Namibia Walking and Trekking

Namibia Walking and Trekking

NAMIBIA WALKING and TREKKING

Namibia has some of the best walking in Africa. It's a desert country but very mountainous, giving a very varied landscape for walking.

There are many marked trails for day walks which most visitors will enjoy. For the more adventurous walker there are several longer trails and treks.

Footloose can organise these for you, as part of a group or as a private departure.

Whilst most people will not visit Namibia just for walking, anyone who enjoys something a little more active should include at least one of these walks as a change from hours of sitting in the vehicle.

Fish River Canyon in the extreme south is a canyon second only to the Grand Canyon and has three alternative trails. The "Real" trail follows the bed of the canyon for fifty miles over five days. Although the river barely flows during the walking season, there are numerous linked pools. The walking is over the boulder bed, along sandy beaches, bare rock and gravel stretches. The canyon is sinuous, so the views are constantly changing and at the end is the small thermal resort of Ai Ais, where there is a hot swimming pool, bar and restaurant. The Klipspringer trail is a shorter version of this. The Fish Eagle trail uses mule for transport bags, so is an easier alternative starting higher up the canyon and exits near the start ofthe other trails.

Naukluft Mountains rise from the Namib desert and look unlikely to yield interesting walking. The surprise is that there is water, fed by springs, flowing in the deep canyons. This gives luxuriant vegetation, a wealth of wildlife and very varied walking. The established trail circles the mountains, using the valley systems and crossing the high plateau. This is considered to be one of the hardest treks in Africa and involves several descents of rocky gorges using chains. The area is a stronghold of mountain zebra, baboons and leopards, and there is a large number of birds. There are also two day walks which are easily accessible.

Brandberg Mountain in the centre of the country and is the highest point. The summit can be reached in a four day trek.

Mundulea is a nature reserve in the centre of the country. Multi-day walks, staying at fixed tented camps, can be organised.

Namib Desert is the huge desert area south of Windhoek. The landscape here is amazingly varied and supports an interesting range of wildlife. There are two possibilities here - Desert Experience and Tok Tokkie Trail.

Namibia can be visited at any time of the year. June - September is the coolest and driest period

4X4 hire, Standard accommodation is shown - luxury is a higher quality and full camping equipment is provided for that option, meals and activities as stated plus maps, 24-hour support and instruction.

Meals in the cities, alcoholic beverages, taxes, trips, extras, laundry service, additional tours, insurance, airline tickets (where applicable), sleeping bags, hiking boots and personal clothing and equipment.