Day one: Arrival in Windhoek, pick up at airport, Check-in Safari Court Hotel, Briefing of clients on bikes and tour program, Free time for shopping, sight-seeing, Dinner in town
You are met by us at the Hosea Kutako International Airport. The airport is located some 40 km from the capitol of Namibia, Windhoek. In Windhoek you will be checked into the Safari Court Hotel. Once you have settled in, there will be a briefing where we will review the itinerary. Once the meeting is over, you can be given a tour of the city, go shopping, or simply stay at the hotel and relax. In the afternoon we will again meet in order to familiarize you with the motorcycle that you will be using during the tour. Afterwards, we will dine at a famous restaurant in town.
Day Two: Depart Windhoek for Hammerstein Lodge via Rehoboth-Kalkrand-Mariental- Maltahöhe.
360 km tarred road, 70 km good gravel road
Total distance for day: 430 km
Total riding time: approx 5 hours
Duration: About 7 hours, including rest stops
Stay-over at Hammerstein Lodge
We leave Windhoek around 8:00 heading south. The 360 km to Maltahöhe is tar road allowing you to get comfortable with your machine. On this stretch of road one crosses near endless plains and develops a firm impression of the travel experience offered by Namibia. Past Maltahöhe on the way to Hammerstein Lodge you will encounter the first gravel road of the trip. Hammerstain Lodge is located some 70 km south-east of Sossusvlei on the the Escarpment (geological rocklayers). Some species of cats are found around the lodge including leopards, cheetahs, and caracals (in Afrikaans called a rooikat or German a rotkatze). A young cheetah roams around freely driving the guard dogs wild. Dinner is superb. The area does not know pollution and one can enjoy breathtaking star-shine in a tranquil, near noiseless night.
Day Three: Depart Hammerstein Lodge 0600 for Sossusvlei via Tsaris Pass, Ride into Sossusvlei with bikes: 6km soft sand or option of pick-up by 4x4 shuttle to the vlei, Visit Dead Vlei and Sesriem Canyon.
130 km challenging gravel road, 120 km tarred road
Total distance: 250 km for day
Total riding time: approx 5 hours
Duration: About 7 hours, including rest stops
Stay-over at Namib Desert Lodge
We rise at five in the morning (yes, you have read correctly!). We leave with sunrise at six o'clock navigating down the escarpment to Sosusvlei. Half a day is dedicated to exploring Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon. We are allowed to travel around Sossusvlei on our motorcycles. To find the right words to describe this landscape is difficult, but one could call it fantastically beautiful. We are allowed to climb one of the highest dunes in the world and enjoy the incredible landscape from on top of it. Other attractions include the fauna and flora which have adapted to life in the desert. In the afternoon we travel to Namib Desert Lodge. This lodge, its location specifically chosen to make the most of all of this beauty, also offers a two hour long tour to the petrified dunes.
Day Four: Depart Namib Desert Lodge 0800 to Swakopmund via Solitaire, Gaub and Kuiseb Pass, Stop-over at spectacular Kuiseb Canyon view point, cross through the Namib Desert via Vogelfederberg and Walvis Bay to Swakopmund.
240 km mostly good gravel road, 40 km tarred road
Total distance: 280 km for the day
Total riding time: approx 5 hours
Duration: About 8 hours
Stay-over at Strand Hotel or alternative
By crossing the Gaub Pass,we visit one of the most spectacular viewing points in Namibia:The Kuisib View Point From there we cross thearid Namib Desert and arrive in the port town of Walvis Bay. Half an hour's ride north brings us to Swakopmund - a seaside town dating back to the German colonial era. The bulk of the architecture dating from that time has been impeccably preserved. A host of high quality restaurants awaits the connoisseur, as does a lively night life for those with the stamina left.
Day Five: Explore historic town and surroundings, including famous dune belt and beaches, Option of half-day dolphin cruise in Walvis Bay / visiting Flamingo colony and surrounding salt pans / free time to relax
Trip to Walvis Bay: 80 km good tar road
Stay-over at Strand Hotel or alternative
On this day you decide what you want to do. There are a host of possibilities: explore the Swakopmund and its history; travel to Walvis Bay for a half-day dolphin cruise; enjoy tandem parachute jumps; go into the desert to view some of the centuries-old Welwitchia mirabilis plants; or simply relax in a beach-side restaurant if you already had too much adventure. You will be provided with the necessary information to allow you to make the most of this day.
Day Six: Depart Swakopmund 0700 for Twyfelfontein Lodge via Henties Bay - Uis - Brandberg - D2612 to Twyfelfontein, Stop-over for lunch at White Lady Restaurant in former mining town of Uis
80 km salt road, 330 km good gravel road
Total distance: 410 km
Total riding time: approx 6 hours
Duration: About 8 hours with stop-overs
Stay-over at luxurious Twyfelfontein Country Lodge
Today we travel north on a salt road along the Atlantic coast for some 80 km. We fill up in HentiesBay, another small coastal town. From there we head east through the desert to an old mining town called Uis. We are now in the heart of Damaraland (the Damara are one the early peoples of Namibia). It is one of the wild, unspoilt regions of the world marked by jagged, unforgiving mountains and massive, rocky plains. In summer, this is one of the hottest places on the planet. Despite the harshness of the environment, wild animals thrive. From Uis, we head to Brandberg (Burnt Mountain) with its unique cheetahs and leopards. From there it is onward to Twyfelfontein (Fountain of Doubt). On the way one can expect to see elephants, giraffe, Hartmann's zebras, and even lions. In the evening we arrive at the luxurious Twyfelfontein Country Lodge. Imbedded in a basalt and granite formation, this lodge is one of the most beautiful in Namibia.
Day Seven: Guided tour to Bushman rock engravings, Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain, Depart Twyfelfontein 10h00 for Etosha Gateway Lodge via Khorixas and Outjo with stop-over at Petrified Forest.
100 km gravel road, 215 km tarred road
Total distance: 315 km
Total riding time: 4 hours 30 mins
Duration: 6 hours including stop-overs
Stay-over at Etosha Gateway Lodge, 25 km outside Etosha Park
On this morning we view San drawings of which there are thousands in the mountains around the lodge. The tour is lead by Damara people which offer plenty of information on the history and meaning of the drawings. The tour takes between an hour and 1½ hours to complete. Today we traverse some 100 km of rugged, gravel road to Khorixas, the capital of Damaraland. From there the journey becomes easier as we travel on tar road all the way to the Etosha Gateway Lodge.
Brief information on Etosha National Park:
The Etosha National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in southern Africa. It is a massive 22,270 sq km in size. Giant herds of impala, springbok, zebra, and gnu criss-cross it. There some 1,600 elephants, 1,800 giraffes, 350 lions, and 300 hook-lipped rhinos in the park. One can also see leopards and cheetahs. More than 300 species of birds make it their home, as well as more than 100 varieties of reptiles.
We spend two nights in Okaukuejo and one night in Namutoni in the eastern part of the park. At Okaukeujo we can safely watch the animals in the evening as they come to the watering hole. It is five minutes on foot from the bungalows where we stay, to the viewing site. This watering hole is a prime site for viewing rhinos.
Days 8-10: We spend Days 8-10 in the Etosha National Park. For the purpose of game viewing an open vehicle is available. The guide has worked in the Park for the last eight years, where he is permanently stationed. For the three days he is at our full disposal. He knows where the best viewing spots are, and when and where specific animals can be found.
Day Eight: Leave bikes at Etosha Gateway Lodge, transfer 0700 by open game, viewing vehicle to Okaukeujo; check-in at bungalows, Morning guided game drive with same vehicle, Lunch at Okaukeujo, Afternoon game drive, dinner at Okaukeujo, night-time game viewing at waterhole
Stay-over at bungalows
Day Nine: Early-morning game drive, transfer to Fort Namutoni and check-in, Sight-seeing, lunch at local restaurant, After-noon optional game drive / relax in camp. Dinner at Namutoni; night-time game-viewing at waterhole.
Stay-over at Fort Namutoni bungalows
Day Ten: Game drive and transfer back to Okaukeujo; check-in, Lunch at Okaukeujo. Afternoon free or optional game drive. Dinner at Okaukeujo and night-time game viewing.
Stay-over at Okaukeujo bungalows
Day Eleven: Transfer to Etosha Gateway Lodge, collect bikes and depart for scenic Waterberg Plateau Park via Outjo and Otjiwarongo, Lunch at Otjiwarongo's famous German coffee shop. Arrival at Waterberg Plateau Park, transfer from gate to bungalows. Afternoon hike to top of Waterberg Plateau; dinner at restaurant.
245 km tarred road, 25 km good gravel road
Total distance: 270 km Total riding time: approx 3 hrs 30 mins
Duration: about 6 hours
Stay-over at Waterberg Plateau bungalows
We leave the Etosha National Park and ride south to the Waterberg Plateau Park, some 250km northeast of Windhoek. At the centre of the park stands a giant flat-top (table) mountain. Ample water ensures lush vegetation and teeming wild life. We arrive early in the afternoon. I have planned a hike to the top of the plateau from where we can enjoy the sun setting over the Kalahari.
Day Twelve: Depart Waterberg Plateau by B1 via Okahandja to Windhoek, Stop-over in Okahandja at local craft market, Arrive Windhoek early afternoon, free time. Dinner in town.
250 tarred road, 25 km good gravel road
Total distance: 275 km
Total riding time: about 4 hours
Duration: about 6 hours with stop-overs
Stay-over at Safari Court Hotel
Today we return to Windhoek. There will be a brief stop-over in Okahandja where we will visit an art market. We arrive at the Safari Court Hotel in Windhoek early in the afternoon.
Day Thirteen: Pick-up at Safari Court Hotel, drop off at Hosea Kutako International Airport
Tour ends
TOTAL DISTANCE: 2 300 km
SINGLE ROOM
2 bikes: 3 300€
3 bikes: 2 850€
4 bikes: 2 700€
5 bikes: 2 600€
6 bikes: 2 500€
DOUBLE ROOM
2 bikes: 3 100€
3 bikes: 2 600€
4 bikes: 2 450€
5 bikes: 2 300€
6 bikes: 2 250€
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