Challenging 10-night Safaris
In some of the most remote and dramatic desert terrain Namibia has to offer. Two nights in lodges, 8 nights camping wild with all the luxuries - ice in
your sundowners, hot bucket showers, delicious food around companionable campfires.
All the while living with horses 24/7 - life seldom gets better.
8 of the 11 days are spent in the saddle, starting off with a safari lodge overnight stay and ending with a night in a lodge – the rest of the nights you will literally be sleeping under the stars – no tents!
Responsible Custodianship
As responsible custodians of the wild and beautiful place we are privileged to ride in we are dedicated to engendering an understanding of these extremely fragile desert environments. To this end we ensure that we have as little impact upon the environment as possible and ask our riding guests to embrace this policy while enjoying these remarkable landscapes.
Camp Life……eat sleep ride repeat!
Depending on terrain we ride 25 - 60 km per day - so come riding fit - for your and your horses’ sake. All day in a harsh environment also requires a degree of fitness - the reward of coming prepared are well worth the effort. Wear sturdy comfortable boots as occaisionally we have to dismount and lead across rugged terrain.
Luggage travels in vehicles - keep it soft and under 20kg.
First (and last) night is usually accommodated - arrive in time to meet your guide for an orientation talk around 17:00 on day one. Very soon the easy rhythm of the safari will take over - nothing is rushed yet we cover ground and the days drift by imperceptibly.
Which Safari?
Namib Desert 10 nights £5350
Iconic Namib Desert with its wide plains, dunes and canyons. Varied terrain and despite seeming aridity, expect to see plains game, including giraffe.
Ends at the sea at Swakopmund
ND 1: 01 - 11 April
ND 2: 19 - 29 April
ND 3: 26 May - 5 Jun
ND 4: 22 Jul - 1 Aug
ND 5: 28 Aug - 7 Sept
Little Namib Desert Ride 7 nights £4900
A one off shorter tour: With first night in Windhoek and last in Swakomund, we’ll start at what has to be the most beautiful campsite of all - Ganab, in the heart of the central Namib. The route follows our normal Namib Desert Safari from there - via Bludkoppe (blood hill - not to do with any battles, so-called for it’s granite-inspired fiery glow at sunset)
Little ND: 22 - 28 October
Damara Elephant 10 nights £5350
Rugged, remote, dramatic landscapes interspersed with large ephemeral rivers, where desert-adapted elephant can be found.
This ride is for confident riders - the horses are well-aware they are in big game country! Ends at the ocean.
DE 1: 14 - 24 Jun
DE 2: 09 - 19 Aug
DE 3: 16 - 26 Sept
Wild Horses Safari 10 nights £5350
Arguable the most beautiful section of the Namib Desert, here terrain varies from plains dotted with inslebergs, iconic ocher dunes and the wide plains of the Koichab. Ride ends near Garub, the home of the Namib’s, Namibia’s wild horses. Visit the wild horses.
WH: 07 - 17 May
Skeleton Damara Safari 9 nights £5350
From the formidable Skeleton Coast into western Damaraland, this adventurous riding safari covers the best of both landscapes. Huge open plains, white dune undulations topped with contrasting black basalt - this landscape is a photographers dream-scape. Ride ends at the sea.
SD: 15 -24 March
SD: 4 – 13 October
Getting Here
There are direct flights to Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako Airport, from Frankfurt, some fly via Johannesburg or Cape Town. We arrange your airport pickup to your first night lodge in Namibia
Getting Away
Check individual itineraries, but generally we drop you at Windhoek Airport on the last day of your safari
PRICES
£ 5350 pp
Single supplement £190
Extra Horse 85 kg and over £800
Luggage is moved by vehicle and meets you at the overnight camps and the lunch spots. Bucket showers (with hot water!) are set up in the evening. You are provided with camp beds and swags (a canvas bag containing sleeping mat, duvet and pillows). Tents are available, but most take the opportunity to sleep out under the stars.
The horses have been bred and trained here and are a mixture of Arab crosses, Namibian warmbloods, Trakehners and Boerperds. From 14.2hh to around 16hh. The weight limit is 85 kg in riding gear. It may be possible to accommodate riders up to 93 kg subject to payment of an additional horse supplement. Please enquire for availability.
Riding is English style in South African trail saddles, with simple bridles.There are stretches where you need to lead your horse over rocky ground, so ride in sturdy boots.
Layer your clothing for the desert - the weather changes unpredictably. Bring a warm jacket for around the fire at night, especially in winter - and the coast is always cooler than inland.
The pace is dictated by the terrain - slower riding over rocky surfaces with countless long canters and gallops out on the plains. You need to be riding fit - there is approx 45km to cover in the saddle a day!