Horseback Riding in Namibia
DAMARALAND TRAIL |
This is an extraordinary trail through a nearly inaccessible area of vivid colors and wide open spaces. You are not likely to see elephants, giraffe and rhino in a desert habitat anywhere else in the world. There may be late rains, causing the rivers to flood which results in tremendous adventure.
The trail is very tough on the crew and support vehicles, because there are only a few roads and very little water. For half the trail the truck, water cart and trailer cannot make it to the campsites.
Damaraland with its famous fauna and flora – desert elephant, rhino, Welwitschia mirabilis – plus the Skeleton Coast with those disintegrating ship wrecks – an adventure never to forget.
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Pickup at the Tourist Information Kiosk in central Windhoek early in the morning (8.00AM), and drive to Damaraland. A packed lunch will be picked up at Otjiwarongo. Picnic at the petrified forest before driving on to Aba Huab. Meet horses and crew, and settle at Aba Huab Camp which is set up by communal people of a very inventive construction. In the evening campfire stories and lots of excitement: will the elephants pass at night, and if so how will the horses react? |
| Day 2: | After a relaxed breakfast take a trial ride. Then sightseeing and an afternoon hike to the famous rock engravings of Twyfelfontein. Enjoy the spectacular views of Damaraland and unwind until it is time for dinner and another beautiful evening around the campfire. |
| Day 3: | From Aba-Huab over the endless planes to Rendezvous (lunch) and then along the Aba-Huab River to De Riet (its quite nerve teasing not to know where the elephants are and whether you might bump into them just around the next bend). Shall we make it to camp before dark? |
| Day 4: | On along the Huab River and over another Damaraland plain towards Mikberg (we saw cheetahs last time and Lumpi missed the turn-off because the elephants were just there). Lunch at the cheetah tree followed by a long afternoon ride through fascinating scenery. Night camp at View Point enjoying the sight of Brandberg (highest peak in Namibia) and Doros Crater. |
| Day 5: | From View Point head southwest towards the Ugab River. Lunch camp at Lion Head, in the afternoon a nice long canter and then into a very narrow steep gorge past Soutfontein (salt fountain) to the Rhino trackers´ camp near Brandberg West . Fingers crossed that our truck has managed to come the long way from Aba Huab via Uis to our night camp in time! And the drivers of the fly-vehicles really need extraordinary driving skills and extra strong nerves to meet the challenge of taking trucks and trailers down the gorge in one piece. Only by flying over this landscape (preferably afterward the ride!) doyou realize how spectacular this countryside is. Meet the trackers of the Save the Rhino Fund and perhaps see a slide show on request. |
| Day 6: | Alternative routes depending on lion encounters, weather conditions and dry riverbed, usually you ride out of the Ugab River onto the wide open plains and into a deserted gorge described as “out of this world”. Alternatively we pass through reeds and lion bush thickets to another bitter tasting water place frequented by elephants (Brakwasser). Whether we have quick sand, dust, reeds or elephants all depends on the previous rain season. After a short hot lunch break away from the Ugab river southeast through another narrow gorge to Welwitschia Camp. Thus you come past famous Damaraland formations and inaccessible Ugab sedimentation. |
| Day 7: | From Welwitschia Camp onto wide open Damaraland planes with a spectacular view on Brandberg and Doros Crater; purple coloured rocks around over being the remnants of Messum Crater’s horrifying blasts millions of years ago. Lunch at Klippenberg where you can pick up some gem stones and spend the night at Cross Roads Camp. |
| Day 8: | Towards the Messum River. Again wide open plane and exhilarating canters …… most spectacular panorama. Only half a day’s riding; in the afternoon you will be taken on a scenic drive in the back-up vehicles all along the Messum River to see some large Welwitschia plants and amazing wind erosion sites. |
| Day 9: | Straight towards the Atlantic Ocean - camp at Mile 108 on the beach, no luxury whatsoever, only our trucks and some simple wind shelter. You may fear that the waves could sweep over your tent on the beach at night. The coast may have coming east wind which results in such warm weather that you can swim with sunrise …. or sandstorm which leaves us with plates flying around …. or nasty nerve teasing wind, or dense fog which has everyone shivering and asking for glühwein and a hot fire. This unpredictable shore is called the Skeleton Coast for good reason. If the weather and the sea are pleasant, this is a stunning experience. If not… well, it is at least memorable. |
| Day 10: | After breakfast on the beach, load horses and wave horses and crew goodbye. You will be taken to Henties Bay if you want to stay another night at the stunning Cape Cross Luxury Lodge near the seals and Mile 108, or even the new famous Hydro Wellness Centre in Henties Bay – all at your own expense. The cherry on top is to fly in a small aircraft back over the route we took. Price depends on number of passengers; flight time is about 1.5 hours. Otherwise transfer by car to Swakopmund, Walvis Bay or Windhoek. Usually the transfers are coordinated about 3 weeks prior to the safari to save on the per person cost, and to make life easier. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Windhoek |
| Length of Ride | 10 days, 9 nights and 7 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Advanced Strong Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-6 Maximum-12 |
| Riding Per Day | 6-8 hours |
| Pace | Depends on terrain, moderate and tough to fast |
| Tack | English and Western |
| Horses | Arab Cross, Trakehner, Local Ranch Bred |
| Weight Limit | 180lbs, riders over this must pay 30% supplement |
| 2009 Dates | July 7-16 |
| 2009 Price | **NOW DISCOUNTED TO $3,515**
was $3,965 |
| Single Supplement | Not available |
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