Jewel of the desert
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Jewel of the Desert
Windhoek - Fish River Canyon – Namib Desert with Sossusvlei – Atlantic Coast: Swakopmund – Spitzkoppe – Etosha National Park – Windhoek
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Day 1 Arrival in Namibia
Arriving in Windhoek, your tour guide will welcome you personally at the airport and accompany you to your lodge. Staying overnight in a nicely situated safari lodge you can relax from the flight und join in on the African feeling. The Namibian capital lies over 1.600 m high and is framed by the Khomas-Highlands Mountains. (D)
Arriving in Windhoek, your tour guide will welcome you personally at the airport and accompany you to your lodge. Staying overnight in a nicely situated safari lodge you can relax from the flight und join in on the African feeling. The Namibian capital lies over 1.600 m high and is framed by the Khomas-Highlands Mountains. (D)
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Day 2 Departure onboard the Desert Express
Today is your boarding day, when your private train leaves the historic train station of Windhoek and starts rolling slowly through the Auas Hills southwards. Make yourself comfortable in your compartment and enjoy the passing landscapes with a glass of wine or a freshly tapped Windhoek Lager. A short lecture conveys things worth knowing about the journey and about Namibia. (BLD)
Today is your boarding day, when your private train leaves the historic train station of Windhoek and starts rolling slowly through the Auas Hills southwards. Make yourself comfortable in your compartment and enjoy the passing landscapes with a glass of wine or a freshly tapped Windhoek Lager. A short lecture conveys things worth knowing about the journey and about Namibia. (BLD)
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Day 3 Namibias lonesome south – Fish River Canyon
At the Station Holoog, actually only a stop in the lonesomeness, you will change to the forthcoming busses and drive through pristine half-desert landscapes to the gorge of the Fish river canyon. The second biggest canyon on earth undoubtedly belongs to nature’s wonders of Southern Africa. Whoever wishes, can make a short stroll along the canyon edge and enjoy breathtaking views into the 500m deep and 160 km long canyon. In the afternoon your train will again head northwards trough the Kalahari. In the small village Keetmanshoop you’ll have time for a short excursion to the Quivertree Forest. The archaic appearing Baumaloens in the middle of the cliff desert offer excellent photo motives. (BLD)
At the Station Holoog, actually only a stop in the lonesomeness, you will change to the forthcoming busses and drive through pristine half-desert landscapes to the gorge of the Fish river canyon. The second biggest canyon on earth undoubtedly belongs to nature’s wonders of Southern Africa. Whoever wishes, can make a short stroll along the canyon edge and enjoy breathtaking views into the 500m deep and 160 km long canyon. In the afternoon your train will again head northwards trough the Kalahari. In the small village Keetmanshoop you’ll have time for a short excursion to the Quivertree Forest. The archaic appearing Baumaloens in the middle of the cliff desert offer excellent photo motives. (BLD)
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Day 4 From Marien Valley to the Namib Desert
In the morning arrival of your train in Marien Valley. You will leave the train with small luggage and drive per bus ca. 4 hours through a rock- and mountain range to your stylish lounge. Dip two days long into the calmness and vastness of the ethnic landscape of the oldest desert on earth – the Namib Desert. You will keep as highly memorable in mind the nightly star heaven which appears in its full beauty due to the clear, pure air and missing distracting light sources. (BLD)
In the morning arrival of your train in Marien Valley. You will leave the train with small luggage and drive per bus ca. 4 hours through a rock- and mountain range to your stylish lounge. Dip two days long into the calmness and vastness of the ethnic landscape of the oldest desert on earth – the Namib Desert. You will keep as highly memorable in mind the nightly star heaven which appears in its full beauty due to the clear, pure air and missing distracting light sources. (BLD)
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Day 5 The highest dunes in the world
The early morning hours are the best time to visit the brick-red glowing gigantic dunes of the Sossusvlei. The climb to the top of the most famous one of them all, dune 45, will reward you with vast views onto a sea of apricot-colored sand. In open vehicles (Landrover) you will ride the last kilometres into the Vlei, a clay depression surrounded by dunes, which only fills with water from the Tsauchab river in good rain years. Then your trip continues to the Sesriem Canyon, which was buried into the sand layers by the Tsauchab river over millions of years. At sunset you will enjoy a romantic desert picnic. (BLD)
The early morning hours are the best time to visit the brick-red glowing gigantic dunes of the Sossusvlei. The climb to the top of the most famous one of them all, dune 45, will reward you with vast views onto a sea of apricot-colored sand. In open vehicles (Landrover) you will ride the last kilometres into the Vlei, a clay depression surrounded by dunes, which only fills with water from the Tsauchab river in good rain years. Then your trip continues to the Sesriem Canyon, which was buried into the sand layers by the Tsauchab river over millions of years. At sunset you will enjoy a romantic desert picnic. (BLD)
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Day 6 From the desert to the Atlantic: Walvis Bay and Swakopmund
In a ca. 5 hours hour bus drive on gravel road you’ll drive through the Namib-Naukluft National Park until you reach the Atlantic Ocean. On your way you’ll have the chance for photo stops at the bizarre rock formations of the Gaub-Pass and the Kuiseb Canyon. In the harbour village of Walvis Bay, until 1994 South-African enclave, the cold surge of the Atlantic abruptly hits the desert. At the banks of the lagoon very often swarms of flamingos and pelicans can be found. Along the coastal road you will drive until Swakopmund, which has German small village character due to its colonial past. In the afternoon you will have time for a stroll along the waterside promenade, before you are welcomed again aboard your private train. (BD)
In a ca. 5 hours hour bus drive on gravel road you’ll drive through the Namib-Naukluft National Park until you reach the Atlantic Ocean. On your way you’ll have the chance for photo stops at the bizarre rock formations of the Gaub-Pass and the Kuiseb Canyon. In the harbour village of Walvis Bay, until 1994 South-African enclave, the cold surge of the Atlantic abruptly hits the desert. At the banks of the lagoon very often swarms of flamingos and pelicans can be found. Along the coastal road you will drive until Swakopmund, which has German small village character due to its colonial past. In the afternoon you will have time for a stroll along the waterside promenade, before you are welcomed again aboard your private train. (BD)
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Day 7 The Matterhorn of Namibia – the Spitzkoppe
Early in the morning, your special train leaves Swakopmund and travels eastwards back to the inland plateau. Enjoy breakfast in the restaurant wagon, while before your panoramic window the lonesome wonder world existing of sand dunes passes by. The route between Swakopmund and Windhoek was established 1902 and is the oldest train track of the country. At Usakos, your train stops for an excursion to the 1700m high Spitzkoppe, the over a long distance visible Matterhorn of Namibia. Mighty granite blocks, that appear to balance over deep rifts, and individually standing acacias shape the scenery. In Bushmans Paradise you can discover century old rock drawings of the San Bush-People. Today also a lecture is dedicated to the San, the original inhabitants of Southern Africa. Afterwards you are brought back to your private train, which behind Usakos bends off northward towards Otjiwarongo. Aboard biltong sample awaits you, where you can try many different styles of the popular dry meat. (BLD)
Early in the morning, your special train leaves Swakopmund and travels eastwards back to the inland plateau. Enjoy breakfast in the restaurant wagon, while before your panoramic window the lonesome wonder world existing of sand dunes passes by. The route between Swakopmund and Windhoek was established 1902 and is the oldest train track of the country. At Usakos, your train stops for an excursion to the 1700m high Spitzkoppe, the over a long distance visible Matterhorn of Namibia. Mighty granite blocks, that appear to balance over deep rifts, and individually standing acacias shape the scenery. In Bushmans Paradise you can discover century old rock drawings of the San Bush-People. Today also a lecture is dedicated to the San, the original inhabitants of Southern Africa. Afterwards you are brought back to your private train, which behind Usakos bends off northward towards Otjiwarongo. Aboard biltong sample awaits you, where you can try many different styles of the popular dry meat. (BLD)
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Day 8 Etosha National Park
After your train has crossed the Otavi Highlands, it reaches Angola station KM74 in the morning via the newly built train tracks. Here you will be transferred to your spacious Safari-Lodge, where you will reside 2 nights. Already on your first game drive through the Etosha National Park with a little luck you may see elephants, lions, gnus and other game close-by. In the heart of the largest game reserve Namibia’s lies the gigantic Etosha Salt Pan, the location of dry water. The wide, white layer with its air reflections and passing by animal herds lets your game drive become an unforgettable experience. (BLD)
After your train has crossed the Otavi Highlands, it reaches Angola station KM74 in the morning via the newly built train tracks. Here you will be transferred to your spacious Safari-Lodge, where you will reside 2 nights. Already on your first game drive through the Etosha National Park with a little luck you may see elephants, lions, gnus and other game close-by. In the heart of the largest game reserve Namibia’s lies the gigantic Etosha Salt Pan, the location of dry water. The wide, white layer with its air reflections and passing by animal herds lets your game drive become an unforgettable experience. (BLD)
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Day 9 On Safari
The morning is reserved for an extensive game drive in the park. Because the animal herds of the Etosha Park rely almost all year long on the water holes, the park offers ideal conditions for watching and taking pictures of the animals. In the afternoon, you can relax in your lodge or take part in another game drive. (BLD)
The morning is reserved for an extensive game drive in the park. Because the animal herds of the Etosha Park rely almost all year long on the water holes, the park offers ideal conditions for watching and taking pictures of the animals. In the afternoon, you can relax in your lodge or take part in another game drive. (BLD)
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Day 10 Crossing the Damaraland
At sunrise, you will again witness on a game drive in open vehicles very close encounters with the African animal kingdom. You will leave the park during the late afternoon via the Namutoni Gate, where close-by your private train awaits you. A lecture on board the train about the colonial past of Namibia will round off your day. (BLD)
At sunrise, you will again witness on a game drive in open vehicles very close encounters with the African animal kingdom. You will leave the park during the late afternoon via the Namutoni Gate, where close-by your private train awaits you. A lecture on board the train about the colonial past of Namibia will round off your day. (BLD)
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Day 11 Windhoek
Early in the morning your journey becomes a train safari, because the train route leads through private game farms and not seldom giraffes, springboks and ostriches can be seen. Because your special train drives very slowly and other trains hardly use the tracks, a photo-stop is possible almost anytime. Around noon, your train rolls into the train station of Windhoek, where it’s time to say good-bye to your friendly train conductors. Your first class hotel lies centrally on Independence Avenue, the main boulevard of Windhoek. During a city tour you will witness the buildings from colonial times and gain insights in the high-contrast life-styles of the exclusive residential area Ludwigsdorf and the township of Katutura. In Katutura, you will visit a self-help group project for women as well as the lively Soweto Market. In the evening, you will enjoy a farewell dinner in a specialties restaurant. (BD)
Early in the morning your journey becomes a train safari, because the train route leads through private game farms and not seldom giraffes, springboks and ostriches can be seen. Because your special train drives very slowly and other trains hardly use the tracks, a photo-stop is possible almost anytime. Around noon, your train rolls into the train station of Windhoek, where it’s time to say good-bye to your friendly train conductors. Your first class hotel lies centrally on Independence Avenue, the main boulevard of Windhoek. During a city tour you will witness the buildings from colonial times and gain insights in the high-contrast life-styles of the exclusive residential area Ludwigsdorf and the township of Katutura. In Katutura, you will visit a self-help group project for women as well as the lively Soweto Market. In the evening, you will enjoy a farewell dinner in a specialties restaurant. (BD)
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Day 12 Farewell from Africa
In the morning, you will have time for some sight-seeing or shopping. Windhoek fascinates with its mix of African and European way of life. Here you come across Herero women in their Victorian dresses and young girls with artistic plaited hair-do as well as farmer families from the province and teenagers with flashy sun glasses. At noon, transfer to the airport. (B)
In the morning, you will have time for some sight-seeing or shopping. Windhoek fascinates with its mix of African and European way of life. Here you come across Herero women in their Victorian dresses and young girls with artistic plaited hair-do as well as farmer families from the province and teenagers with flashy sun glasses. At noon, transfer to the airport. (B)
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