Group Size: 8-11 participants

km = kilometer & am = altitude meter

Day 1              Arrival in Namibia

At Windhoek Airport you are greeted by your tour guide. Drive south of the city to the Heroes’ Acre, a memorial to all Namibians killed by colonization and apartheid. Drive through Windhoek to Okapuka Ranch. On a first safari in the fertile highlands around Windhoek you can experience wild animals such as zebras, giraffes, antelopes and in a separate area also a cheetah feeding.

Okapuka Ranch

Distance by bus 75 km, duration 1.25 h

Day 2              Bike Ride to the Waterberg Plateau

With the vehicle travel north just before Otjiwarongo. On a quiet country road, you cycle through an open bush savannah to the Waterberg Plateau. The water-rich slopes provide food for a variety of plants and trees, and interesting bird species such as grey lourie or yellow-billed hornbill can be found here. All this you can experience on an afternoon hike. (B,L)

NWR Waterberg Camp

Distance by bike 60 km, 175 am, tar/gravel road

Walking time 1 h

Distance by bus 220 km, duration 2.5 h

Day 3              Bike tour to the Vingerklip rock needle

At sunrise, it is worth climbing the Waterberg Plateau. You have an impressive view over the seemingly endless expanse. After breakfast, drive northwest to the upper Ugab River. At the time of the occupation of Namibia, the people of Damara were forced to settle in this part. You cycle past a few goat and cattle farms. The widespread mopane trees provide welcoming shade. Our aim is the 30 m high free-standing rock needle Vingerklip, which is one of the natural wonders of Namibia. Then a short transfer to our lodge for one night. (B,L)

Damara Mopane Lodge 4*

Distance by bike 68 km, 200 am, tar/gravel road

Walking time 1.5 h

Distance by bus 185 km, duration 2.5 h

Day 4              Bike tour through the Ugab terraces to Khorixas

The bike tour continues through the Ugab terraces and later through a hilly bush landscape to Khorixas. After a lunch break our vehicle takes you to the petrified forest. 250 million years ago, large, pine-like trees were brought here by water from the center of Africa. You can also discover some Welwitschia mirabilis here. Continue in the lowlands of the Damara Land to a lodge, where you stay for two nights. (B,L,D)

Twyfelfontein Lodge 3*

Distance by bike 68 km, 300 am, gravel road

Distance by bus 110 km, duration 2 h

Day 5              Bike ride to Twyfelfontein and on the lodge grounds

In the morning, visit the famous rock engravings of Twyfelfontein, recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Khoi San carved the sandstone in only a few places in southern Africa. Walk the “Lion Tail” route. Then ride to the basalt columns near the “Burnt Mountain”. The afternoon is spent relaxing by the pool. If you like, you can ride a 10 km bike course on the lodge grounds in the cooler evening hours, where springboks are often seen. (B,D)

Twyfelfontein Lodge 3*

Distance by bike 17 km, 90 am, gravel road

Distance by bus 20 km, duration 0.5 h

Day 6              Bike tour through the northern Damaraland

Transfer to Palmwag and continue north. On a small mountain pass we unload the bikes. Slightly downhill you ride through an acacia-rich landscape. Often you can spot giraffes and springboks whilst on the bike. The final destination is the stylish Khowarib Lodge, where you stay for two nights. The afternoon is for relaxation or a hike can be made on the lodge grounds. (B,L,D)

Khowarib Lodge 3*

Distance by bike 44 km, 100 am, gravel road

Distance by bus 130 km, duration 2.5 h

Day 7              Safari to the desert elephants

On this day trip the open 4×4 vehicle takes you down the Hoanib Valley. The desert elephants are smaller than their cousins from the Etosha National Park, but true experts in finding groundwater. With a bit of luck, you can watch them digging for water. Ostriches, springboks and oryx antelopes have also adapted to the dry conditions. (B,L,D)

Khowarib Lodge 3*

Distance by safari vehicle 150 km, duration 6 h

Day 8              Bike ride to the land of the Himba

A transfer takes you up to higher elevations. You cycle through a hilly bush landscape to Opuwo, the trading center of the Himba people. While people used to wander in search of fertile pastures, in recent decades some Himba have settled permanently. Instead of traditional cattle breeding, they try to breed goats, as they can cope better with the drought due to lack of rainfall. Accommodation is in a lodge in Opuwo. (B,L)

Opuwo Country Lodge 3*

Distance by bike 70 km, 450 am, gravel road

Distance by bus 90 km, duration 2 h

Day 9              Bike Ride to the Epupa River

After breakfast, transfer north to the village of Okongwati. We unload the bikes and on a flat, later descending road, you cycle through the savannah landscape down to the Kunene River. Here you often meet cattle herders of the Himba. From the beautiful Epupa Falls Lodge you have great views over the waterfalls and towards neighboring Angola. You stay for two nights. (B,L,D)

Epupa Falls Lodge

Distance by bike 72 km, 310 am, gravel road

Distance by bus 110 km, duration 2.5 h

Day 10 Day at leisure

The day is at leisure. In the morning, while visiting the Himba people in the neighborhood, you can learn more about their culture, their language, their diet and their beliefs. You can also hike along the river to see the crocodiles or you can do a bike ride along the Kunene. All excursions are optional. (B,D)

Epupa Falls Lodge

Walking time 1 h

Distance by bus 0 km, duration 0 h

Day 11 Bike ride along the Etosha National Park

A long transfer takes you back to the southern edge of the Etosha National Park. In the afternoon we unload the bikes and cycle through a hilly bush landscape to our accommodation. (B,L)

Kaoko Bush Lodge

Distance bike 33 km, 220 am, tar road

Distance by bus 400 km, duration 6 h

Day 12 Safari in the Etosha National Park

Transfer into the famous Etosha National Park. Dominated by the mostly empty, huge Salt Lake, the animals live close to artificial and natural waterholes. Except for buffalos, you can see the “Big 5” here as well as cheetahs, jackals, giraffes, plains zebras and springboks. In the afternoon you do a safari in an open off-road vehicle. You stay for one night in a lodge close to the national park. (B,L)

Etosha Safari Lodge 3*

Distance by bus/safari vehicle 280 km, duration 6 h

Day 13 Back to Windhoek

After breakfast you drive through the fertile highland back to Windhoek. You stay in a quiet guesthouse near the city center. In the afternoon during a city tour you look at the castle “Alte Feste” and visit an arts and culture center. In the evening, a meal is planned in the N.I.C.E restaurant. At the “Namibian Institute for Culinary Education” aspiring Namibian chefs can show what they have learned. (B)

Utopia Boutique Hotel 3*

Distance by bus 410 km, duration 5 h

Tag 14             Return flight

Depending on the departure time, transfer to Windhoek Airport, where this unique journey ends. (B)

Distance by bus 46 km, duration 0.75 h

Accommodation subject to availability

All bike trails are over graveled tracks. Although the trails are generally good to cycle and carefully selected, depending on the weather they can also be uneven. We are, however, flexible due to the constant, close accompaniment of our vehicle. A reasonable amount of fitness is enough to be able to cycle the trails. During the given dates it is the dry season in Namibia, during the day the temperature is a comfortable 25 °C to 32 °C, at night, temperatures can drop to a few degrees above zero.