Sossusvlei Shuttle – Ref. NAF 0303
Tour Code : NAF 0303
Days : Daily departures : 3 days / 2 nights
Min / max passengers : 1 – 8
Vehicle : 4 x 4 Landcruiser or Double Cab, Landrover or VW Microbus – all air-conditioned
Languages : English
Accommodation : Namib Naukluft Lodge
Meals : 2 x breakfasts; 1 x lunch; 2 x dinners
Excursions : Sossusvlei, sunset drive to the Marble Mountains
Extras : Park entrance fees – portages – still and sparkling water on board vehicle
Itinerary
Day 1- Namib
You will be met at your establishment in the capital just before 14:00 (wintertime, 13:00). Depart from Windhoek and we’ll first pass the Kupferberg Pass. We drive along cattle farm land and see a few farmhouses along the way. The landscape is hilly and we can enjoy some nice views over fertile valleys. As we continue, the vegetation changes and the farmland is used for sheep and goat farming. We take the turn via the scenic and steep Spreetshoogte Pass. Enjoy an undisturbed view on top of one of the steepest passes in Namibia. We will stop at the small settlement Solitaire and continue to the beautifully set Namib Naukluft Lodge. The establishment is located on the private nature reserve: NamNau Habitat, which hosts a variety of desert adapted game like springbok, ostrich, earth wolf, bat-eared fox and many more.
Day 2 – Namib
An early morning rise with a snack before leaving enables you to arrive at Sesriem, the park’s gate at around sunrise. The route leads along and also across the Tsauchab dry riverbed, which has found a way through the dunes until it reaches the clay pan – the Sossusvlei. After a good rainy season – about every 7 to 10 years – the Tsauchab River runs in full flood and fills the vlei with water. For months it remains here and offers sensational scenery with a prolific birdlife. The early morning sun offers spectacular pastel colours in the star-shaped dunes. This is a highlight for the keen photographer. Your first stop will be at Dune 45 before we continue to the Sossusvlei. Climb one of the dunes – there are plenty – and you might be overwhelmed by the sight of the dynamic and living desert.
Breakfast will be served in the form of a picnic under one of the shady camel thorn trees, before you continue to the base of the ‘Dead Vlei’. It is quite a walk over patches of dunes that are crossing your way. When you arrive you will be paid off for your efforts – the scenery is awesome! We will visit the Sesriem Canyon, a 30m deep rift, before we return to our base Namib Naukluft Lodge and the Soft Adventure Camp for a late lunch.
During the late afternoon a sundowner-drive to the natural marble mountains on this 25,000 hectare private nature reserve is included.
Day 3 – Departure
Departure at 09:00 (wintertime – 08:00) and return to Windhoek via the Remhoogte Pass, which boasts with a variety of vegetation (it is possible to return via Spreetshoogte Pass – depending on weather and road conditions) and arrive in Windhoek at around 12:30.