Damara Elephant Ride – Namibia

• Day 1 You will be met at Windhoek International Airport and transferred to Windhoek to rest and refresh. At 14h30, your riding group departs on a 3-hour road transfer to our overnight stay at a guest house in Omaruru.
• Day 2 We continue by road to the Aba Huab River Camp, visiting a Nama cultural village en route. Meet the horses and crew at Aba Huab Camp over lunch. After a visit to nearby Twyfelfontein, World Heritage Site of ancient rock art, the afternoon focuses on the essentials of becoming familiar with tack and your hands-on involvement with your horse, before a sunset ride. After a typical Namib camp fireside supper, spend your first night under the stars.
• Day 3 From Aba Huab we ride across endless plains to Rendezvous and after lunch, over sandy hills to our camp at De Riet. This is where the nerve tingling starts; tracking elephant spoor in the sand could lead to an encounter round the next bend!
• Day 4 We continue along the Huab River and across a wide plain towards Mikberg for lunch at the ‘cheetah tree’, followed by a long afternoon ride through fascinating scenery. Our camp is pitched at View Point where we enjoy the views and dramatic colours of Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain.
• Day 5 From View Point we ride southwest towards the Ugab River. After lunch at Lion Head, a long canter brings us to the mouth of a very narrow gorge, past Soutfontein (Salt Fountain) to arrive at the Rhino Trackers´ Camp West of Brandberg. Keep your fingers crossed that our truck has managed the long road from Aba Huab via Uis in time to meet us. Extraordinary driving skills and extra strong nerves are needed for the challenge of taking trucks and riders through the gorge in one piece. It is only when you fly over this landscape (preferably after the ride!) that you realize how spectacular it really is.
• Day 6 Here we have alternative routes depending on the movement of game and water levels. We could ride out of the Ugab River onto the wide open plains and into a deserted gorge described as “out of this world”, or route through reeds and bush thickets along the Ugab to Brakwasser, another place of brackish water frequented by elephants. We then leave the Ugab River and ride up the deserted gorge. Whichever, camp is very enjoyable, shady, sheltered and special!
• Day 7 We leave the Ugab tributary and enter another vast open plain with spectacular views of Brandberg. We enjoy some marvellous cantering and have lunch at Klippenberg, renowned for alluvial gemstones. Our camp is at Cross Roads.
• Day 8 The last day of riding as we make our way towards the Messum River. Again there are open plains and exhilirating canters and spectacular panoramas. We arrive on the beach at the Atlantic Ocean’s unpredictable shore known as the Skeleton Coast, just before lunch. The infamous easterly wind can either raise sea temperatures to be warm enough for a swim, or whip up a sandstorm! Our overnight accommodation is at a lovely beach house in Henties Bay.
• Day 9 Depart for Windhoek after breakfast (a 5-hour transfer).

Riding Level: Challenging (Big 5) Experienced, fit riders only

Included…

Riding, accommodation and meals
Drinks (except in lodges and restaurants)
Ground transfers from and to Windhoek airport on dates of arrival and departure, according to the set itinerary

Not Included…

Single supplement (will not be charged if you are prepared to share)
Personal drinks and refreshments at all lodges and restaurants
Rider’s weight limit strictly 85kg in riding gear. Fit riders over 85kg please enquire about surcharges for additional horse/s
Accommodation not listed on the itinerary. Please enquire
Additional activities and packages. Please see itinerary recommendations
Safari staff gratuities (we recommend €10 per day per guest)