Dune Express

Dune Express

Length   12 days / 11 night
Places   Cape Town
Accommodation   Depends on budget
Meals   9 Breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner
Highlights   Art master class interaction & lunch

For a more detailed overview please click here

The trip can also be booked in the opposite direction.

This route explores the magnificent landscape of Namibia - a beautiful country of extreme contrasts, vast colourful deserts, dunes, almost extra-terrestrial rock formations, great game reserves, delightful coastal towns with old world German hospitality, bushman settlements and the wind vitality of the south Atlantic seaboard. Add to this 3 days to enjoy and explore the many splendours of Cape Town where the tour starts or ends.


Day 01
Windhoek City Tour

The city tour of Windhoek starts with a visist to the TransNamib Transport Museum. The museum at hte Alte Feste Castle features a range fo displays, including the Social History Gallery and the Independence Display. At the top of Robert Mugabe Avenue is the Christuskirche or Evangelical Lutheran Church. Our last visit is the Namibia Craft Centre in the old Breweries Building. (Half day. Distance traveled: ± 50 km).

The train departs at 16h00 for Tsumeb.

Day 02
Etosha National Park

The tour departs to Etosha National Park, entering via the Namutoni Gate. Game viewing takes place from our air-conditioned vehicles. Lunch (Guests' own account) is enjoyed in one of the camps. (Full day. Distance traveled: ± 250 km).

The train travels empty from Tsumeb to Oshivelo where it remains stationary.

Optional Extras

1. Etosha National Park

Guests spend another full day of game viewing from the safety of our air-conditioned vehicles. Lunch (Guests' own account) can be enjoyed in the park. The night is spent in a tented camp inside or close to the park. Distance traveled: ± 250km).

The train remains stationary overnight at Oshivelo station.

Day 03
Etosha National Park

Guests spend a further full day of game viewing in our air-conditioned vehicles. Lunch (Guests' own account) can be enjoyed in the park. Guests return back to the train at Otjiwarongo. (Full day. Distance traveled: ± 250 km).


Day 04
Omaruru

Called the 'Garden Town' of Namibia. Omaruru is a town and constituency in the Erongo Region of Nambia. Its offical population is 6,792. The town is situated by the Erongo Mountains, on the usually dry Omaruru River.

The town was established in 1872 by Gottlieb Viehe, now a museum, and was attacked in 1904 during the Herero and Namaque Genocide. Experiences include a white wine tasting conkey cart ride, dinosaur footprint and the Tikoloshe root-carving factory.

The train departs early evening from Omaruru via Kranzberg and Usakos to Swakopmund. (Full day. Distance traveled: ± 10 km + 500m on a donkey cart).

Day 05 - Swakopmund, Spitzkoppe and North Coast land excursion
Spitzkoppe, Henties Bay and the Cape Cross Seal Reserve

After visiting the granite mountains of Spitzkoppe we continue to the small, thriving town of Henties Bay where guests can enjoy lunch (Guests' own account). After lunch we visit the Cape Cross Seal Reserve north of Henties Bay, making our way back to the train in Swakopmund in the late afternoon. (Full day. Distance traveled: ± 350 km).

The train remains stationary in Swakopmund.

Day 06 - Swakopmund / Walvis Bay
Moon Landscape, Welwitschia Drive, Walvis Bay and Dune 7

Our day starts with a drive into the Namib Deset for the Welwitschia Nature Drive, returning to Walvis Bay for a lunch break (Guests' own account). We visit the Walvis Bay Lagoon and Dune 7, located ont eh outskirts of Walvis Bay. (Full day. Distance traveled: ± 200 km).

Day 07
Swakopmund

The day is spent at leisure.

Optional Extras

1. Sossusvlei Fly-in

A flight over the Namib Desert and along the Kuiseb River. After passing over Tsondabvlei, we land at Sesriem and take 4x4 vehicles into Sossusvlei. Luch will be served at hte Sossusvlei Lodge.

2. Epupa Falls / Ovahimba Fly-in

A flight past the Brandberg and over Damaraland and Kaokoland to Epupa Falls.

3. MollaMola Seal and Dophin Cruise

A boat cruise to view dolphins and seals. This is a morning-only activiity. (Morning. Weather dependent).

4. Sossusvlei - "Classic Flight"

A flight over hte desert and coastal scenery. Fly over the Namib Desert and see the dry Kuiseb riverbed to Sossusvlei (Duration: ± 2h30. Minimum of 5 participants required).

The train remains stationary in Swakopmund.

Day 08
Swakopmond

The day is spent at leisure.

Optional Extras

1. Ocean and desert combination tour.

Guests depart from Walvis Bay for a marine seal and dolphin cruise around the bay. A light lunch of fresh oysters, snacks and sparkling wine is enjoyed on the beach.

At Pelican Point, guides with 4x4 vechiles will drive you through dune landscapes.

2. Quad Bikes

No prior experience is needed as this is a fully guided tour through the dunes. (Morning. Duration: ± 3h30).

3. Conception Bay flight

This flight affords stunning views of Swakopmund and its surroundings.

The train departs at 12h00 for Aus.

Day 09
Luderitz and Kolmanskop.

Guests depart in the morning for a drive through the desert, visiting the desert horses en route to Luderitz where guests enjoy a tour of this histrical town. Later we travel on to the ghost town of Kolmanskop where it is hard to imagine a thriving community which in the 1930s had electiricty, ice makers and a 10 pin bowling alley! The town is now deserted and heaped with drifting sand fromt he encroachin desert.

Guests re-join the train at Aus Station.

Day 10
Fish River Canyon

After breakfast on board, we depart for our morning visit to the spectacular Fish River Canyon. Guests meet the train at Holoog Siding.

The train departs for Ariamsvlei Border at 12h00. Luch will be served on board whilst traveling.

Day 11
Border crossing and Augrabies National Park

Vist the Augrabies National Park and enjoy one of three short hinking trails. (Distance traveled: ± 260 km).

The train journeys over night from Upington to Johannesburg.

Day 12
Transfer Day

Guests flying from OR Tambo International Airport later in the afternoon/evening can enjoy the day at leisure or take one of the optional extras offered for the day.

Included in the package price:
  • Arrival transfer: airport - train
  • Departure transfer: train - airport
  • Accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis (as per itinerary)
  • A free choice of available Land Excursions


NOT included in our package prices:
  • Airfares (national / international)
  • Lunches
  • Beverages
  • Laundry
  • Gratuities
  • Purchases of a personal nature
  • Light passengers: additional Land Excursions
  • Optional Extras
  • Pre-night accommodation
  • Visas where applicable
  • Travel insurance
  • Transfers between the train and hotels
    PLEASE NOTE:

 

AS SHONGOLOLO EXPRESS USES THE NATIONAL RAILWAY FACILITIES OF ZIMBABWE, SOUTH AFRICA, MOZAMBIQUE, NAMIBIA, TANZANIA, ZAMBIA AND SWAZILAND, THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT TRAINS COULD BE DELAYED, STOPPED OR REROUTED AT ANY TIME. DAILY ACTIVITIES COULD THEREFORE BE SHORTENED, ALTERED, OR CANCELLED.

SHONGOLOLO EXPRESS DOES NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY CHANGES TO THE DAILY PROGRAMME. HOWEVER THE COMPANY WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO COMPLETE THE DAILY PROGRAMMES TO THE BEST OF ITS ABILITY.

IN ADDITION ALL OF OUR GREAT TRAIN ADVENTURE TOURS MAY HEAD IN REVERSE, SIMPLY READ THE DAYS IN REVERSE TO GET AN OVERVIEW OF THE TOUR IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.








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