ReitSafari HorseTrails Namibia - Desert, Dunes and Diamonds Trail

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Desert, Dunes and Diamonds Trail

Old pioneer and ox wagon route across Restricted Diamond Area. A Trail with a great historical background!

Diamond Area 1, locally called “The Sperrgebiet” or “Forbidden Area”, lies in the south western corner of Namibia. This area of 26000km² has been well protected for about a hundred years by tight security enforced by Diamond Acts and thus remained inaccessible for humans and thus virtual wilderness.

Join us on the new special trail across this area offering incredible scenery and historical background as we travel along the old route of the ox wagons where a huge amount of evidence still remains. Fantastic riding over untouched lands! A real privilege!

Details

Windhoek - Windhoek: 10 days, 9 nights. 7 days riding, 2 days transfers, 1 day sightseeing: Kolmannskuppe (ghost town), sunset drive to Wild Horses

Itinerary

Day 1: Meet 8h00 at the Tourist Info kiosk in Windhoek where airport busses and taxis stop (Windhoek central, opposite Kalahari Sands Hotel). Drive about 8 hours from Windhoek over central highland to outskirts of the Namib and through awesome scenery of the southern desert with a picnic along the way. Meet hosts, horses and crew and enjoy a most beautiful sunset at Klein Aus Vista on the edge of the southern Namib Desert.

Day 2: Start riding from Klein-Aus Vista past World War I ramparts and on pass the remnants of an old car full of bullet holes from the diamond police attempting to stop two thieves - it is said that their ghosts come back in full moon nights searching for the stolen diamonds they hid in the valley! We then head to a secluded fountain (only flowing after very good rains) called Leopardenschlucht (Leopards Valley).

Day 3: Leopardenschlucht to Letterkuppe. Follow the old transport route across foothills with a variety of succulent plants, one of the biodiversity "hotspots" of the Succulent Karoo Biome. Leaving these foothills the first spectacular views of the Sperrgebiet are encountered; and in an area of several "island mountains" is our first camp on the edge of the Sperrgebiet (Diamond Area).

Day 4: Letterkuppe to Tsaukaib. Our pace will generally increase over wide open plains and unlimited space of the Sperrgebiet. While finding old horse shoes and bits and pieces of an old kettle or pot along the way we unexpectedly go over the rise - to see a breathtaking view and a historic camp where people have camped and even temporarily lived over a hundred years ago. You will also see some of the brown hyenas spores dotted around camp, and maybe be lucky enough to even see one passing by in the moonlight ! A stunning camp to explore.

Day 5: Tsaukaib to Kaukausib. From Tsaukaib we ride south to a place called Ukama where remnants of wells for watering oxen on the killing trek across the desert are sandblasted through time, and if you dig, you could actually find a drop of water. After lunch we venture further across some ridges and into the Kaukausib riverbed where we should find one of the only fountains in the Sperrgebiet that flows throughout the year - Kaukausib meaning “hide away” in the Bushman language.

Day 6: Kaukausib to Grillental - From here on we approach the coast with its unpredictable weather, riding through undulating terrain past interesting rocky outcrops. In the afternoon we decent on to Grillental, an old Diamond Police Station and some deserted buildings from an era gone by, now only residence for some Barn owls.

Day 7: Grillental to Rotkuppe. Rise in the morning to a dense fog that the coast has blown in around the desolate buildings. With the true experience of life one hundred years ago we ride across fascinating badlands in a northerly direction to the last camp before civilization. Lunch and night camp at dry pans which form a perfect setting for extraordinary photos. Our last night camping under the magnificent stars.

Day 8: Rotkop to Luderitz. The last ride, hopefully not in a sandstorm, since we cross the famous "wind band” where the dunes walk several meters each year. Just imagine riding in deep dune sand to meet the truck for watering the horses near the last outpost on the historic route of a century ago, then over diamond dumps, abandoned shovels and buckets in the desert, just to come around a hill with a surprising view on the ocean while wild antelope and flamingo present a rare impression of natural beauty - then gallop onto the beach, while your mind is overwhelmed with an abundance of emotions! We have lunch on the beach, then load the horses to return to Aus, while we find our guesthouse in town and enjoy a goodbye dinner after an appreciated shower!

Day 9: After breakfast we visit the ghost town Kolmanskuppe with its fascinating, but deserted wealth buried under dune sand. After lunch drive back the easy way to Klein-Aus Vista. We enjoy the cosy lodge again after an unforgettable sunset drive to the Wild Horses of the Namib Desert.

Day 10: Depart after an early breakfast; transfer back to Windhoek. Alternatively fly from Lüderitz airport to Windhoek or Cape Town. Be sure that you take special memories and maybe dream of another ride in the awesome desert of Namibia.

Take note: This Trail is subject to special permission and requires police clearances, copies of passports! Should we for reasons beyond our control not be granted access to the Restricted Diamond Area we offer an alternate route for the same rates and dates! Routes can be changed due to unpredictable weather and other unforeseen conditions!

Rendezvous Point

From Windhoek International take the airport bus or a taxi into town. We meet you at 8h00 (to be confirmed prior to arrival) at the Tourist Information kiosk opposite the Kalahari Sands Hotel in the city centre. Kindly let us have your flight number, arrival time and contact details in Windhoek. We are happy to assist with your arrangements and ensure that all works out well.

Conditions

As with our other trails you have to be physically fit as well as fit to ride; you should have a good sense of humour and extensive riding experience. You will spend six to eight hours in the saddle every day; all paces (see General Information).

Departure Dates

Trail Dates for 2009

18 March – 27 March
6 May – 15 May

Costs

€ 2,750.00 (includes 15% Value Added Tax)

NB: SADC citizens may ask for a generous rebate. Must be able to provide proof of citizenship!

Included: transfer from Windhoek to Klein-Aus Vista, full board at lodges/guesthouses and good ReitSafari fare while camping on the trail, excursion to the Wild Horses and Kolmannskuppe, picnics, transfer back to Windhoek.

Excluded: bottled and canned drinks on the trail and at lodges and homesteads; souvenirs; tips for local guides and crew; flights, if applicable, from Lüderitzbucht; airport transfers.