Discover Namibia’s extraordinary landscapes on two wheels and experience one of Africa’s most unique biking destinations.
Gallery
Namibia has some truly special places to explore by mountain bike. Over the years, we have discovered particular areas, landscapes and nature reserves that we return to again and again and often include in our tours. From the granite mountains of the Erongo and the open landscapes of Damaraland to the Namib Desert, Skeleton Coast and remote northwest, each area offers something completely different. Some have great trails, others quiet gravel roads and remote tracks, but all offer the wide-open spaces and sense of adventure that make biking in Namibia so special. In the gallery below, we introduce some of our favourite areas and the places we love to ride.
Our mountain biking story goes back more than 20 years. We started in the safari business in 1999, but cycling was already part of my life through triathlons and bike races in Namibia and South Africa. As a guide, mountain biking became a great way to combine being active with showing visitors the landscapes and wilderness of Namibia from a completely different perspective. This gallery takes us back to some of those early rides and tours from 2005 onwards. The bikes and equipment have changed quite a bit since then, but the experience of exploring Namibia on two wheels is still just as special.
Ai-Aiba lies amongst the spectacular granite landscapes of the Erongo Mountains, on the edge of the Namib Desert. Mountain biking takes you along trails and tracks winding between enormous granite boulders, rocky outcrops and open valleys. The varied terrain and beautiful views make this a wonderful area to explore by bike. Ancient San rock art and a local San community add a fascinating cultural dimension to the experience.
The Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain, dominates this spectacular part of Damaraland. Our rides explore the wild western side, passing the old Brandberg West Mine and crossing the sandy Ugab River through a landscape of rugged mountains and volcanic rock. The riding opens onto beautiful, flowing desert terrain, with enormous views stretching towards the coast and across Damaraland. Almost wherever you ride, the massive Brandberg remains on the horizon, creating an unforgettable backdrop to this remote mountain-biking landscape.
Riding along the coast towards Cape Cross is a completely different Namibian experience. The wild Atlantic Ocean, deserted beaches, old shipwrecks and mist rolling in from the sea create an almost otherworldly landscape. There is little vegetation apart from remarkable fields of desert lichens, with a lonely coastal road stretching through the vast emptiness. The journey leads to the famous Cape Cross seal colony, home to thousands of Cape fur seals and one of the great wildlife spectacles of the Skeleton Coast.
The Doros Crater ride takes us deep into one of Damaraland’s most remote and dramatic landscapes, with distant views towards the Brandberg. Ancient volcanic activity associated with the breakup of Gondwana shaped this rugged terrain of dark rock, open plains and striking geological formations. We ride through sparse mopane woodland and amongst scattered boulders, with wonderful views towards the crater itself. This is also desert-adapted black rhino country, adding to the sense of riding through a truly wild and untouched part of Namibia.Riding along the coast towards Cape Cross is a completely different Namibian experience. The wild Atlantic Ocean, deserted beaches, old shipwrecks and mist rolling in from the sea create an almost otherworldly landscape. There is little vegetation apart from remarkable fields of desert lichens, with a lonely coastal road stretching through the vast emptiness. The journey leads to the famous Cape Cross seal colony, home to thousands of Cape fur seals and one of the great wildlife spectacles of the Skeleton Coast.
The Palmwag Concession is a vast wilderness of ephemeral rivers, rugged mountains and the ancient volcanic landscapes of the Etendeka Plateau. Riding westwards towards the Skeleton Coast, we cross immense open spaces where the cool Atlantic fog reaches far into the desert and supports unique desert flora. Few people ever travel through this remote part of Namibia, and the sense of isolation is extraordinary. It is one of those rare places where you can still feel completely lost in a wild and seemingly untouched corner of Africa.
Kaokoland is one of Namibia’s last great wilderness areas – remote, rugged and wonderfully adventurous. We ride through vast valleys and ephemeral river systems, surrounded by mountains and seemingly endless open landscapes. Desert-adapted giraffe, oryx, springbok and ostrich roam here, while even desert lions occasionally move through this wild country. Kaokoland is also the homeland of the Himba people and home to the mysterious stone sculptures known as the Lone Men of Kaokoland. It is a faraway place where mountain biking still feels like a true expedition.
The Palmwag Concession is a vast protected wilderness between the Uniab and Hoanib river systems, bordering the Skeleton Coast. It is particularly famous for its desert-adapted black rhino, as well as oryx, springbok, giraffe and other wildlife. The stark landscape supports fascinating desert plants, including Euphorbia damarana and the remarkable elephant’s foot. Riding through this remote country, amongst rocky plains, dry riverbeds and distant mountains, gives a wonderful feeling of being deep in the wild.
The Namib Desert offers magnificent riding between the Naukluft Mountains and the great dune fields of Sossusvlei. From the top of Spreetshoogte Pass, the landscape opens dramatically across the vast desert plains before we descend towards the Namib. Quiet gravel roads and remote farm tracks make for beautiful riding through this immense landscape. With mountains on one side and some of the world’s highest dunes in the distance, this is classic Namibian mountain biking.
Known as the “Matterhorn of Namibia”, the Spitzkoppe rises dramatically from the surrounding desert plains. We ride amongst massive granite formations, with spectacular views of the Spitzkoppe and the nearby Erongo Mountains. Trails and tracks lead through the surrounding Damara community and across beautiful open terrain, making this a fascinating area to explore by bike. Camping beneath the granite peaks and riding through this extraordinary landscape is a very special Namibian experience.
Twyfelfontein lies amongst the beautiful sandstone landscapes of Damaraland and is famous for its ancient rock engravings. We ride through a landscape formed from ancient desert sands, past fascinating geological features such as Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes, and along remote trails stretching east towards Doros Crater. Nearby, the ephemeral Aba-Huab River is home to Namibia’s desert-adapted elephants, which we sometimes set out to find. Sandstone mountains, dry river valleys and wide-open spaces make this a wonderfully varied area to explore by mountain bike.
East of Swakopmund, the Swakop River cuts through the extraordinary badlands known as the Moon Landscape. We ride beautiful trails through this deeply eroded terrain, surrounded by barren ridges, rocky valleys and fascinating desert flora. Longer rides follow the Swakop River towards the Goanikontes Oasis, with almost no other people along the way. Ringing rocks, unusual geological formations and the stark desert scenery make this one of the most unique mountain-biking areas around Swakopmund.
Swakopmund is a small, historic coastal town with a distinctly European character, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Namib Desert. It is great fun simply to explore by bike, riding through the old town and along the beachfront and coastal paths. For something completely different, we head into the dunes on fat bikes, with either conventional or electric fat bikes available. Riding from the desert dunes down towards the beach, with the Atlantic Ocean ahead, is a wonderfully unique Swakopmund experience.
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