Damara Elephant Safari

Arrive at Windhoek International Airport. A shuttle service will collect you from the airport to River Crossing Lodge where you’ll spend your first night. Meet your fellow riders and guide Andrew Gillies for sundowners and dinner. Andrew will give you a briefing about your adventure.

After an early breakfast you’ll be transferred (approximately 7 hours including a stop on the way for lunch) to the first camp in the Aba Huab river. In the afternoon you’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Twyfelfontein with its 5000 year-old petroglyphs. You’ll return to camp at sunset for dinner and will spend your first night under the stars. Elephants sometimes walk through camp at night.. light sleepers be warned!

On day 3, your riding adventure begins! With the rising sun behind you, the trail heads westward across Namibia’s vast desert landscapes, gradually settling into the rhythm of horse and rider. Riding through open plains and seasonal riverbeds, the route follows terrain shaped by water, wind and time.

Wildlife is never predictable in these arid regions, yet the desert is home to a remarkable variety of specially adapted species. Oryx and springbok are often seen, with the possibility of encountering kudu, ostrich and -if fortune allows- elephant or rhino moving quietly through the dry river systems.

Long stretches of open ground invite flowing canters, while rocky and sandy sections slow the pace as the trail winds through old valleys and eroded plateaus. Lunch is taken in the shade before continuing toward a remote riverside camp.

As evening falls, the vastness of the desert truly reveals itself. With no artificial light for miles, the silence is profound and the sky feels impossibly wide. You’ll spend the night completely immersed in the raw, timeless stillness of Namibia.

Leaving the river valleys behind, the trail opens onto the vast coastal plains, with the striking silhouette of the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain, forming a dramatic backdrop. The open terrain offers excellent riding conditions, allowing for longer, faster-paced stretches as you cross this immense and seemingly endless landscape.

As the journey continues west, the landscape starts to feel almost otherworldly. You ride towards the Messum Caldera, the remains of an ancient volcano. Wide plains, rocky ridges, and open views make you feel how big and remote this place really is.

The riding here is varied. You move across stony ground, open flats and gentle hills, with wide views over the desert around you.

On the final day of riding, you arrive at the Skeleton Coast: a wild and remote shoreline. Shaped by the cold Benguela Current, this coast is full of contrasts. Fog rolls in from the sea, cool air meets the desert heat and old shipwrecks tell stories of this harsh and untamed place.

The ride ends in the small coastal town of Henties Bay, where you overnight in a comfortable private house with the most spectacular view over the Atlantic Ocean- a fitting end to an extraordinary journey from desert heartland to sea.

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Windhoek for your departing flight (after 15:00). The drive takes just over five hours, offering one last chance to soak in the Namibian landscapes as they roll past. If your schedule allows, consider extending your stay to explore more of Namibia’s wonders- wander among the dunes of Sossusvlei, encounter the incredible wildlife of Etosha National Park or continue your journey south to South Africa or Botswana for even more adventure.