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 me, Roger Kemmerich, 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 I will review our itinerary. Once the meeting is over, you can be given a tour of the city, go do 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. Following the familiarization, we will ride the bikes to a restaurant in town.
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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.
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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, 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 for Fort Sesfontein via Palmwag, Check in at Fort Sesfontein, Explore close surroundings and visit traditional village in afternoon
210 km gravel road
Total distance: 210 km
Total riding time: about 4 hours
Duration: About 5 hours
Stay-over at Fort Sesfontein
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 are a fount of information on the history and meaning of the drawings. The tour takes between an hour and 1½ hours to complete. Following the tour we head north to Fort Sesfontein, a German defence dating from the Colonial period later transformed into a trading post servicing Kaokoland. Today the fort serves a lodge from which excursions into Kaokoland are launched.
Day Eight: Guided game drive by open vehicle into Hoanib river to see famous desert elephant
Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Afternoon: relaxing and sightseeing
Stay-over at Fort Sesfontein
We leave early in the morning in an open, game viewing Landrover following the dry riverbed of the Hoanib. We are in search of the legendary desert elephant. Participation in this excursion is a must!
Day Nine: Depart ex Fort Sesfontein to Opuwo via Joubert Pass, Visit traditional village with local Himba guide outside Opuwo for cultural tour, Possible lunch in Opuwo. Afternoon check-in Mopane Camp (luxury tented camp).
175 km gravel road
Total distance: 175 km
Total riding time: about 4 hours
Duration: about 7 hours
Stay-over at Mopane Camp
Today we find ourselves in the heart of Kaokoland, land of the Ovahimba people. Through the Joubert Pass we reach Opuwo by midday. From there we travel to a Himba village where you can learn about the way of life of these fascinating, nomadic people. They regularly trek to find better grazing for their cattle which is their prime possession. Later in the afternoon we travel to Mopane Camp, a luxury tent camp, named after the Mopane forest it is located in.
Day Ten: Depart Mopane Camp for Kavita Lion Lodge on Etosha Park western border, Lunch pack supplied by Mopane Camp, Visit Lion Foundation at Kavita, explore area with guide.
310 km road, part gravel, part tarred road
Total distance: 310 km
Total riding time: 5 hours
Total duration: About 6 hours
Stay-over at Kavita Lion Lodge
Now we travel south again to Kavita Lion Lodge situated on the western border of the Etosha National Park. It is the flagship lodge of the Afro-Leo Foundation which is dedicated to the protection of Namibian lions. There one can undertake a hiking trip, do bird watching, or simply experience the sense and purpose of the Afro-Leo Foundation.
Day Eleven: Depart Kavita Lion Lodge for Etosha Gateway Lodge via Kamanjab
Option 1: 250 km tar road
Option 2: 110 tarred road, 70 km gravel
Riding time both: about 3 hours
Total distance: 250 km / 180 km
Duration: about 5 hours
Stay-over at Etosha Gateway Lodge
Again, we head west through a wildlife rich region bordering on the Etosha National Park to the Etosha Gateway Lodge. It is located some 25 km from the border of the park and Okaukuejo.
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 on the eastern side of the park - one at Okaukuejo and the other at Numtoni. 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 rhinoceros.
Days 12-13: We spend Days 12-13 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 two 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 Twelve: Leave bikes at Etosha Gateway, game drive and transfer to Halali in open vehicle, Possible lunch in Halali, Afternoon transfer and game drive to Fort Namutoni, check in bungalows, Night-time game-viewing at Namutoni waterhole
Dinner at lodge
Stay-over at Fort Namutoni bungalows
Day Thirteen: Morning game drive and transfer to Okaukeujo in open vehicle, Possible lunch at Okaukeujo, Afternoon guided game drive in open vehicle, Night-time game viewing at Okaukeujo waterhole
Stay-over at Okaukeujo bungalows
Day Fourteen: Transfer back to Etosha Gateway Lodge, collect bikes and proceed to Waterberg Plateau Park via Outjo and Otjiwarongo, Possible lunch at local German café in Otjiwarongo, Transfer from Waterberg Plateau Park gate to bungalows, Hike and sun-downers on Waterberg Plateau, Dinner in restaurant
245 km tarred road, 25 gravel road
Total distance: 270 km
Total riding time: about 3 hours 30 mins
Duration: about 6 hours
Stay-over at Waterberg Plateau Park 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 Fifteen: 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 Sixteen: Pick-up at Safari Court Hotel, drop off at Hosea Kutako International Airport
Tour ends
TOTAL DISTANCE: 2 800 km
SINGLE ROOM
2 bikes: 4 300 €
3 bikes: 3 700 €
4 bikes: 3 550 €
5 bikes: 3 400 €
6 bikes: 3 200 €
DOUBLE ROOM
2 bikes: 4 000 €
3 bikes: 3 400 €
4 bikes: 3 100 €
5 bikes: 2 900 €
6 bikes: 2 800 €
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