The Namibia Safari

Day 1: Arrival

You will be met on arrival day at Windhoek airport (Hosea Kutako airport) and transferred to a specified B&B in Windhoek. Here you will meet the rest of your riding group for dinner and a representative to brief you about the ride.

Day 2: Twyfelfontein

After an early breakfast, we hit the road for an exciting full-day journey north, stopping for lunch en route before reaching our camp in the Aba Huab River. That afternoon we explore the extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage site of Twyfelfontein, home to 5,000-year-old petroglyphs carved into the red rock. As night falls, keep an ear out — desert elephants sometimes wander right through camp!

Days 3 to 6: The Rivers

With the rising sun at our backs, we begin our westward ride toward the distant Atlantic. These ephemeral river systems are shaped by rainfall, so wildlife moves with the seasons, but encounters with desert-adapted elephants, rhino, oryx and springbok are all possible. We traverse vast glacial valleys, ancient tablelands and landscapes fractured by long-ago volcanic upheaval — a window into a land millions of years old. Crossing the mountains from the Huab, we descend into the Ugab River Valley and overnight at Save the Rhino’s rustic riverside camp.

Days 7 to 10: The Great Plains

Leaving the river valleys behind, we strike out across the immense coastal plains, with the unmistakable silhouette of the Brandberg — the ‘burning mountain’ — fading behind us. Here the going is good, and long, fast-paced canters carry us toward the dramatic Messum Caldera, the eroded remains of a colossal prehistoric volcano. Our final ride leads us across hyper-arid desert flats to the edge of the continent: the stark, spectacular Skeleton Coast, named for the shipwrecks that haunt its shores. The cold Benguela Current meets the desert here, creating wild contrasts of heat, wind and swirling fog — a place of extremes. We overnight in the small coastal town of Henties Bay in a beautiful private house overlooking the Atlantic.

Day 11: Departure

After an early breakfast, we transfer back to Windhoek on a five-hour drive, arriving around 1pm — perfectly timed for flights departing after 3pm from Windhoek International Airport.

Day 1: Arrival

You will be met on arrival day at Windhoek airport (Hosea Kutako airport) and transferred to a specified B&B in Windhoek. Here you will meet the rest of your riding group for dinner and a representative to brief you about the ride.

Day 2: Zaris Pass

After breakfast, we hit the road for a five-hour journey south, stopping for lunch in the sleepy hamlet of Maltahöhe before descending the scenic Zaris Pass into the Tiras Biosphere Reserve. This is where your desert adventure truly begins. Settle into camp, meet your horse and crew, and learn the basics of being “desert savvy” as the mountains glow red in the late-afternoon light.

Days 3 to 9: Tiras Mountains to the Desert Plains

We climb into the rugged Tiras Mountains along dry, winding washes that snake down from the plateau. This untouched landscape demands sensitive stewardship, and much of it remains blissfully wild. From the heights, the panorama is extraordinary: sentinel inselbergs rising from the plains and, far ahead, the shimmering Namib dune sea calling us onward. Expect encounters with desert-adapted game, long stretches of open country perfect for fast-paced riding, and lunches enjoyed in the shade of solitary trees or atop scenic viewpoints.

Each night, our camp is chosen for its jaw-dropping outlook—this is one of the best stargazing regions on earth, with the southern skies spilling overhead in dazzling clarity. Our exact route may shift with weather or local conditions, but every day delivers something unforgettable. The crossing of the dune sea is a highlight of the entire safari, leading us into some of the most iconic, true-Namib desertscapes imaginable.

Day 10: Excursion to Kolmanskop

Today we give the saddles a rest and venture to the coastal town of Lüderitz, followed by an exploration of Kolmanskop—the eerie, sand-swallowed ghost town slowly being reclaimed by the desert. On the return journey, we stop for sundowners at the waterhole where Namibia’s famed wild horses gather, a magical and deeply moving sight.

Day 11: Departure

After an early breakfast, we begin our seven-hour transfer back to Windhoek, arriving in time for departure flights leaving after 5pm from Windhoek International Airport.

Day 1: Arrival

You will be met on arrival day at Windhoek airport (Hosea Kutako airport) and transferred to a specified B&B in Windhoek. Here you will meet the rest of your riding group for dinner and a representative to brief you about the ride.

Day 2: Swakopmund

After an early breakfast, we set off for the wild Skeleton Coast, breaking the journey with lunch in the charming coastal town of Swakopmund before continuing north to our remote oceanside camp. En route we visit the Cape Cross Fur Seal Colony – ten thousand seals in one place is a sight (and sound!) you’ll never forget. Once in camp, you’ll meet your crew and, most importantly, your horse, before Andrew gives an introduction to camp life and essential “desert savvy”. With the Atlantic roaring in the background and cool, oxygen-rich air filling your lungs, expect to sleep exceptionally well tonight.

Days 3 & 4: Up the Skeleton Coast

Our first riding day begins with a saddling briefing and time to get acquainted with your horse before setting out across ever-changing terrain. The going varies constantly, quickening as the footing allows, and by late afternoon we’ll be rolling into camp just as the soft evening light settles over the desert. Sundowners are followed by a spectacular display from the Milky Way — with zero light pollution, the night sky here is nothing short of mesmerising. Sharing stories around the campfire with newfound friends is the perfect end to each day.

Day 5 & 6: The Coastal Plains

This is riding on another planet. Keep your camera handy as we traverse undulating terrain washed in colours that shift with every kilometre: brick-red sands, brilliant whites, fog-fed lichen fields in yellows and greens, dry riverbeds and surreal geological formations. Damaraland’s turbulent geological past has carved out some truly astonishing landforms, and encountering them from the saddle is an experience that lingers long after the ride is over.

Days 7 to 9: Back to the Atlantic

We skirt the vast Messum Caldera — a collapsed volcano — and camp on its weathered western rim. The next day we climb a more intact ridge of the caldera for sweeping views across to the distant Brandberg. Our final ride takes us along the beach toward Henties Bay, where a cosy private beach house with panoramic ocean views awaits for your last night on safari.

Day 10: Departure

After an early breakfast, we transfer back to Windhoek on a five-hour drive, arriving around 1pm — perfect timing for flights departing after 3pm from Windhoek International Airport.