland Tour“ is completely new in our programm: with a much more offroad character this tour may be considered and serves as perfect warm-up introduction for our most challenging „Kaokoland Tour“. Both mentioned tours are conducted with the light-weight model of Yamaha WR250R.

The Damaraland – in the northwestern Namibia – is probably one of the most beautiful landscapes: wild, lonesame, rough, harsh and manifold. There are smallest farm tracks and remote trails that serve amazing impressions and demand more riding skills than on the „normal“ gravel roads – thus an ideal introduction tour for our famous „Kaokoland Tour“ that you may have in focus for future time. The lighter Yamaha WR250 is very comfortable to ride and perfectly made for this kind of offroad riding on smaller tracks and rocky terrains.


The tour embraces many highlights, stunning comfortable lodgings and diverse impressions of this central northwestern part of Namibia: across central highlands and farmlands of Khomas Hochland, it first leads into the legendary Namib Desert before it turns north to Erongo Mountains, Spitzkoppe and Brandberg Mountain. The tour leads mainly through central and up to northernmost Damaraland bordering Etosha NP and turns back through wonderful sceneries of Huab River and Ugab Terraces until finally visit a large game reserve at Mount Etjo.

Tour profile: 11 riding days/14 travel days. Gravel roads, fairly remote dirt tracks with easy to rough enduro terrain. Daily stages of between 250 and 350km. Total distance approx. 2600 km. Please mind our information concerning riding skills here.

Dates & Registration

13 Days ca. 2600 km

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Your route day by day

1. Tag: Ankunft in Namibia / Windhoek Mountain Lodge
Windhoek Mountain Lodge
(1 Night)

Ankunft auf dem internationalen Flughafen Windhoek und Abholung durch uns. Ein einstündiger Transfer bringt Sie zu unserer komfortablen Windhoek Mountain Lodge in den Auasbergen südlich der Hauptstadt Windhoek – unsere Basis-Station für alle Gravel Travel–Touren in Namibia. Nach einem guten Frühstück gibt es Gelegenheit zum Akklimatisieren, zur Entspannung am Pool mit erholsamem Weitblick auf die umliegenden Bergzüge und das weite Buschland. Und wer mag, genießt seinen ersten namibischen "Sundowner" auf der Aussichtsplattform oberhalb der Lodge, bevor das legendäre "Bushman-Fondue" zum Dinner ruft ...

2. Tag: Auasberge / Windhoek Mountain Lodge
Windhoek Mountain Lodge
(1 Night)

Gut ausgeschlafen und entspannt befassen wir uns heute mit einer ausführlichen Reisebesprechung sowie einer gründlichen Einweisung in die Motorräder und GPS-Geräte. Anschließend geht es auf eine ca. 100 km lange Eingewöhnungstour, wo Sie sich mit dem Verkehr, Straßenverhältnissen und der Technik vertraut machen können, damit wir am nächsten Morgen gut gerüstet und bestens vorbereitet starten können.

Day 2: Windhoek - Rostock Ritz
Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge
(1 Night)

After breakfast we meet for a short morning briefing with some specific hints for this day stage – and off we go: we pass Windhoek on the brink and leave the tarred road fairly quick to submerge into the hilly Khomas-Hochland. We travel along wide and fairly solid gravel roads across this central highlands towards western direction. Later on the route becomes much more curvy and provides real riding fun. In the afternoon we reach the Bosua pass and suddenly get to a gigantic lookout point at the rim of the Great Escarpment where the view opens up over the Namib Desert landscape. Further down the pass the gravel roads lead through open plains where we finally reach our first lodge along the Rotstock mountains – the Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge.

Day 3: Rostock Ritz & surrounding countryside
Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge
(1 Night)

Rostock Ritz – a place enthusing all. We are accommodated for two nights at this awesome place with view to all horizons and mountains where unique rock-igloos are built into the desert shape. A special oasis for humans and wildlife, perfect for relaxing and relish the silence. Its up to you to decide for a rest today or take another trip through the hinterland of the Rotstock Mountains and the great escarpment, there are some amazing curvy gravel roads, the Bosua and Us pass as well as the Kuiseb River Canyon to go through before reaching again the rim of Namib desert plains and our quarters for tonight. However, the evening promises great dinner served from a well-known kitchen under amazing firmament – hard to find sleep for stargazers.

Day 4: Rostock Ritz – Erongo Mountains
Ai-Aiba The Rockpainting Lodge
(1 Night)

After breakfast in the wild, we pass through and along  the north-eastern edge of Namib Naukluft National Park, actually Africa’s largest protection area and its seemingly lifeless plains, but surprisingly you should be aware of Ostrich, Oryx antelope, Zebra or Springbuck crossing your path. We then climb the escarpment up on the Bosua Pass which leads us from 1.100m to 1.800 m hight and may stop for the great view over the desert before we submerge on curvy gravel roads through wild mountain landscape that leads us into the huge Swakop river valley and cross its sandy river bed. The route then heads towards Karibib, a small mining town and take a shortcut over tar road to catch up with a marvellous route leading further north along the steep walls of the Erongo Mountains, until we finally reach our today’s destination – the AiAiba Rockpainting Lodge, nestled wonderfully between huge granite boulders.

Day 5: Erongo – Uis
Brandberg White Lady Lodge
(1 Night)

The scenery of AiAiba Lodge gave a good first impression of the Damaraland ahead of us. Leaving the Erongo Mountains towards the west we’re already able to spot Namibia’s highest mountain at the horizon – the legendary Brandberg. On smallest farm tracks we ride through the bushveld and pass settlements of the Damara people with their livestock „kraals“ until the Spitzkoppe mountain eventually appears in the flat surrounding gravel plains of the Namib Desert. Following the attractiveness of this over 1.800m high and amazingly tapered granite rock formation, also called the „Matterhorn of Namibia“ – and enjoy the atmosphere on sandy, small tracks around those scenic hilltops. We then turn northwards over open plains heading for Uis, an old mining village where we have our next lodging, a cosy, warm place in rustic style with a great „braai“ for dinner.

Day 6: Uis – Twyfelfontein
Twyfelfontein Country Lodge
(1 Night)

Meanwhile you should have been warmed up and familiar with the Yamaha WR250 – as we today go deeper into the lonely landscapes where almost no humans are likely to be seen and your driving skills are in demand. Spectacular and virtually untouched nature provides everything: sandy soils, gravel, rough and smooth rocks, dry riverbeds, almost around the whole Brandberg Mountain until we reach the depth of the Ugab River. Along the green, wooded river course we may expect and be aware of divers wildlife like springbuck, giraffe, elephant and even lion or rhino which still roam freely here. The rough rocky desert is precious habitat for many endangered species. Also remarkable is the unique giant plant Welwitschia and the globular shaped highly poisonous Euphorbia prominent in this area. Through wonderful red and black coloured rocky plains of Doros Crater we leave the Brandberg behind to reach the „Burnt Mountains“ near Twyfelfontein and our next lodge for a relaxing, comfortable evening.

Day 7: Twyfelfontein - Kamanjab
Oppi-Koppi Rest Camp
(1 Night)

Twyfelfontein is a World Heritage Site as it hosts thousands of rockpaintings and engravings. Visitng them would break our time frame but one should have at least have a look and get some impressions of those displayed on huge sandstone slabs close by the lodge entrance. After breakfast we start further northeast on various tracks through remote areas. Off the public roads the route first leads along wonderful Aba-Huab River until it joins the huge Huab River bed, an important habitat to desert dwelling elephants and rhinos. Via Palmwag we take the bigger gravel road passing the beautiful table mountain landscapes up until Grootberg pass on the Etendeka Plateau. Our lodging is close by when reaching small village of Kamanjab, where we stay in a guesthouse.

Day 8: Kamanjab – Aba Huab River
Khowarib Lodge
(1 Night)

The Damaraland Tour is with no doubt intensively full of contrast and particularly attractive – as it shows Namibia’s divers facets on even short distances. We take a southern route back towards Aba-Huab River. On smallest and very curvy farm roads we come across the typical mopane wood savannah with its chalk white soils. we pass the wide riverbed of the Huab with its impressive Ana- and Acacia trees feeding the elephants and arrive at a quite extraordinary place in the afternoon – Camp Kipwe along the river bed, luxurious although settled sensitively inmidst the surrounding nature.

Day 9: Aba Huab River - Vingerklip
Vingerklip Lodge
(1 Night)

Rather unwillingly leaving this location but still having many stunning tracks and adventures ahead of us, so let’s kick off for Vingerklip. We stay off the main gravel roads used by the tourists while visiting this area as we are lucky to easily join the small farm tracks having much mor riding fun. We pass various settlements of Damara people, come across town of Khorixas and head towards the Ugab river terraces. The landscape had been eroded widely and left tablelike levels forming the rim along Ugab River and particularly its one high upright standing rockfinger called „Vingerklip“ and seemingly rests only on a small tip base. From our next destination „Vingerklip Lodge“ we have an awesome sight of it, especially in the glowing light of sunset and sunrise.

Day 10: Vingerklip – Erindi Game Reserve
Mount Etjo Safari Lodge
(1 Night)

Today's stage of 280 km takes us out of the Ugab Valley to the south and through small Damara settlements along the little-used slopes. Via Omatjete we get to the small town of Omaruru, which we already know, where we can stop and meet in one of the many cafés for a little break before we continue north on the sand track. Cozy routes through bush savannah and mountain landscape bring us to one of the most beautiful private game reserves in Namibia to Erindi, our last destination on this journey, which will leave nothing to be desired: the 70.700-hectare game reserve and the comfortable Erindi Lodge await us. Here Namibia's entire animal world can be observed in peace and quiet

Day 11: Erindi – Windhoek
Windhoek Mountain Lodge
(1 Night)

Now that we have the last stage ahead of us, the morning emphasises to get all the enjoyment out of this last riding day back to the Windhoek Mountain Lodge. After breakfast we start to southern direction crossing nice mountain landscapes and farmlands up to Omaruru joining larger gravel roads to get to Otjimbingwe, an abonded mission village from 1849. We cross the broad dry river bed of the Swakop River to get back to the central highlands on curvy and easy gravel roads from where we reach our Gravel Travel home base lodge. We are welcomed by our lodge team with a good chilled drink and once again enjoy the gentle afternoon lights after another great riding day. A dinner „braai“ or bushman fondue is served and we may pass in review all those pictures of different places and impressions collected on this tour in a very comfortable atmosphere…

Day 12: Return Flight from Namibia

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

On Tour – Impressions

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Travel services

These services are included
  • Transfer airport-WindhoekMountainLodge (or Cape Town)
  • Accommodation* in good hotels, lodges, guest farms and camps
  • Meals (breakfast and sumptuous evening meal)
  • Luggage transport in the accompanying vehicle
  • German-speaking tour guide
  • Rental Yamaha XT660R/WR250 motorcycles with special equipment
  • Instructions on the motorcycles and the GPS device
  • Technical support of the vehicles during the tour by our mechanics
  • Specially prepared GPS routes for the respective tour
  • Optional: Take out fully comprehensive insurance for the motorcycle in the amount of €100/Euro (with 1000,- €/Euro excess)
  • For mixed tours: 4x4 off-road vehicle including standard liability insurance
  • a team shirt (polo or T)

 
* The respective accommodations for the standard tour may vary due to availability. We book comparable alternatives without significantly affecting the route. Should this become necessary in individual cases, we will of course inform you.

Not included – What you should know
  • Flights
  • Petrol costs for the motorbike, personal expenses for e.g. drinks, lunches, souvenirs etc.
  • Foreign health and repatriation insurance, travel cancellation insurance
  • Transfer from/to the airport hotel/lodge outside the tour date (consultation requested)
  • Single room surcharge: 70 euros per night (possible availability bottlenecks will be communicated)
  • Border crossing fee to Zimbabwe: USD 150 per person in cash (only when taking part in the "VicFalls tour")
  • Entrance fees
  • For mixed tours: 4x4 car petrol costs

Book your tour now!

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Do you have any questions?

Do you have any questions about the trip and booking or are you unsure whether this tour is right for you? Then call us on +49 5822 1717!

We will be happy to advise you and find the right tour for you!

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