4 hours From NAD 280 pp

Itinerary

Map of Namibia (click to enlarge)

Our journey begins at Tiger Reef Bar, a local bar situated on the crisp white sands of the Swakopmund beach. We continue along south, following the natural contours of the beach. During this hour-long stroll, you will have the opportunity to dip your feet in the icy waters of the Benguela Current, home to an abundance of sea life while your auditory senses are tantalised by further stories of the mighty Atlantic Ocean.

The Namibian coastline hides more than a thousand vessels of various sizes in its sandy shores. Our first stop is at the Kolmanskop shipwreck, a fishing trawler that ran aground in January 2007. In the years past, the most common adjective used by adventurers to describe the coastline was ‘treacherous', as the conditions offshore were, and still are today, unpredictable. Still, it remains an experience to walk the same grounds where other people had mighty adventures.

From the coast, we head due east, crossing over the local dune belt between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. As part of the oldest desert in the world - the Namib Desert - this dune belt is about 30km long and 5km wide and supports an impressive array of plant and animal life. You will get the chance to observe and photograph some of the charismatic animals found here, such as the cartwheeling spider, commonly known as the Dancing White Lady. This interesting creature displays a rather bizarre way of escaping from its predators: it folds itself into a wheel and rolls away! Other inhabitants of the Namib Desert include the Sidewinder Adder, which is famous for its ability to side wind quickly and effortlessly across hot sand while keeping most of its body off the ground. These animals and many more await you!

From the dunes we walk through a place known as ‘The Horse Graveyard'. Here, the mass slaughter of South African military horses marked the turning point of Namibia's (then South West Africa) involvement in the First World War. This area, holding some 1,600 carcasses, signifies the key role that Swakopmund and Walvis Bay played in the development of Namibia.

From here we turn northwards to Swakopmund and cross the gravel plains of the Namib Desert towards the Swakop River. Once in the dry river bed, we head for the ocean and the Swakop River mouth, a wetland with an abundance of different bird species. Again, you have the opportunity to photograph these fascinating birds as they potter around.

Our journey ends at the Tiger Reef Bar.

Additional Information:

Sunrise Walk

Pickup @ 0630 at place of accommodation.

Depart Tiger reef at 0700. Finish @ 1100.

Sunset Walk

Pickup @ 1330 at place of accommodation.

Depart Tiger reef at 1400. Finish @ 1800.

Images

Click to enlarge

Newest shipwreck

Horse graveyard

Pelicans in flight

Flamingo at sunset

Desert scrub

Male Springbok