This is not just a safari – it is one of Africa’s most challenging and exhilarating horseback adventures. Designed by luxury, impact-led travel specialists at Explorations Company for experienced equestrians and fit riders, this new journey takes up to 12 participants through the vast and dramatic landscapes of the Namib Desert – widely considered the oldest desert on earth – from towering dunes to rugged canyons and wide open plains, culminating at the Atlantic Ocean.
The adventure begins in Windhoek with a seamless transfer, overnight accommodation and dinner. Guests meet their expert guide, Andrew Gillies and fellow riders for a briefing over sundowners before setting off on their journey.
On the second day, a transfer takes riders to the desert camp, where they meet their horses and support crew. The afternoon includes an excursion to Sossusvlei, with the opportunity to climb the iconic Dune 45 for panoramic views of the UNESCO-listed landscape. The day concludes with dinner around the campfire beneath the spectacular southern night sky.
The riding begins on day three, starting at a steady pace to allow riders to adjust to their horses and the terrain. From the foothills of the Naukluft Mountains, the route crosses the dramatic Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons before reaching the expansive plains of the central Namib. Along the way, the landscape is interspersed with Camelthorn-lined dry riverbeds, striking granite formations and a surprising abundance of desert-adapted wildlife, including oryx and ostrich.
As the journey nears its conclusion, the terrain becomes increasingly arid and surreal, shaped by 600 million years of geological history. The final stretch leads to the Atlantic coastline, marking the end of an extraordinary expedition.
This safari offers a rare and demanding equestrian challenge in one of the world’s most breathtaking desert environments—an unforgettable adventure for those seeking to push their limits and immerse themselves in Namibia’s wild beauty.
Available year-round, this equestrian safari experience can also be taken privately. Accommodation for the first two nights is in a lodge, while for the remaining eight nights, guests will be camping out underneath the stars (rustic but comfortable accommodations with Egyptian cotton bedding).
