Join us on an extraordinary exploration of the coastal dune belt just outside Swakopmund. To the untrained eye the dunes are just a pile of sand, however our skilled and experienced guides will introduce you to a wealth of life. Track Palmato geckos, sand diving lizards, the famous fog-basking toktokkie beetle, sidewinder snakes, spiders, scorpions and chameleons. This 3 hour exploration will be rounded off with a short dune drive.
An enlightening journey takes you through the ancient canyons of the Moon Valley, one of the most fascinating areas of the Namib Desert. Let us take you back millions of years to when these badlands were formed. Learn the intrinsic value of the desert flora to the indigenous people who once roamed Southern Africa. Discover the medicinal and nutritional use of desert adapted flora, and delve into the secrets of the Welwitschia mirabilis. We learn about the desert adapted flora and fauna and how they survive under these harsh conditions by unfolding their many hidden secrets. This informative tour also looks into what we call “the future of the Central Namib”, as we inform our guests about planned future industrial activities as well as existing ones in the area, due to the growth of uranium mining and other related industry. This spectacular area is also home to some wildlife, and we might just spot springbok, ostrich, klipspringer, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Karoo Chat and others. Smaller creatures such as chameleons and beetles call this home too.
Many of our guests choose to do the "Living Dunes Experience" in the morning, come back to town for a leisurely lunch at own cost, and then join the "Welwitschia Tour" in the afternoon. This option offers the chance of seeing and experiencing the dunes, the vast open gravel plains and the spectacular Moon Landscape. The morning explores the little creatures, while the afternoon offers an exploration of the botanical side of the desert. The Sand & Rock Tour is simply a combination of two tours, but at a slightly better price.
An enlightening journey takes you through the ancient canyons of the Moon Valley, one of the most fascinating areas of the Namib Desert. Let us take you back millions of years to when these badlands were formed. Learn the intrinsic value of the desert flora to the indigenous people who once roamed Southern Africa. Discover the medicinal and nutritional use of desert adapted flora, and delve into the secrets of the Welwitschia mirabilis. We learn about the desert adapted flora and fauna and how they survive under these harsh conditions by unfolding their many hidden secrets. This informative tour also looks into what we call “the future of the Central Namib”, as we inform our guests about planned future industrial activities as well as existing ones in the area, due to the growth of uranium mining and other related industry. This spectacular area is also home to some wildlife, and we might just spot springbok, ostrich, klipspringer, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Karoo Chat and others. Smaller creatures, such as chameleons and beetles call this home too. For lunch we will stop at a shady spot to recharge body and spirit with a tasty lunch and some cold refreshments. This is a great time to discuss and share the morning’s discoveries before we continue along the Swakop River to Goanikontes, an “oasis” that played an important role during the colonial times. Before we return to Swakopmund, we stop at the sand dunes to round off an informative and great day in the oldest desert in the world.
Where others have an hour long drive from Walvis Bay just to get to the launch sites at Pelican Point, we acknowledge that our guests are actually on holiday. Instead of expecting our guests to check in at Walvis Bay early in the morning, we will allow our guests to sleep in a little and have a leisurely breakfast, holiday style. Pick up is only at 9h00 in Swakopmund. Transfer time is just about 20 minutes to get to the launch site at the historic landmark known as "Bird Rock". Sheltered by the big bay, we paddle in calm waters, enjoy wonderful bird life, see seals playing and dolphins swimming. Pelicans, cormorants and flamingoes are amongst the many birds to be seen on the beach, the water and in the air. Bird Rock is an historic location along the central coast and we share lots of interesting historical information with our guests. After kayaking, we recharge with a cup of hot coffee/ tea or hot chocolate and some rusks before packing up and heading back to Swakopmund.
Combining two half day trips for less. Since both the kayaking and the Living Dunes Experience are only offered in the morning due to the typical afternoon winds, this combo is divided over two separate mornings, and the order is subject to availability.
This is a combination of the Kayaking @ Bird Rock experience and the half day Sandwich Harbour tour. After the coffee on the beach and once the kayaks are loaded up again, your Sandwich Harbour guide will collect you and the next adventure will begin. A light lunch is included on the Sandwich Harbour trip. It is advisable to bring a change of clothes for this combo trip. We have a changing cubical on the beach for your convenience.
Combining to half day trips for less. Enjoy the morning on the water with our Kayaking @ Bird Rock tour and spend the afternoon exploring the Moon landscape with all its wonderful desert adapted flora including the fascinating Welwitschia plants.
We take a short journey through time. We start with an exploration of Swakopmund’s colourful history, its origins and its well-maintained buildings from the colonial era. We venture into modern day Swakopmund to find out just what Swakopmund is to the local people from all groups of our society. We drive along luxury beachfront homes and travel into the townships looking at property prices, income statistics and living standards. At the end of this 1.5 hour long tour, we take a glance into the future to see how Swakopmund may develop. Swakopmund yesterday, today and tomorrow.
After a morning Living Dunes Experience, you have enough time to freshen up and enjoy a lunch before exploring the history and the life of our beautiful little town during the afternoon Swakopmund City Tour.
This is a fun-filled morning’s only activity. The boat departs from Walvis Bay Waterfront and cruises past the oyster farms and fishing trawlers in the bay, towards the seal colony at Pelican Point. The cruise returns via Bird Island. A variety of birds such as pelicans, flamingos, cormorant and many more can be seen. Enjoy the antics of feeding the seals and pelicans on board. You will more than likely catch a glimpse of playful dolphins as well as a possible whale or sunfish (Mola Mola). Fresh oysters, sparkling wine and snacks are served before returning to the harbour around midday. When booking the Seal & Dolphin cruise, please indicate that you like to be on a motorized catamaran.
This is a fun-filled and active day out. Offering the better of two worlds, this combo package consists of a morning Dolphin & Seal Cruise, and a half day Sandwich Harbour tour by 4x4. A popular combo that highlights the contrast of the desert and its spectacular dunes right next to the ocean.
Experience dolphins swimming alongside the catamaran, seals being fed aboard, sunfish sharing the secrets of the depths and shy leatherback turtles surfacing. In season we also have the humpback whales, southern right whales and the orcas breaching about. With the Walvis Bay Lagoon being a RAMSAR site, the bay has an abundance of bird life, with our white pelicans being a must see! When booking the Sail Catamaran cruise, please indicate that you like to be on a Sail catamaran.
From the Orange River in the south to the Kunene in the north, the coastline of Namibia ranges 1570 kilometers. The lagoon of Sandwich Harbour lies like a jewel between the dunes and the Atlantic Ocean. After a short visit to Walvis Bay we drive south, passing the colourful evaporation fields of the salt works, and enjoy an adventurous drive through the majestic dunes and along the sea. The last kilometers to Sandwich Harbour can only be managed at low water level by a very experienced driver. Plenty of fish attract lake and land birds since the pent-up ground water provides lots of plants to protect their offspring. We enjoy a lovely picnic in an unspoiled environment with terrific scenes and landscapes as a background. Sand covered ruins from colonial times where guano was harvested and transported back to Walvis Bay can still be seen. Sandwich Harbour is a paradise for ornithologists and photographers from all over the world. Our way back leads us through the large Kuiseb Delta, also home to many bird species, jackal, brown hyena, springbuck and many more. This tour is truly a great outing.
The full day tour offers pretty much the same as the half day tour, just allowing a little more leisurely pace and more flexibility in the day’s itinerary. This is important to those that want to enter the lagoon area. As the full day tour allows for more time, the guide can plan the day better to allow to enter the lagoon area at low tide. Please note that despite this, it may not be possible to enter the lagoon area at all days.
On the 4x4 drive to the Kayaking site, we get to see the Walvis Bay wetlands with plenty of birds including flamingos and pelicans, and the salt mine which is one of the biggest in the world. Our seals are very playful and love to interact with our kayaks. The seals come up to us to play with our paddles and to splash water at us. On a kayak, you become part of the ocean without disturbing the wildlife. The animals do not see us as a threat in any way, and therefore we have to opportunity to enjoy them 100% in their natural state.
The Kayak Combo is the combination of the Pelican Point Kayaking tour, a delicious lunch on the beach or in the dunes, and a 4x4 ride in the breathtaking Sandwich Harbour area of the Namib Naukluft Park.
Take a scenic flight up to altitude and see the unique Atlantic Ocean where it meets the Namib Desert Dunes. The aircraft door opens and you jump attached to a world-class qualified tandem instructor. You Free fall at 200km/h and experience the feeling of human flight, your instructor then opens the parachute and you get to fly over the oldest Desert in the world suspended from your parachute for approximately 7 minutes and then finally the instructor lands you safely on Mother Earth.
Feel the fresh coastal air, take in the silence and breathtaking scenery of the oldest desert in the world while enjoying the thrill of cycling up and down Namibia's famous dunes. Guaranteed to excite and offer an unforgettable and unique cycling experience.
On this Scenic Swakopmund Tour we cycle down memory lane past some of Swakopmund's historic buildings and landmarks to convey a feeling of how our charming town started and why Swakopmund is still one of Namibia's favorite places to visit. Min of 3 pax.
This is for active people. Depending on the tides of the day, it is possible for first fat bike for an hour on the beach and then kayak for an hour, or the other way around. The availability of this combination tour depends on the tides, as we require the tide to be low enough to cycle on the harder sand.
Experience the world famous “where the desert meets the sea” on a fat bike. Sandwich Harbour on the edge of the world heritage site, Sand Sea of Namibia, is one of the most special places in the world. The Fat Bike allows us to explore this amazing area in the most ecological and close to nature way, a once in a lifetime experience. The cycle is about 3 hours and 16-18 km.
We offer Quadbiking not as an extreme sport, but as a fun way to get into the dunes. These guided trips are designed for people without any prior experience of Quadbiking. We offer 1 hour and 2 hour trips all day long. A 3 hour combo trip which includes 2 hours of Quadbiking and one hour of lie-down sandboarding is also available. After a safety briefing, the tour starts off easy to get used to the bikes before we start with an exhilarating passage through the dunes towards the inland.
This 3 hour combo is a lot of fun. We combine the joy of lie-down sand boarding with about 2 hours of quadbike riding. Great choice.
The almost childlike joy of surfing down the sand dunes is quite an experience. There are two different types of sandboarding available, choose between the traditional lie-down boarding and the stand-up boarding using snow boards.A polished hardboard and a quick instruction in all you need. The lie-down boarders can reach speeds over 50km/h
We use snow board like boards for this option. It is a little harder than snowboarding, especially in the beginning until you gain some momentum. But all ways good fun. On booking this we require your shoes sizes in order to provide the right size boots. If you are booked on a stand up board, you can also try your hand at lie down boarding.
Various routes are operated in R44 helicopters. These short flights are a great experience to see the areas from above. The rates are based on 2 passengers. There are however 3 seats available, and the rates per person will be adjusted for 3 passengers.
These scenic flights are fantastic. The most popular route is the Sossus Scenic, however all routes have their own special characteristics. Prices quoted are per person, based on 5 passengers per flight. Should less than 5 passengers be booked on any of these flights, the prices per person will be adjusted.
An early morning start is rewarded by the exiting experience of gliding over the desert in a hot air balloon. The excitement of watching the balloons being prepared and filled with first cold, then the hot air from the gas burners is all part of the experience. Depending on the weather, we fly over or along the canyons of the moon landscape and the vast open plains adjacent, or we fly near the coastal dunes. Dictated by the wind we find a suitable landing site where a champagne breakfast is served.
Good catches can be expected all year round. Our guide assist clients with bait presentation, casting and coaching: therefore no prior fishing experience is required to do this tour. Fishing tours from the beach include transfers, drinks, equipment and permits. We require a copy of the guests passport in order to organize the fishing permit. This can be sent via email or whatsapp to our office a day before the tour.
Half Day
Full Day
Bottom fish are caught with bait such as sardines, mussels etc. In depths of 2m up to 15, close to reefs. This tour includes a lunch pack, a cool box with beer, soft drinks and water. All bait and tackle will be supplied. The fish you catch is yours to keep, but all sharks will be released. Bring along your Passport in order to obtain the required permits prior to departure.
The Cape Cross peninsular is of both historic and ecological significance, as it is the site of one of the first landings by Europeans seafarers. It is also the home of some 200 000Cape fur seals. It was here that Diego Cao erected a stone cross in honour of a safe sea journey from Portugal in 1486. You will be given a detailed explanation of the seal colony, while highlighting the historical endeavors of the early settlers who mined guano and harvested seals.
Unfold an ecosystem of unique tidal pools, abundant bird life and interesting history. In and around the rock pools you will find mollusks, anemones, seaweeds and crustaceans. Interacting and co-existing in the tidal area of our coast we have plentiful bird life and a co-dependency is evident.
The township is a melting pot of our Namibian culture and showcases authentic Namibian communities and the people that make Namibia the culturally rich country it is today. Mondesa Township was formed in the 1950’s to provide housing for black people.
Activities with 3 stars are operated my Charly’s Desert Tours, all others activities are operated by selected third party suppliers
