The Ultimate MTB Safari

We want you to have the best experience of mountain biking in Namibia, so it’s important to be sure that this is the perfect mountain bike adventure, with the right level of challenge, for you.

You own a mountain bike and have been riding it off-road, regularly, for a year or more. You are comfortable spending 3 – 4 hours in the saddle at a time, on undulating forest roads, gravel trails and uneven terrain, and you know how to pedal, brake and change gear efficiently. Read more on our novice+ skill level.

Does this sound like you? Your vacation time is precious and we want to be absolutely sure that you’re making the most of it. Be honest with yourself, if this adventure isn’t right for you, we have other MTB tours that may be a better fit for your mountain biking ability.

Please note: The skill level required reflects an overall rating for the trails on the trip but you should expect to find sections and obstacles that push your ability levels.

Skill level: Novice+

• You have experience (minimum one year) of riding a mountain bike off-road
• You own a mountain bike and ride it at least once per month
• You can change gear, brake and pedal efficiently
• You bike on undulating (climbing and descending) gravel tracks, forest roads, double track and occasional singletrack
• You like getting kilometres under your belt and are comfortable spending 3 – 4 hours in the saddle at a time
• And the ‘+’ part of ‘Novice+’ means that you’re aspiring to ride sections of singletrack and more challenging terrain during your adventure with us

Fitness level: 4/7

• You have a good level of mountain bike fitness, exercising at least twice a week for one hour or more (including biking), throughout the whole year
• You can ride a mountain bike for up to five hours per day at a moderate pace, with snack and photo stops, for three consecutive days
• You are capable of tackling one or two moderate mountain bike climbs per day, of up to 400 metres each

Typical trails you’ll be riding

• The trails on our mountain bike safari tour Namibia are dirt trails made up of a mixture of old walking paths, animal tracks and roads
• Double track: undulating roads made of shingle, gravel and sand; you will also encounter some golf ball- to fist-sized loose rocks
• The surface will generally be hard, but will occasionally be soft and loose in sections of sand
• Your guide will help you build up your skills and confidence gradually, from double track to non-technical singletrack

Our adventure in Namibia can be ridden on either a regular mountain bike or an electric mountain bike and we have a high quality fleet of both types of bikes available for rent.

The ideal bike for the trails in Namibia is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, a dropper seat post, and around 120mm of travel front and rear. We recommend good quality MTB tyres that have good traction in loose surfaces such as the Maxxis Minion DHF and DHR2. Tyres must be tubeless (for thorns) and have robust sidewall protection.

If you wish to bring your own bike to ride you must ensure that it has been fully serviced before the trip. Here are some handy tips on how best to travel with your own bike.

We only run small group mountain bike tours to ensure that everyone has the best experience possible, and there will be a maximum of 10 people in each group. The minimum number of people we require to run this mountain bike tour in Namibia is five.

Our mountain bike safari in Namibia caters for a wide age range; typically between 30- and 60-years-old. Regardless of age, you must have the appropriate level of physical fitness and mountain biking skills to participate in this adventure. Please refer to clause 14 of our terms and conditions of booking to find more information on rider age.

This mountain bike safari tour Namibia is a guided safari, ideal for novice+ mountain bikers.

Riding here, in the wild, endless landscapes of Africa, you’ll cycle relatively long distances on dirt and sandy roads, with some moderate climbs and descents.

The distances we cover each day range from 20km to 50km, and we will be mountain biking in the morning and late afternoon to avoid the hottest part of the day in Africa.

Each evening your guides will chat with you about the following day’s mountain biking and give you an idea of the sorts of trails you can look forward to. If there’s anything you feel anxious about, your guides will be happy to discuss it with you.

No, you only need to carry a back pack with you whilst riding, with all of your spares and repairs, water and food. Your main bags will be transported in the support vehicle throughout the tour.

Your guide will be very happy to give you some bike skills help during your trip to help improve your confidence and your enjoyment of your mountain bike tour in Namibia.

If there is a section that you would prefer not to ride, then you can simply hop off your bike and walk. You won’t be the only one to walk certain sections and it’s not a competition in biking ability; it’s a mountain bike holiday!

Your mountain bike guides are local to Namibia, Africa and experienced professionals who have a real passion for mountain biking and for the culture and wild landscape of this region of Africa.

Your safety is their number one priority, closely followed by your enjoyment of the tour. They will always be on-hand to answer any questions or requests you may have throughout your trip.

On this MTB safari Namibia you will be staying in a range of comfortable accommodations, including farm lodges, guest houses, small hotels and luxury wild camping.

All breakfasts, 3 lunches and all dinners except the two nights in Swakopmund. Drinking water will also be supplied each day.

A good quality full suspension mountain bike with 120mm travel front and rear will be ideal for this mountain bike safari tour Namibia.

We have a fleet of high quality mountain bikes and e-mountain bikes available for rent that are suitable for the Namibian trails.

Read the full kit list to find out what you need to pack for your mountain bike tour in Namibia.

Yes, you will have the chance to have laundry done in Swakopmund.

Unfortunately not. We are working hard to provide each and every customer who rides with us an unparalleled mountain bike experience in every destination we ride. This takes years of experience, riding and planning to get right, and a drone adds a very real danger to the group’s riding experience and health & safety.

International flights arrive multiple times throughout the week from Johannesburg and Frankfurt via a number of carriers including Air Namibia. Other airlines with scheduled flights to Namibia include British Airways, South African Airways, LTU and TAAG, the Angolan national airline.

Here’s a video showing you how to pack your bike for travel.

Visas

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa and documentation for entry to and exit from Namibia.

General requirements

Passport – valid six months after date of entry

Citizens from the following countries are exempted from visa requirements if entering Namibia as bone fide tourist: Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Germany, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Scandinavian countries, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, UK, USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe

For further information contact Ministry of Home Affairs telephone +264-61-292 2102

Arrival and departure details

Your mountain bike safari tour Namibia will start and end in Windhoek.

We strongly advise that you arrive a day or two before the first day of your adventure, to allow you to recover from your travels and to make sure that any flight or baggage delays don’t impact on the start of your adventure with us.

On the last day of your mountain bike safari tour Namibia, please book flights departing no earlier than 2pm, if at all possible. If your flight departs much earlier, we can arrange a separate transfer, but this will be at your own expense.

Our mountain bike guides in Namibia are of the highest level.

They have the knowledge and experience to lead a group safely in these remote, wild and beautiful parts of Namibia.

Our guides have years of experience in the saddle on the trails of Namibia and will be able to enhance your holiday with facts and fables on local history, flora and fauna. They’re also genuinely nice people and will do their best to make sure that everyone in the group has a great time.

The majority of accommodation that we use on our mountain bike safari tour Namibia is family-owned and operated farmhouses, guest lodges and luxury camping. This accommodation is by no means basic even by western standards.

These hospitable lodges provide relative luxury in what is possibly one of the most remote areas on the planet. We have researched these areas extensively to select the most comfortable accommodation in the region, and we have planned the itinerary accordingly.

While we encourage you to eat what the locals eat – organic traditional Namibian food – there is also the option of requesting simple western dishes. Most of the dishes in Namibia consist of a meat element, since vegetables are less widely available. However, we can cater for a vegetarian diet.

Whilst not all meals are included in the tour price, we will eat as a group at each mealtime.

There are no mandatory vaccinations for travellers from Europe. If you arrive from a country where yellow fever vaccinations are mandatory, proof of immunisation is required.

Take the usual precautions: ask your doctor whether you should renew your vaccinations against polio, diphtheria and tetanus. It also may be advisable to take precautions against Hepatitis A and B. Unfortunately there is no vaccination against malaria.

You should refrain from consuming water or ice that hasn’t been purified. Bottled mineral water is available almost everywhere.

You must always consult your local physician before travelling.

In Namibia, malaria exists primarily in the northern parts of the country, where protection often becomes too expensive. You can protect yourself efficiently with a bit of planning and extra caution.

Malaria is transmitted through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito, which has previously bitten a person infected with malaria. If there are no mosquitoes, there is no malaria either. Since Namibia does not have much stagnant water the risk of contracting malaria is minimal in most parts of the country, or limited to a specific time of the year.

• High-risk areas are the river meadows in the north, northwest and northeast, where you are advised to take precautions year round
• Kaokoveld, Etosha National Park, the Otavi Mountains and the east including Bushmanland are areas of medium risk. Precautions are strongly recommended during the rainy season (November to April)
• The risk is small in the area between Otjiwarongo and Windhoek. This does not mean, however, that you should not use mosquito repellent
• The coast, the Namib Desert and the south are regarded as almost risk-free

Please let us know if you have any special food requirements, allergies or pre-existing conditions your guides should know about.

Your health and safety on tour is our top priority and when you travel with us you will be covered by Global Rescue emergency medical and evacuation services.

You must always consult your own doctor or physician before travelling to new countries to seek their advice on matters concerning your health abroad.

The official currency of Namibia is the Namibian Dollar (N$), and equals the South African Rand. SA Rand is also legal tender.

• Most international credit cards are accepted
• Travellers cheques in foreign currency can be exchanged during banking hours, week days from 09.00 – 15.30 and Saturdays from 8.30-10.30, at any commercial bank in most towns
• Bureau de Change offices at the International Airport and in the Levinson Arcade in Windhoek
• No credit cards accepted at petrol stations

Tipping

It is not compulsory to tip your guides or drivers in Namibia, but it is much appreciated. We suggest a tip of around 2% – 5% of the cost of your tour should be paid to your mountain bike guide at the end of the trip, which will then be divided between all drivers, support staff and fixers, if you feel you have had a good experience on our mountain bike safari tour Namibia.

It is not compulsory to tip in restaurants, however should you wish to tip your servers, 10% – 15% of your meal cost would be acceptable.

You are required as a condition of booking to be insured against medical and personal accident risks. In this policy you must include cover for mountain biking and we recommend that you take out a policy which covers cancellation and baggage, including your bike.

We work with Global Rescue whose policies are specially designed for adventure travel and you can arrange your insurance cover directly with them.