Cycle Namibia

Begin your adventure at Arebbusch Lodge in Windhoek. The afternoon can be spent exploring or relaxing, perhaps taking a dip in the pool or watching the many native birds that swoop overhead. Around 6pm, say hello to your tour leader and fellow travellers at the lodge, where we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome by arranging a group dinner. Want to explore further? Secure pre-tour nights through your sales representative.

Leaving Windhoek, we start with a short transfer towards the Khomas Hochland and the top of the Kupferberg Pass. From here, we get our first taste of cycling through the amazing landscapes of Namibia as we descend along winding roads past private farms and local wildlife, getting used to the terrain for about 28mi (45km) while stopping regularly for snacks and pictures. Our campsite tonight is on a family-owned farm surrounded by mountains. There's a dipping pool if you'd like to cool down and a small shop serving locally sourced and homegrown products. Upgrade from camping to a chalet today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Leaving camp on our bikes, we continue along gravel roads on rolling hills. We cycle down the Remhoogte pass to the west where we will soon find open plains towards the desert. We aim to get to Solitaire for lunch and hopefully have the opportunity to try the local apple crumble, which has been called the best in the Southern Hemisphere. After lunch, we transfer to Sesriem. If we don’t visit Solitaire this day we will stop at Solitaire again on day 4.

Waking early, we drive 25mi (40km) to some of the highest dunes in the world before climbing Dune 40 or 45 as the first sunrays peak over the horizon and hit the red-ochre sand. After descending, we have breakfast with a view before taking to our bikes for a ride back to Sesriem along a paved road cutting through the towering dunes. Depending on the weather, we may be able to do a 15.5mi (25km) ride to Sossusvlei parking area and have a quick walk to Hiddenvlei or optional 4x4 ride to Deadvlei. We might also return from Dune 40 and cycle 40km back to Sesriem. After lunch at camp, we transfer to Solitaire. In the afternoon, we can visit the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre to see cheetahs (depending on time, we may go tomorrow morning). Upgrade from camping to a room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

After a short transfer, or we cycle from camp, we continue on our journey north, cycling towards the Tropic of Capricorn. If conditions allow, we have the option of cycling over the Kuiseb Pass or a different route towards the coast. With luck, we should see ostriches, springbok, gemsbok and mountain zebras. Once again, we end our ride in the shadow of Guab Pass before transferring to Walvis Bay, which is known for its flamingos. From here, we continue to Swakopmund, driving with the ocean on the right and the dunes on the left.

This morning, we are introduced to our modified fat bikes and cycle into the vast expanse of dunes surrounding Swakopmund. Fat bikes have very wide tyres that make it possible to cycle over sand and explore areas that regular mountain bikes are unable to reach. Our ride takes approximately 2hr 30min to 3hr 30min and includes a coastline section if the tide is in our favour. On our return to Swakopmund, we have a free afternoon to enjoy one of the many optional activities available nearby, such as sandboarding or quad biking. If you feel like relaxing, this Germanic town is renowned for its cake and coffee shops.

Leave Swakopmund this morning, passing the nearby Moon Valley landscape, for Spitzkoppe where we have an early lunch. This impressive granite peak rising from the gravel plains is known as the Matterhorn of Namibia. We explore the area on foot in the late afternoon. When there have been good rains, it may be possible to find rock pools where we can take a refreshing dip. Later in the afternoon, we can go on an optional short hike in the area.

A 3hr 30min drive brings us back to Windhoek, where our adventure ends. Bid farewell to new-found friends and begin your return journey home. If you’d like the adventure to continue, speak to our sales representative about extending your stay. Please note: The group transfer back to Windhoek is scheduled to align with a chosen flight to London, UK; therefore, you should not book flights leaving before then. Please contact your sales representative for the timings of this flight.