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Namibia> Safaris in Namibia> Other Safaris |
The DuneHopper, a fly-in programme with packages ranging from 2 to 5 nights, departs daily from Windhoek and Swakopmund to NamibRand Nature Reserve and Sossusvlei - synonymous with some of Africa's most breathtaking locations - and made the region, as well as the concept of fly-in safaris, more accessible to a wider scope of time-pressed nature-lovers seeking the extraordinary.
The portfolio of lodges and camps form the perfect base from where you can explore the towering dunes of Sossusvlei and the vast stretches of awe-inspiring wilderness of NamibRand. The variety of building techniques, natural settings and service attributes of the selected establishments guarantee that every guests individual preferences are catered for - in terms of comfort, style and travel-budget.
In addition, two activity-based features - to name hot-air ballooning and hiking trails - add to the composition of 6 standard DuneHopper programmes.
The essence of joining a DuneHopper lies in the freedom of choice and an unforgettable experience whilst saving time.
Many visitors to Namibia say that no part of the desert is visually more stunning than Sossusvlei with its monumentally high dunes, the shadows of their sinuous crests and warm colours continually changing as the day waxes and wanes. These gigantic star-shaped mountains of sand - one of the highest was measured from the base to be 325 meters - are a sought-after topic for photographers.
The warm tints of the sand, ranging from pale apricot to brick orange and deep red, contrast vividly with the dazzling white surfaces of the large clay pans at their bases. One of these, referred to as Dead Pan, is a large expanse of dry white clay, punctuated by skeletons of ancient camel-thorn trees, dated as being up to 500 years old.
Sossusvlei's mountainous dunes lie at the end of the erosional trough formed by the Tsauchab River. They are shaped by strong multi-directional winds, primarily the south-western, and have three to five sinuous crests, which meet at the highest point to give them their star shape, best seen from the air.
When it has rained sufficiently in the interior for the Tsauchab River to come down in flood and fill the main pan, flamingos and other aquatic birds are attracted to the area, bringing alive this surreal wonder of nature. There is no accommodation at Sossusvlei itself. A variety of lodges - most are presented in this brochure - are located just outside the Sesriem gate. The distance from this official gate to the dunes is about 60 kilometres. Sossusvlei can only be visited between sunrise and sunset.
DuneHoppers can also commence and/or end at Swakopmund with altered departure and arrival times.
The flying times (departures and arrivals) are as follows*
* in the event that departure or arrival times are altered slightly on a certain day, the passengers will be advised accordingly.
Departure and arrival times are the same regardless summer- or wintertime and a stop-over at other lodges must be anticipated. Getting from the departure airport to any of the lodges in the area will be two hours at the maximum and the same from any lodge to Swakopmund or Windhoek/Eros.
As the DuneHopper is based on daily departures, departure and arrival times are relatively fixed and cannot be changed. Should this prove inconvenient, one would have to book a private charter.
DuneHoppers are not based on exclusive charter and there might be other passengers travelling as well. The same accounts for inter-lodge road transfers which are done in open Landrovers or any other suitable vehicle and during the afternoons with firm departure time at the various lodges. It is important to note that the transfer on NamibRand will be of scenic drive character and hence compensates for the nature drive taken otherwise.
Flights can be, but are not guaranteed to be direct from Eros/Swakop to your final destination. Stop-over’s en-route (to pick up or drop other DuneHopper passengers) at other airfields in the area can occur, however maximum travelling time from A to B will be less than 2 hours in total. The same accounts for road transfers* from any of the Sossusvlei lodges to Wolwedans (no private transfer!!!)
Passengers are permitted one bag which must be the soft sports kid bag type of 20lbs or 10 kg maximum. Limitations are strictly adhered to for safety reasons.
Rates:
See the individual itineraries for specific rates.
Low season (03 Jan. - 30 June)
Mid Season (1 November - 31 December)
High season (1 July - 2 Jan)
Rates are based on minimum 2 pax per tour (1 pax = surcharge)
Airport Tax is not included
Payment:
Payment can be made in the following ways: