Uri Adventures

5 Days Faces of the Namib

Discover this desert’s unique treasures…

A world of infinite horizons, dramatic vistas and fascinating flora and fauna…

Reported to be the oldest desert on earth, the Namib is approximately 80 million years old. Completely devoid of surface water, it is bisected by several dry riverbeds and is characterised by extensive, undulating dunes. The Sahara may be larger and Gobi more isolated, but the Namib is the very oldest, so on this trip, prepare for the best desert experience possible! Our aim with this trip is to cross the desert from east to west experiencing all the wonders this desert has to offer.

 

 

With the assistance of our knowledgeable and experienced guides you will gain an insight into the history and biology of the untamed land.Training and advice will be given en-route and our guides will be on hand to talk you through any obstacles you might encounter. 2 Way radios are issued to each vehicle at the beginning of the trip. Not only are our guides there to get you to your final destination in a safe, enjoyable manner, but to provide you with 3 excellent meals each day.

Uri Adventures

The Adventure...

 The Conception Adventure has been developed as a joint venture between the Topnaar Community and URI Adventures. 

The Conception Adventure is an unique adventure taking place in the vast sand sea of the Namib Desert south of Walvis Bay offering the ultimate challenge for

 thrill seekers with off-road endurance and a taste for adventure. 

Time wise there are various options to choose from when planning your Conception trip - the total trip's duration is 4 days/3 nights but some of the sections can be done in isolation, thus allowing the participant to do some of the sections in as little as 2 days. 

The rest of the trip can then be done on a more convenient time. Each of the sections offers it's own unique experience and scenery. For this reason it is possible to brake the whole route into shorter tours with very little overlapping on any of the highlighted points in the itinerary.

Local news from the Gondwana Collection

Enjoy the Wonders of Nature at Leisure

Guests of Namib Desert Lodge who want to participate in an organized excursion to Sossusvlei have to rise early. Because the colours of the desert are at their most beautiful and resplendent in the first light of the morning. And the ascent to the top of the highest dunes on earth is not quite as taxing in the freshness of thenew day. It will definitely rev up the circulation of any morning grouch and the reward is a magnificent view across the dune landscape and Sossusvlei, currently filled with water - which is a very rare sight. Namib Desert Lodge acquired a second all-wheel drive with eight passenger seats this month. This means that the two vehicles can now take a total of 16 guests on a leisurely excursion to Sossusvlei every day. Professional guides provide details on the specific features of the landscape, the fauna and flora.

Gondwana Cañon Park a Garden of Eden

All internal fences have now disappeared in Gondwana Cañon Park. The last section of 15 km of fencing along the public road near Holoog was taken down in January. In total, 500 km of fences have been removed. They were a relic from earlier farming activities. Foraging game needs to be able to move around as freely as possible in order to survive. The park is situated in the Nama Karoo Desert where rainfall usually is scarce and scattered. Since its inception in 1995 only game species which once were indigenous to the region were reintroduced to the 1,260 km² nature conservation area, among them hartebeest, wildebeest and plains zebra. This year, however, game animals find more than enough food almost everywhere. In January 25.1 mm of rain (monthly average 19.9 mm) were recorded and in February 61.5 mm (31.2 mm). All of the park’s seasonal (mostly dry) rivers were in flood at some stage. Everything is sprouting and blooming now, the game is well-fed. In January the park rangers watched a herd of 140 springbok grazing in the grassy plains. The camera traps at Jagpos and Jakkalsdam took pictures of two leopards.

Menu enriched by traditional Speciality

There is a new delicacy on the menu of Damara Mopane Lodge: roasted Mopane worms. They are harvested on site, just like the vegetables, herbs and fruit. The worms, or more correctly caterpillars, are picked from Mopane trees around the lodge. Our guests react differently to this new speciality - which in fact is a traditional, regional one. Some leave it at a curious glance into the bowl, others valiantly reach into it. Mopane worms occur only in southern Africa and are usually unknown to guests from other continents. In its distribution area in Africa the caterpillars are an important source of protein for millions of people. For many it is also a desperately needed source of income.

For more information email us at info@namibiareservations.com

Sossusvlei has Water

Breaking news received from Sossusvlei Lodge.

The Pictures taken just after the water reached the Sossusvlei, the area known to have some of the worlds highest sand dunes.

The Namib Desert region around Sossusvlei after several years is blessed to have received some good rains. The Tsauchab River has been in flood a few times in the past few days and eventually the water masses made its way through to the end, to Sossusvlei.

The Tsauchab River in full flood, cutting off the road leading to Sossusvlei.

Water in the desert is something not often witnessed. The Namib Desert is said to be one of the oldest and driest desert, having endured arid or semi-arid conditions for an estimated 55 to 80 million years. Animals and plants in the Namib rely largely on morning fog as the main source of water. This often referred to as 'mysterious' fog is as a result of the Arctic water meeting African desert; the Atlantic Ocean is a mere 60km east of Sossusvlei.

The ephemeral Tsauchab River, has its origin in the Naukluft Mountains, makes its way through the Sesriem Canyon and then after another 20-30km onwards forming a delta through the sandy stretches towards the Deadvlei and final dune belt of Sossusvlei. The sandy 5km stretch of road from what is known as the 2x4 Parking is flooded and this phenomenon is currently best viewed from the air.
All other roads from elsewhere in the country leading towards the Sossusvlei area seem relatively fine. They are however best travelled in 4x4, or vehicles with high ground clearance. Special care must be taken when approaching rivers and even the smallest rivulets as these may have steep edges due to sudden and have flow of water. Slow driving is definitely recommended.

For more details or to make a booking either accommodation or activities in the area please contact us at: info@namibiareservations.com
or visit our sister website for more details of establishments in the area: www.namibiareservations.com/sossusvleie.html