Motorcycle Tour

Namibia Classic

The Classic Tour - the classic Namibia trip: to the deepest south and up into the northwest of Namibia. Overwhelming landscapes, deserts, and vastness. If you are looking for Namibia "total", then this motorcycle tour is exactly the right one for you.

Description

In the first week we explore the attractions of the southern parts of the country - up to the Orange River, the border river to South Africa. You will ride through the Kalahari Desert, arrive at the Fish River Canyon, experience the lonely landscapes at the edge of the diamond restricted area, the endless and hardly populated expanses along the Namib-Naukluft National Park and visit Sossusvlei with its highest dunes in the world.

With the arrival in Swakopmund the central Atlantic coast is reached and thus also the starting point for the northern part of the tour. Through the wild and romantic Damaraland we pass Namibia's highest elevation, the Brandberg massif to the Grootberg, where barren landscapes and dry riverbeds surprise among other things with its desert elephants, and finally to the Mt Etjo Game Reserve, which rounds off the African impressions with a magnificent abundance of game.

In addition to a variety of sightseeing opportunities, sundowner excursions or game rides, there are plenty of opportunities to relax along the way, whether at the accommodation swimming pools, viewpoints, or game-viewing watering holes. A stay at Windhoek Mountain Lodge before and after the tour rounds out this comprehensive Namibia experience.

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Daily Stages

Day 1: Departure Germany to Namibia (overnight)

Day 2: Auasberge / Windhoek Mountain Lodge

Day 3: Auasberge / Windhoek Mountain Lodge

Day 4: Auasberge - Kalahari Desert

Day 5: Kalahari Desert - Gariganus

Day 6: Gariganus - Orange River

Day 7: Orange River - Helmeringhausen

Day 8: Helmeringhausen - Sossusvlei

Day 9: Excursion Sossusvlei - Rotstock Mountains

Day 10: Rotstock Mountains - Swakopmund

Day 11: Swakopmund

Day 12: Swakopmund - Uis

Day 13: Uis - Grootberg Lodge

Day 14: Grootberg - Mount Etjo Game Reserve

Day 15: Mount Etjo - Windhoek Mountain Lodge

Day 16: Windhoek - Airport

Day 17: Arrival/Return Germany

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Itinerary:

Day 1: Departure Germany to Namibia (overnight)

With your individually booked departure flight, you will travel with a (usually) overnight flight to Windhoek/Namibia

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Day 2: Auasberge / Windhoek (Windhoek Mountain Lodge)

Arrival at Windhoek International Airport and pick up by us. A one hour transfer takes you to our own Windhoek Mountain Lodge in the southern foothills of the Auas Mountains - our base station for all Gravel Travel tours in Namibia. After a good breakfast, there will be an opportunity to acclimatize, relax by the pool with a relaxing wide view of the surrounding mountain ranges and vast bushveld. There is also the possibility of a small driving training on the lodge area, in order to take up first contact with the "Gravel". And who likes, enjoys a "Sundowner" on the observation deck above the lodge, before the legendary "Bushman-Fondue" calls in the evening for dinner.

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Day 3: Auasberge / Windhoek (Windhoek Mountain Lodge)

Well rested and relaxed we deal today with a detailed travel briefing as well as a thorough introduction to the motorcycles and GPS devices. Afterwards we will go on an approx. 100 km long familiarization tour, where you can get acquainted with the traffic, road conditions and technology, so that we can start the next morning well equipped and well prepared.

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Day 4: Auas Mountains - Kalahari Desert (Kalahari Anib Lodge)

After a short morning "briefing" with the tour guide, your round trip through Namibia begins with a ride on relatively flat gravel roads into the southeastern part of the country. Thorn bush savannah and sparse grazing land, on which the typical Karakul sheep graze, determine the picture of the border area to the Kalahari. Via Uhlenhorst we ride through the charming Auob valley and finally arrive at Mariental at our accommodation - the "Kalahari Anib Lodge".

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Day 5: Kalahari Desert - Gariganus (Quivertree Forest Rest Camp)

The ride continues through the fascinating landscapes of the western Kalahari, passing the green oasis of Stampriet, where artesian wells allow the cultivation of vegetables and where the Auob River turns off to the east. Here begins an interesting uphill and downhill ride over the dune belts of orange-red sand, which, however, look more like chains of hills because of the partly dense vegetation. Finally, near Koës, we reach the rolling hills and wide open spaces that are so typical of the Keetmanshoop area. The "Giant's Playground" - a collection of wondrously piled boulders and the Quiver Tree Forest with its tree-high aloe plants at the Gariganus farm are inviting places to visit. Nearby are the simple guest chalets where we are staying today.

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Day 6: Gariganus - Orange River (Norotshama River Resort)

An eventful day awaits you when we leave the southern administrative and economic center of Keetmanshoop behind us after the first hour of driving. An interesting route with views of lonely mountains and seemingly endless plains leads us to our southernmost accommodation in the border town of Noordoewer. On the way we pass the mighty Fish River Canyon with its unforgettable panoramic view, a very special attraction of Namibia. With its length of over 100 km and its deep winding gorges it is considered the second largest canyon in the world. We follow the gravel road along the eastern rim of the canyon, lined with fascinating landscapes, towards the south. Then we continue along the Orange River to our destination today, the "Norotshama River Resort". We sleep here in chalets located directly on the Orange River.

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Day 7: Orange River - Helmeringhausen (Helmeringhausen Adventure Camp)

In the morning we will go canoeing on the Orange River, which winds through the landscape in wide bends about 200 km before it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Afterwards we start with the motorcycles to our next day's stage towards the west, along the Oranje. The mining town of Rosh Pinah on the edge of the diamond restricted area offers a welcome rest before we continue along the Namib Desert, over the settlement of Aus, the Neisip area and through the majestic Tiras Mountains to our next, beautifully situated accommodation near Helmeringhausen.

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Day 8: Helmeringhausen - Sossusvlei (Sossusvlei Lodge)

After a breakfast in the wilderness and a refreshing shower under rustic camel thorn trees, we set off again and are accompanied by a wonderful play of colors of the seemingly endless, hostile expanses and the mountain ranges on the edge of the Namib as well as past the incredibly high sand dunes of the desert near Sesriem, where our next accommodation is located near Sossusvlei.

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Day 9: Excursion Sossusvlei - Rotstock Mountains (Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge)

... today we have breakfast under imposing camel thorn trees in Sossusvlei, that is next to the highest dunes in the world. To catch the first glow of this red dune scenery in the early sun gold, we set off from the lodge with four-wheel ride vehicles and enjoy the morning in this unique landscape (unfortunately, motorcycles are not allowed in the national park). In the afternoon, however, we continue our own tour and follow the gravel road north on a shorter, but no less eventful stage. Through open savannah rich in game we soon reach Solitaire. Another special and unique accommodation in the lonely expanse of the Namib Desert awaits us near the Rotstock Mountains...a high pool lounge invites you to relax with a fantastic view over wide valleys of this very picturesque landscape...

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Day 10: Rotstock Mountains - Swakopmund (Hotel Deutsches Haus)

After a good breakfast we start today again towards "civilization", we cross the Gaub River and pass the Tropic of Capricorn. Another special feature is the pass through the Kuiseb Canyon, another deeply furrowed river valley, in whose ecosystem two German geologists hid for more than two years at the time of World War II and fought for survival - as also described in the impressive book "Wenn es Krieg gibt, gehen wir in die Wüste". From there, the rough gravel road leads us further through the huge Namib-Naukluft National Park across to the coast and the lonely expanse, which seems so lifeless, but surprises again and again with oryx antelopes, springboks, ostriches and mountain zebras, which can sometimes cross the road at speed. Only immediately before the coast high dune belts open up again and the air becomes noticeably fresher. In Swakopmund we stay in a good hotel and have the opportunity to have a look at the coastal town and to put our feet into the cold Atlantic Ocean.

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Day 11: Swakopmund (Hotel Deutsches Haus)

Apart from a joint excursion with quad bikes into the dunes south of Swakopmund (optional, cost approx. 40 Euro), this day is free for individual activities. There is plenty to explore in Swakopmund: In the charming souvenir and jewelry stores, high-quality products of local handicrafts are available for every taste and budget. Especially fancy pieces of jewelry with Namibian semi-precious stones enjoy general popularity. Not to be missed are the Crystal Gallery and the Natural History Museum, both located near the beach, which offer particularly interesting insights into the country's natural treasures, or the Snake Park and the Seawater Aquarium. Or how about a stroll to the historic Jetty and through the town center? Here you can see numerous well-preserved buildings in the typical colonial style, of which the tower of the Woermann House still towers over its surroundings.

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Day 12: Swakopmund - Uis (White Lady Guest House)

From Swakopmund the route takes us about 200 km always close to the Atlantic Ocean through the Dorob National Park on a salt road northwards and get a lasting impression of Namibia's coastal landscape. A detour to the seal colony in Cape Cross is also possible before heading back into the much hotter interior towards Uis. Passing the Messum Crater we then pass the huge Brandberg massif with its rugged, black-red colored stone landscape. A special companion on our way is the Welwitschia, a rare, whimsical giant plant that can live well over 1000 years. In the small mining town of Uis, a warm accommodation awaits us with a refreshing pool - and a hearty "braai" (barbecue) provides for the physical well-being at the evening hour.

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Day 13: Uis - Grootberg Lodge (Grootberg Lodge)

After the briefing we head for the northern Damaraland. We cross dry riverbeds, which can develop into respectable watercourses in the rainy season, there the desert elephants find their valuable habitat. The oxide red boulder covered table mountain landscapes with their spherical, silvery green broom bush euphorbias give the typical landscape and are home to springbok, giraffe and oryx antelope as well as the rare black rhino. Over lunch we stop at Twyfelfontein, in the late afternoon we reach the Grootberg Lodge, hidden on a plateau - with a gigantic view over the canyon of the Klip Rivier.

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Day 14: Grootberg - Mount Etjo Game Reserve (Mount Etjo Safari Lodge)

One should stop when it is most beautiful - so they say - we leave Grootberg Lodge early in the morning only to another beautiful destination: Mount Etjo Safari Lodge. Over the Grootberg Pass we descend on winding roads the table mountain steps of the Etendeka Plateau, pass the huge dry riverbed of the Huab and refuel in the small village of Khorixas. Through eastern Damaraland we pass settlements and reach the unique landscape of the Ugab Terraces, where Vingerklip Lodge is the perfect stop for a short lunch break. Afterwards we ride on smaller farm roads and reach the village Kalkfeld through typical Mopane shrub savannah and very soon Mount Etjo, a striking table mountain at the foot of which the large game reserve of Mount Etjo Safari Lodge is located. Already at the lodge itself all kinds of game can be observed, with a little luck also hippos! The dinner from the grill spoils comprehensively and as 2nd dessert there would be still a lion feeding very closely.

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Day 15: Mount Etjo - Windhoek (Windhoek Mountain Lodge)

Actually it is too nice to sleep in - when early the hippos wake up or the lions roar in the distance, today safari is announced: we go with the off-road vehicle into the bush - on stalk after giraffes, zebras, antelopes, rhinos and elephants. Afterwards we will start our last leg back to Windhoek Mountain Lodge. On remote gravel roads we pass central farmland and return to the central highlands of Namibia via Omaruru and Otjimbingwe. In the course of the late afternoon we reach our GravelTravel base, where we are in for what is sure to be a very social evening with sundowners and a delicious barbecue.

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Day 16: Windhoek - Airport

This day is completely at your own disposal at the lodge or for a stroll in Windhoek, depending on your individual departure date you can organize your day freely today, often the flight leaves in the evening. So you can visit some of the sights in the capital and numerous street cafes, as well as bazaars and stores with typical local handicrafts, invite at least to observe the colorful hustle and bustle around. In any case, we will make sure that you get to the airport in time...

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Day 17: Arrival/Return Germany

The return flight to Germany lands in the morning e.g. in Frankfurt/Main and if necessary you continue your journey by train or flight to your home town.