Soaring Over Sossusvlei
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Port
Walvis Bay, Namibia
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
26,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$2400
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Depart the quayside and transfer to Swakopmund Airstrip for a two-hour-and-ten-minute scenic flight over the Namib Desert. The total distance covered by air is about 400 miles. You'll experience low-level flying over the Desert Ecological Research Unit, Gobabeb, founded in 1959, and Tsondab Vlei, the only known breeding area of the lappet-faced vulture in southern Namibia.
Fly over the mighty Namib Desert towards Sossusvlei -- the tallest shifting sand dunes in the world. No part of the desert is visually more stunning than Sossusvlei. The warm tints of the sand range from pale apricot to brick orange and deep red, vividly contrasting with the large white clay pans at the base of some.
From Sossusvlei, you'll fly into the Diamond Restricted Area, over the remains of three former diamond camps. Cross the coastline at Conception Bay to skirt colonies of Cape fur seals and the shipwreck of the passenger liner Eduard Bohlen stranded in 1909, 250 yards from the shore. Further along the coast lies another shipwreck, the Shaunee, stranded in 1976.
Along the coast, with the Atlantic surf on the one side and the Namib Dunes on the other, you'll reach Sandwich Harbour -- a wetland of international importance protected by the Ramsar Convention. The highest recorded density of lesser and greater flamingos was here at low tide with 7,791 birds per square kilometer.
In harmony with the surroundings, you will find Namibia's coastal salt mines, south of Walvis Bay, attracting thousands of birds.
Walvis Bay, Namibia's major harbor town and a former enclave of South Africa, was incorporated into Namibia in 1994. On returning to Swakopmund Airstrip, you will transfer back to the harbor.
Please note:
The aircraft will not make any touchdowns. However, the photo opportunities from the air are numerous. Bring your video camera. Tour operates weather permitting. There is no air-conditioning or restroom on board the aircraft. Namibia is a developing country and, although visiting here is a rewarding experience, it differs markedly from South Africa in all respects. Not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. There is no formal guiding qualification required for Namibia, and in order to support the local community, the tour operator uses local guides. Many of these guides have had prior experience in guiding for visiting cruise ships but some have not. Your guide will do his/her best, but please keep in mind that the limited tourism infrastructure here is part of your experience, and bear with any language or other difficulties he/she may encounter. Road conditions are weather dependent. Many roads are paved, but potholes are ever-present. There are also a number of bumpy dirt roads, which will be navigated carefully. All timings are approximate, as the local traffic will have a direct influence on the overall schedule. Delays are to be expected. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel the tour due to changes in weather, road or access conditions.