Namibia Desert Crossing

11 Days | From £5800pp

Namibia ( Best airport: Windhoek)

Across the Namib desert at a gallop. Ride 320 km across the Namib desert to the Atlantic Ocean. The fastest safari guided by remote riding adventure specialists – crossing the dramatic desert terrain of Namibia. This is a true adventure with two nights in lodges and 8 nights wild camping with some unexpected luxuries like ice in your drinks, hot showers, delicious food around companionable campfires and the magnificent southern stars arching over your comfortable bed at night. This is our most adventurous ride and is only for fit and confident riders. An unforgettable experience with wildlife and landscapes on a scale you’ve never experienced before.

The Riding

Expect to ride between 5-7 hours per day and at a fast pace with long canters and oppotunities to race your guide and fellow riders! You’ll ride through the highlands, to deep river valleys where you may encounter elephant, rhino, oryx, springbok and other desert-adapted wildlife.

Leaving the valleys behind you cross the open plains with the striking Brandberg (burning mountain) forming a dramatic backdrop. The endless plains allow for some fast riding through the sandy desert before you finish the trail with a final gallop on the beach. The terrain is very varied and you will ride at all paces.

Level of Riding and Fitness

This is one of the most adventurous trails we offer and is only suitable for intermediate or advanced riders with a good level of current fitness. You must be able to mount your horse from the ground unaided, and must feel completely at ease riding at all paces and over uneven terrain. It is important to be secure and balanced in the saddle and capable of riding up to 50kms a day, often at speed. On the trail you will be responsible for grooming, checking over and tacking up your own horse.

We also recommend that any rider wishing to join this ride spends a regular amount of time in the saddle before this trip to be ready physically. The average time in the saddle on this trail is 6 hours per day.

Heavier riders can be taken by arrangement with a supplement for an extra horse. Additional horses are required for riders weighing over 85kg in riding gear.

Guides and Group Size

Your guides have been running these remote horse riding safaris for almost 30 years and are knowledgeable, attentive and experienced. They have crossed the Namib desert many times so you’ll be in safe hands.

Group size: 5-12

Any questions?

The Horses

The horses are a mix of breeds, all are very fit and endurance trained. A large herd of horses and limited dates means that each horse only does a handful of safaris each season making them enthusiastic partners across the desert. Some of the breeds used are Quarter Horses, Arab, Haflinger, Lippizzaner, Trakehner, and even the famous wild horses of the Namib desert. They range in height from 14.2-16hh, are fast and sure footed. Raised on rough terrain, all of them make kind and reliable companions for the trail.

The riding is much quicker than other safaris, fast gallops and long canters, combined with the alien scenery of the desert. However the horses are well trained, responsive and know their jobs so the riding is extremely enjoyable rather than a struggle with an unwilling partner. You must come riding fit for this adventure, a wild ride with only a few dates released each year.

When not on safari the horses live as a herd in the bush, each horse generally working no more than a handful of safaris each season. The horses are mainly ridden in endurance saddles, snaffle bridles and on a long rein. They are well-schooled, responsive and experienced in the desert.

Accommodation and Dining

These are mobile safaris with lodge stays at the start and end. The lodges are luxurious, usually with swimming pools. While on the trail, you’ll wild camp on campbeds under the stars (or in dome tents if you prefer). Bed is a roll consisting of a waterproof canvas cover stuffed with a mattress, duvet, and two pillows. Everyone has their own bed-roll for the duration of the trip and this is rolled out over a campbed (90s style, also known as ‘put me up beds’ or stretcher beds). There are hot bucket showers available at all camps and three hot meals a day prepared by mobile camp chefs, to keep your energy levels up! There is a fully stocked bar available at each camp for riders to kick back and relax with their favourite tipple.

Come morning, your breakfast could be pancakes, frittata, porridge, or eggs and there is excellent Arabica coffee available as well. Lunch is also a hot, cooked meal as you are met again by the camp chef – this could be a pasta dish or wraps, meat and salads. Dinner, as cooked on the open camp fire, tends to be typically Namibian; think hearty stews, fish or vegetables with a dessert.

The menu is suitable for vegetarians but it is important to inform us of dietary requirements when booking – we will endeavour to accommodate your needs but please keep in mind that you will be in extremely remote areas making it difficult to cater to some complex dietary issues. Tea, coffee and juice are always available in camp with chilled drinks, beer, wine etc available in the evenings.

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Gallery

Namibia Desert Crossing Long Horse Riding Trip

Itinerary

Day 1 You will be met at Windhoek International Airport and transferred to one of the lodges where you’ll meet the rest of your riding group for dinner and attend a group briefing on what to expect on your trip.

Day 2 After breakfast, you’ll depart for the Sossusvlei area (around a 5 hour drive) via the Spreetshoogte Pass which gives the first glimpse of the seemingly endless Namib Desert below. Arriving at the first campsite with a spectacular view over the Namib Sand Sea you will meet the horses and crew for lunch. This afternoon’s excursion is to the clay pan of Sossusvlei in the soft light of twilight. You are welcome to attempt to climb the towering dunes for a spectacularly panoramic view. Return to camp for a traditional Namibian meal cooked over an open fire.

Days 3 The start of your riding adventure takes you to a wide grassy valley flanked on one side by the distant Namib Sand Sea. Lunch is at the surprising desert oasis before you continue on to reach that evening's campsite where you’ll enter the foothills of the rugged Namib Naukluft Mountains. The nearby water trough attracts numerous Mountain Zebra, Kudu and Oryx during the night.

Day 4 Riding along a long ramp-like dune in the morning enjoying the unspoiled wilderness and striking scenery. In the afternoon the pace quickens as the valley opens into a riverbed before a gentle climb up to our campsite on a hill with a view. Dinner is served in an old farm dam converted into a unique dining room.

Day 5 Today you’ll cross some red dunes before a rugged descent into the Gaub Canyon for lunch. Climbing out of the canyon after lunch you’ll ride across the wide plains to a cave with a spectacular view of the ephemeral Kuiseb River in the distance.

Day 6 Today you’ll negotiate the terraces leading down to the rugged Kuiseb river – with a technical descent into the riverbed. It is this river which forms a dramatic end to the Namib Sand Sea, flowing just often enough to prevent the dunes from crossing the river. The tracks of Mountain Zebra criss-cross the steep sides of the canyon down to the water which is preserved by the high, narrow walls of the canyon. Tonight our camp is amongst a grove of trees on the plain above the Kuiseb.

Day 7 Smooth terrain on today's ride allows for some fast-paced riding towards the water point at Ganab where Mountain Zebra, Oryx, Ostrich, Springbok, and if you are lucky, some desert-adapted warthogs come to drink. Here the wide grassy plains are scarred by several watercourses, some only distinguishable by the long lines of trees which mark their course, sometimes giving shelter to desert-adapted giraffe.

Day 8 Another day which allows for fast-paced riding past the water point of Hotsas and across the Tinkas and Tumas plains which become more and more stark as you approach the coast. When approaching Marble Mountain, Ostriches and Mountain Zebra often run alongside the horses, making for an unforgettable ride. From now on life-giving evening fog can be expected, producing 5 times as much precipitation than rainfall in this extremely arid area.

Day 9 You’ll ride through the hyper aridity of true desertscapes where you encounter the dinosaur-like plants such as the gnarled Welwitschia Mirablis. Strange shapes form and disappear in mirages and the fascinating survival devices of desert-adapted creatures astound; this is a land of great antiquity and also tremendous solitude. Passing the spectacular Moon Valley on our descent to a wonderfully sheltered campsite in the Swakop River.

Day 10 The last ride down to the Swakop river and over to the coastal dunes and then, at last, the Atlantic Ocean. Your first glimpse of a town in days! The last stretch of riding is along the soft white beach sand of Swakopmund. Tonight’s accommodation is a comfortable guest house while the horses enjoy their well-deserved rest in a large sandy paddock with a wonderful view of the sea. After sundowners, enjoy your last memorable meal together, reminiscing over an adventure unlikely to be forgotten.

Day 11 It’s time to say a fond farewell at breakfast as the transfer to Windhoek (4 hour commute) leaves in time for departure flights from Windhoek International Airport after 15:00.