We advise arriving in Windhoek at least one day before your tour start date, to allow you time to recover from travelling so that you’re ready to start your adventure on the morning of day 1.
We will recommend pre-trip accommodations for your time in Windhoek.
Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Windhoek in the morning and load your equipment onto what will be your support vehicle for the duration of the trip. We’ll head first to a local bike shop to build bikes, set up rental bikes and pick up any last-minute kit for your adventure, then we’ll set off out of town towards our first adventure camp of the trip, which is around a one-hour drive from Windhoek.
When we arrive at camp we’ll claim tents and get settled in, then your guide will go through the all-important pre-trip briefing over a light lunch. After lunch we’ll go on a leisurely, leg-stretching late afternoon game ride. We will explore the farm in search of oryx, hartebeest, zebra, kudu, and springbok. We will be at 2,000m above sea level here, so we’ll keep a steady pace.
Depending on the vegetation we can cycle cross country on animal tracks, or follow the many jeep tracks. The terrain is mainly flat with mountains in the background, and some slightly technical, rocky sections. We will get back just as the sun sets, freshen up, have some drinks and enjoy typical Namibian hospitality.
We will end the day with a traditional Namibian braai (barbecue) around the fire.
In the morning of your first full day of this mountain bike safari tour we will have breakfast together and take in the sights that surround us. After loading up our support vehicle, we will drive approximately three-to-four hours through the Namib desert to our first lodge accommodation in the Sossusvlei area. During this journey we will stop for lunch in a small bakery and restaurant to refuel.
Once we arrive at our lodge there will be time to freshen up in your room before getting ready for an afternoon ride. We’ll ride on trails that lead us into a truly breathtaking valley before returning to our lodge for dinner and sundowners on the deck as we marvel at the deep red Namibian sunset.
Today we make a very early start to drive into the national park for sunrise before riding onwards to Sossusvlei. From the entrance of the park we will start our scenic cycle along ancient dunes and find a spot in the shade to enjoy another delicious breakfast. Once we’re all suitably fed and watered we will drive into the dunes to Dead Vlei to see the ancient Acacia trees and aim to climb Big Daddy (the tallest sand dune in the world).
From here we’ll drive for about 3.5 hours to reach our next lodge. Along the way at the crossroads town of Solitaire you’ll taste their famous apple pie, and rest under shade from the midday heat, before arriving at your accommodation for a dip in the swimming pool to cool off.
Our home tonight is at a lodge built on the slope overlooking the north Rostock Mountain range and the colourful dune landscape of the Namib Desert. The unique round structures blend into the granite surrounding, and this “cave” feeling makes for a true wilderness experience in Namibia.
Today we will make another early start, setting off for a ride that will take around two hours, before a late breakfast. The landscape is vast and open and you can spot animals from miles away. We have a choice of two rides this morning: one more technical, taking in some rocky hiking trails, and the other more flat and gentle.
We can split the group in two and each can ride a different trail, before meeting up at our accommodation, loading the van and departing for our next stop at Swakopmund.
We should arrive at our guesthouse in Swakopmund mid-afternoon, just in time to have lunch, then head down to the beach for fun in the cooler air of the seaside! We can also get some laundry done before heading off-grid again.
Our guest house is situated in the town centre, a mere five-minute walk from the beach and main shopping area.
On our first full day in the Swakopmund area, we will ride excellent singletrack trail that is a little technical at times, but our guide will be on hand to help you negotiate the trails.
Our morning ride will take around 3 to 4 hours and will reach far into the Namib desert along the Swakop river. With dunes stretching out on our right at first, we’ll then ride on a quartz rock ridge, before crossing the railway lines and heading deeper into the desert. Here we will find roller-coaster-like singletrack that might make you feel like you are riding on the moon.
Upon returning to Swakopmund, we’ll end our ride at the best coffee house in Namibia, where the coffee menu will make your head spin! We can have lunch here and there are also opportunities to purchase some gifts in the complex.
We’ll ride back to our accommodation and get showered up before heading back into town to enjoy a typical Namibian dinner on the seafront.
After being based in the same location for two days we’ll rise early, have a good breakfast, and travel by vehicle up the Skeleton Coast. En-route we will stop to see the shipwreck and admire the rough Skeleton Coast.
It will take us about three hours to reach Brandberg west where Namibia’s highest mountain, The Brandberg, will be towering above us in the near distance.
From here we will ride a steady climb for around an hour through the dry bed of the Ugab River. As the gradient eases and we will burst out onto the open wilderness that is the watershed between the Ugab and Huab rivers. Here we will make our first camp, overlooking the vast Damaraland landscape.
Your guides will cook you a delicious dinner right there in the wilderness.
Today is another longish day in the saddle, as we ride along a winding jeep track and as we look out for elusive rhino and giraffe tracks. We will pass the amazing Doros crater and on good visibility days one can even still see the Brandberg in the distance.
After a short rocky climb, the last descent will be into another amazing wild camping spot among Mopane trees, where you can kick off your cycling shoes and enjoy the riverbed sand between your toes. Once more you will be able to enjoy a starry night as you sit by the fire and enjoy another beautiful sunset drink in the wild Namibian landscapes.
A special day of riding lies ahead for everyone as we bid farewell to our Damaraland camp and start cycling to Brackenzahn. Today’s route is not too challenging, although the scenery will be spectacular. As we adventure through the landscape we will make a special stop to admire ancient rock engravings.
After lunch at a rock outcrop, the route slowly heads downhill into the Huab Valley, where Desert adapted Elephants and big cats might roam. Together we will cross the dry riverbed to reach our third wild camp on the opposite side.
Today we start with another early breakfast before embarking on our last game drive in search of elephants before leaving the Huab River.
We’ll then drive to Etosha Safari Camp and en-route we will stop to visit members of the local Himba Tribe. You can experience the milking ceremony, the smoke bath, and learn about the beliefs around the holy fire, ancestors, and herbal medicine. You can also learn how the jewellery and hairstyles are used to show the status of each tribe member and their close relationship with nature, their cattle and children.
Once we have experienced this truly unique way of life we will depart and make tracks towards our camp for the evening, not too far from Etosha National Park.
Today our main aim is to get into Etosha National Park as quickly as possible to make the most of its treasures. We should be inside the park around mid-morning and spend the rest of the day focusing on wildlife spotting.
Rhino, lion, leopard, elephant, oryx, hartebeest, zebra, kudu, springbok and giraffe all roam freely around the park and your expert guides will impart some of their vast knowledge of each species as you spot it.
We will return to our safari camp to show pictures and tick off all the animals that we saw during our stay.
We leave Etosha and drive about five hours to reach our final accommodation in Windhoek.
Late-afternoon we will depart on what will be our last ride together in Namibia. We’ll sample world class trails that have been built across a farm on the outskirts of Windhoek.
We will end our ride on a little hill overlooking the property to enjoy our last sundowner in Africa. Our ride will be relaxed and will take about two hours.
We’ll make our way to our B&B accommodation in Windhoek and enjoy a final delicious dinner together to celebrate this fabulous adventure.
Sadly this is your departure day. We will transport you back to the airport by 12 noon and say our goodbyes, as you bid farewell to Namibia.