This 12-day trip will take you on a journey from Pretoria to the coast of Namibia. You’ll first travel to Kimberley, where activities include a visit to the Big Hole. The train will then head to Upington and travel to the Fish River Canyon, where you’ll visit Lüderitz, Kolmanskop and Keetmanshoop. Other destinations include the Namib-Naukluft Park, Etosha National Park, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.
Highlights on the journey include the Kalahari Desert, a visit to the Fish River Canyon and a tour in Windhoek. On this journey, you’ll enjoy game-viewing activities at Etosha National Park, as well as a stay at the Namib-Naukluft Park. Other highlights on the journey include wine tasting in Upington and tours in Lüderitz, Kolmanskop and Keetmanshoop. This journey is available in reverse as the Dune Express Eastbound journey.
► The train departs pretoria.
► Kimberley tour. ► Visit the Big Hole and Diamond Mine Museum in Kimberley.
► Upington tour and wine/brandy tasting. ► Morning tour of Upington and wine tasting at Belazel Brandy & Wine Cellar.
► Fish River Canyon visit. ► Morning visit to the Fish River Canyon, the largest in the southern hemisphere.
► Kolmanskop and Lüderitz tour. ► Full-day tour of the ghost town Kolmanskop and Lüderitz, well known for its colonial architecture and wildlife.
► Keetmanshoop tour. ► Morning tour of Keetmanshoop. See the Giant’s Playground with its 20km-long dolerite dykes as well as Quiver Tree Forest, home to 300 species of the Aloe dichotomy.
► Overnight Sossusvlei Lodge with a visit to Sesriem Canyon. ► Transfer to a Sossusvlei lodge in the Namib-Naukluft Park. ► Visit the Sesriem Canyon, shaped over millions of years by the Tsauchab River. Overnight at lodge.
► Sunrise from dune 45 and scenic drive across Namib Naukluft Park. ► Enjoy sunrise from Dune 45 followed by brunch at the lodge. ► Take a scenic drive through the Namib-Naukluft Park.
►City tour of Windhoek. ► See the Trans-Namib Transport Museum, the Alte Feste (Old Fortress), the Evangelical Lutheran Church – a striking landmark – and the Namibia Craft Centre in the old Breweries Building.
► Overnight Etosha National Park with game drive. ► Transfer to a lodge in Etosha National Park. ► Enjoy game-viewing activities. Overnight at lodge.
► Etosha National Park game drive and return to train. ► Enjoy a morning game drive before checking out and returning to the train.
► Arrive at Walvis Bay Station where your tour ends. Check out of the train. (Journey ends in Pretoria if done in reverse.)
