Best of Namibia Ride
13 or 9-day Namibia Motorcycle Adventure
Explore the Best of Namibia
The Namibia Grand Tour
13 or 9-day Namibia Motorcycle Adventure
Join us as we explore Namibia's breathtaking desert landscapes and rich wildlife on this 13-day motorcycle adventure
Route Highlights
Windhoek – Fish River Canyon – Aus – Luderitz – Kolmanskop Ghost Town – Sossusvlei and Sesriem – Swakopmund – Spitzkoppe – Twyfelfontein – Okonjima Game Reserve – Windhoek
Total Distance:
13-day tour: 2850km, 11 riding days
9-day tour: 1810km, 6 riding days
Free Days: 2
Average distance: 290 km per day
Riding Time per day: 4-6 hours
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate, 90% gravel/dirt roads (no deep sand)
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Windhoek
After a long flight we'll arrange a transfer to your hotel. The bikes will be ready for you to check out and start with some pre-packing at our base. There is a shopping mall close by to pick up any last-minute things you might need, and some motorcycle shops with a limited selection of gear too. In the evening we'll enjoy our first dinner together at the famous Joe's Beerhouse.
Day 2: Windhoek to Hoachanas, 255km
We begin our tour with a short ride east through the hills surrounding Windhoek before we turn south onto a good gravel road. We'll ride through landscapes you'll become familiar with in the next few days. This region is famous for its peculiar parallel lines of ancient red dunes. We end our first day with an overnight stay at a tented lodge nestled on a red dune overlooking a pan system which forms part of the Upper Auob Wetlands.
Day 3: Hoachanas to Fish River Canyon, 450km
Today we'll ride west to connect with a tar road running due south. This will help us cover the distance to our next waypoint on the Grand Tour of Namibia: the famous Fish River Canyon. We end the day with a lovely gravel road that takes us into the heart of the southern Namibian landscapes to a beautiful lodge set among rocky outcrops, where you'd think you were the only people on earth.
Day 4: Fish River Canyon to Aus, 375km
Today we have an epic ride parallel to the Fish River Canyon and then along the banks of the Orange River on one of our favourite riding sections in Namibia. We'll begin with a visit to the Fish River Canyon lookout point where we'll get a great view of this ancient canyon. We'll then continue south parallel to the canyon and through rocky landscapes. We'll then take a spectacular gravel road along the banks of the Orange River to Sendelingsdrift, before a tar road that takes us back north to our overnight stop at Aus.
Day 5: Free day at Aus, 0km
We've covered quite a lot of ground already, and today we have the option of a free day exploring the area at Aus, or riding or driving 120km on a good tar road across the Namib desert to the famous abandoned diamond mining town of Kolmanskop. After exploring the camp we'll get lunch at Luderitz and explore the area including the Herero genocide memorial and a beach where we are likely to see flamingos, Oryx and other wildlife. We'll head back to our base at Aus in the afternoon in time for some time at the pool and bar and dinner at the excellent restaurant.
Day 6: Aus to Sesriem, 380km
Today we have our longest day of gravel road riding as we continue north through more vast Namibian landscapes towards Sesriem. We'll stop for coffee and apple cake at the small junction town of Helmeringhausen. We then have the option of a detour to see the quirky Duwisib castle before descending along the scenic pass into the plains surrounding Sesriem.
Day 7: Explore the dunes at Sossusvlei, ride to Gamsberg, 130km
We begin today with a 7am pickup for an excursion to explore the iconic dunes and 'vleis' at Sossusvlei. Motorcycles are not allowed in the park so we'll take a guided tour in a 4x4 vehicle. Here you'll be able to explore Deadvlei, climb the dunes, and enjoy the spectacular views. After arriving back we'll get some lunch before setting out on a short ride to a lodge set in the hills of the Gamsberg region.
Day 8: Gamsberg to Swakopmund, 240km
Today we head west across the Namib desert again to the coast. We'll set out after a relaxed breakfast through the scenic Kuisib Canyon and across the Namib desert which becomes drier the further west we ride. You'll feel the cooler air as we approach the coast and enjoy a fun, smooth ride on a compacted salt road to Walvis Bay. We end the day with a short ride along the breaking waves of the Atlantic Ocean as we head north to Swakopmund.
Day 9: Free day at Swakopmund, 0km
Swakopmund is a scenic, historical, coastal town that is one of the highlights of a visit to Namibia. After the long ride yesterday we get a chance to enjoy and explore the town. One of the best ways to do this is a morning tour of Sandwich Harbour - a spectacular, unique place where the dunes and ocean meet. After returning to town there's a wide variety of restaurants and interesting places to visit in the town.
Hop-off point for the 9-day itinerary
Swakopmund offers a good hop-off point for those on the 9-day tour. Depending on your timing and the location of your departure flight we'll arrange a transfer to Windhoek (330km) in the morning, or after the Sandwich Harbour tour. Departing flights are available from Walvis Bay (WVB) 30km south of Swakopmund or Hosea Kutako Airport (WDH) at Windhoek, 330km away.
Day 10: Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe, 180km
Today's ride is a short one as we explore the southern part of the famous Skeleton Coast. We'll ride next to the cold Atlantic waters past a shipwreck before turning east into the desert at the coastal town of Henties Bay. Soon we'll see the outline of the iconic Spitzkoppe rock formations, known as the Matterhorn of Namibia, appear and grow more imposing we get near. In the afternoon we'll have the chance to ride and walk around and up these beautiful rocks, 'Pondoks', and watch the sunset through the famous arch.
Day 11: Spitzkoppe to Twyfelfontein, 260km
Our route today meanders through vast, arid landscapes that showcase the stark beauty of the Namib desert. The terrain, dotted with occasional wildlife and unique desert flora, offers a mix of challenging and smooth stretches, ideal for an adventurous rider. The ever-changing colors of the desert, from the deep oranges to the soft pinks, create a surreal backdrop for our ride. Approaching Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the scenery shifts to reveal ancient rock formations and prehistoric rock engravings, a testament to the area's rich cultural history. The final stretch is a journey through time, as we ride amidst geological wonders and millennia-old artworks.
Day 12: Twyfelfontein to Okonjima, 385km
Today we'll start heading back east and south towards Windhoek. We'll ride on a mix of gravel and tar roads to Okonjima Game Reserve. Okonjima specialises in the conservation of endangered species such as rhino, leopard, cheetah, wild dogs and more. We'll stay for a night at the Plains Camp Lodge where you can watch the wildlife visit the waterhole. There are evening and morning guided game safaris where you'll have the chance to see some of the diverse wildlife here.
Day 13: Okonjima to Windhoek, 225km
After an optional early morning game safari in the park and some more time relaxing in front of the waterhole, we'll set out for the short ride to our destination, Windhoek. It's an easy ride south with time to take in the last views of the unique Namibian landscapes. Arriving in Windhoek at our base, we'll unpack the bikes and get ready to leave before enjoying our last dinner together at the famous Joe's Beerhouse.
Get in Touch
Contact us today to chat or book your tour, or simply fill in our contact form and we’ll contact you.
Email: andrew@ridedownsouth.com
Whatsapp: +27 67 449 0570