Namibia Cycle Tour

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Why Book With Us?

  • Small cycle groups
  • Hand-picked Cycle Tours & Activities
  • Family Run Business
  • 16 Days
  • 12 People Per Tour
  • Fitness Level: 2 -3
  • Fully Supported Bike Tour
  • 560 km
  • Windhoek to Windhoek

Explore off the beaten track. Our Namibia cycle tour delivers vast landscapes, intriguing animals and desert experiences.

Imagine cycling in one of the world's least densely populated countries. Our Namibia Cycle tour offers you a biking adventure of sublime landscapes that will make you feel like you’re on another planet. With fascinating desert-adapted plants and animals and jaw-dropping natural wonders that you’ll never forget.

Namibia’s scenery and sights are as astonishing as they are varied, ranging from the world’s oldest desert – a vast and beautiful wilderness that covers much of the country to rugged granite mountains adorned with ancient rock art.

We’ve put together a cycle tour full of wild landscapes, forbidding sand dunes, desolate coastline and world heritage sites. Our cycling route takes us west out to the coast, then north – home to the country’s greatest wildlife, including free roaming desert rhino and elephant in Etosha National Park, before looping back around again to Windhoek.

You will camp in the wild under the largest night skies you will ever see. Our support vehicle becoming our ‘home base’ for the tour. The trip wouldn’t be complete without experiencing a Namibian braai, relaxing after your day of riding and learning from locals about real life in Namibia.

Join us and fully immerse yourself into Namibia, the people, culture, wildlife and landscapes of this amazing country.

Our Namibia Cycle Tour is on hold for now as we make some changes! Keep an eye out for dates being released to explore in 2025 or 2026.

Tour Highlights - Namibia Cycle Tour

Departure & Return Location

Start: Namibia, Windhoek
Finish: Namibia, Windhoek 

Price Includes

  • 15 nights Accommodation
  • Meals as per tour itinerary
  • Two NZ based Escape Adventures tour leaders
  • Local interpreter & driver
  • Purpose made support vehicle
  • Entry to National Parks, Cheetah Conservation fund and Heritage Sites
  • Camping equipment - tents and mattresses
  • Vehicle transfers/ Support

Optional Extras

  • Bike Hire: If required hire fee is NZD $450

Price Excludes

  • Airfares, visas, or airport taxes
  • Optional activities and excursions
  • Six meals as per the detailed itinerary
  • Personal vaccinations or personal equipment

Solo Travellers - Single Supplement

  • NO Single Supplement! If you are traveling on your own, you will have your own tent for camping nights and we will pair you with another single biker of the same gender to share a twin room for the glamping nights.
  • If you don't wish to share that is fine too, a single supplement of NZD $200 will apply.

Itinerary - Namibia Cycle Tour, Windhoek to Windhoek

The daily riding distances listed below are the maximum we plan to ride each day. Our support vehicle is always close by if you would like a break from the saddle.

DAY 1: Meet at our starting hotel in Windhoek

Meet with your tour leaders & fellow bikers at 5pm for your pre-departure meeting and first meal together. Please plan to arrive no later than mid-afternoon to allow transfer to our hotel in time for the tour start.

Accommodation: Glamping

 

DAY 2: Into the wild - leaving Windhoek behind

Our day begins with a transfer out of Windhoek, into wide open rolling landscapes and huge cattle farms. We begin our ride at close to 1700m elevation so take it easy today.

Cycling Distance: 42km

Accommodation: Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Mountain descents to Namib Naukluft Desert

We progress through an ever-changing landscape before we start dropping down into the Namib Naukluft desert region.

Cycling Distance: 60km

Accommodation: Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Pedal for the coast!

Deserts come in all different styles and today we enter the desert proper and ride through incredible landscapes as we make our way to the coastal town of Swakopmund, Namibia’s adventure capital.

Cycling Distance: 60km.
Accommodation: Camping. Upgrades available
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 5: Rest day in Swakopmund

A day off the bikes to head out into the sand dunes, explore town or try out some of the many adventure activities on offer from sand boarding to skydiving!

Accommodation: Camping. Upgrades available

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 6: Exploring the Skeleton Coast

We may want to make an offering to the weather gods today to ask for a nice strong tail wind as we ride north onto the Skeleton Coast to Henties Baai.

Riding Distance: 73km

Accommodation: Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7: Discovering Cape Cross

We continue up the Skeleton Coast, stopping to check out the seal colony at Cape Cross on the way past. In the afternoon a vehicle transfer takes us up and away from the coast to the Brandberg Mountains.

Cycling Distance: 62km

Accommodation: Camping

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8: Traversing the Brandberg Mountains

A shorter day today is welcome after a few big days in the saddle as we traverse around the Brandberg Mountains to the small sleepy town of Uis.

Cycling Distance: 41km

Accommodation: Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

DAY 9: Bike dramatic desert landscapes

The landscape makes another dramatic change as we ride through a region well known for its free ranging desert elephants and make our way to our riverside campsite. No swimming today sorry, these rivers only run in the wet season!

Cycling Distance: 62km

Accommodation: Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

DAY 10: History & geology are your focus today

Today we ride around and check out crazy rock formations, ancient rock paintings and long dead trees that have turned to stone.

Cycling Distance: 25km
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11: Cycling remote and vast landscapes

Everywhere you look, mother nature has been hard at work creating spectacular landscapes and views. And today is no exception with the added bonus of keeping our eyes peeled for antelope and gazelle grazing in the bushes.

Cycling Distance: 50km
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12: Spinning our legs on sealed road!

A morning ride on one of the few paved roads we come across on the tour. In the afternoon we transfer into Etosha National Park and a game drive to our camp. In the evening we can sit near the waterhole and quietly watch the animals coming for their evening drink.

Cycling Distance: 32km

Accommodation: Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13: Etosha National Park game drive

We’re up early for a morning game drive before leaving Etosha Park and transferring to the Cheetah Conservation Fund base and learn about the work being done to help protect these wonderful animals.

Accommodation: Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 14: Cheetah Conservation and Namibian Braai

After getting up close and learning how and why the Cheetah Conservation Fund do what they do…. We point our bikes back towards Windhoek and overnight at a small family-owned campsite complete with Namibian Braai.

Cycling Distance: 45km

Accommodation: Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 15: Relaxing morning and transfer back to Windhoek

A relaxed morning transfer back to Windhoek gives you the chance to explore the city in the afternoon if you haven’t already before our final night’s dinner together.

Accommodation: Glamping  

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 16: Farewell

Final breakfast together, the crew will help arrange airport transfer for those who are flying out, or extra accommodation if you are staying on for more exploration.

Meals: Breakfast

Photos from the Namibia Cycle Tour

Map - Namibia Cycle Tour

Namibia Cycle Tour Frequently Asked Questions

Escape Adventures fully supported bike tours have been running for decades, if you have any questions "just ask us"

The biking lowdown

The Namibia Cycle tour offers rides up to around 70km.  A total distance of up to 560km spread over 11 or 12 days of biking.  The riding surface will be mostly on dirt and gravel roads and a little bit of paved roads. Approximately 20% sealed roads / 80% quiet dirt and gravel roads. The riding varies from hilly to flat with some rolling hills. Being comfortable on gravel and loose surfaces is a MUST for Namibia.

Road surface and riding conditions can vary dramatically day to day, depending on the weather and when the road grader has last been through, so the actual distances we ride on any given day will be dependent on the conditions on the day. There are also a number of vehicle transfers included so you can ride in a variety of landscapes and get the most of your tour. 

Namibia is a desert, and temperatures can range from nearly 0 degrees at night and into the late 30’s in the afternoons. To make the most of the best riding conditions we will often be up before daybreak and on our bikes as the sun rises.

Namibia offers its own unique environment and terrain! 

Support: Our trusty support vehicle carries all your luggage, has lunch, snacks and water at hand, and is there if you need a break from the saddle.

How fit do I need to be for this cycle tour?

Your cycle tour includes rides of up to 70km per day.  The more prepared you are and the more comfortable you are in the saddle – the more you will enjoy your cycling adventure! Preparing for your cycle tour should involve:

  • Gravel, dirt and off-road riding, with some hills.
  • You should be comfortable riding 3-4 times a week with regular rides of 30-50km in length. 

Support: Our trusty support vehicle carries all your luggage, has lunch, snacks and water at hand, and is there if you need a break from the saddle.

What kind of meals do you provide?

Your tour leaders will take care of your meals and snacks throughout your adventure with us.  This will exclude a couple of meals which are at your own cost to give you the opportunity to explore eating options of your own choosing.  We are most definitely able to cater for vegetarians and special diets and if this includes you, it is essential to advise us of this before your tour begins, so that the support vehicle can be stocked with the necessary supplies.  Typical meals include:

  • Breakfasts – Fresh fruit, muesli, toast and spreads, hot drinks.  Cooked breakfast on occasions.

  • Lunches – Picnic style lunches, fresh salads, cold meats, cheese & bread.

  • Evening Meals – Good wholesome camp-cooked meals using as much local fresh produce as possible.

What kind of accommodation can I expect?

All accommodation for the duration of your Namibia bike trip is included.

This is a camping tour with a couple of glamping nights thrown in to spoil you. The camping is ‘real camping’ and sometimes in remote locations. We supply spacious dome tents which we will show you how to erect, and foam mattresses. You will need to bring your own 2-3 season sleeping bag and a small travel pillow. Washing facilities & toilets will be available every night. Upgrades to rooms may be available at some campsites.

Singles: We do not charge a single supplement! 
If you are traveling on your own, you will have your own tent for camping nights and we will pair you with another single biker of the same gender to share a twin room for the first and last nights.  If you do not wish to share, that is fine too, but a single supplement will apply!

What type of bikes do we ride?

We have our own fleet of custom built bikes available for hire.  These are the same bikes we use on our Kenya & Tanzania Cycle Tour.  They are hard tail mountain bikes custom built to be perfect for off-road touring in Namibia.  They have full SLX 2×11, 120mm travel forks, XT tubeless 27.5 wheelsets and Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes (mechanical disc brakes are ideal for maintaining in Africa).  We have them available in S, M, L and XL.

Bike Hiring is additional and must be pre-booked

We carry all our spare parts out to Africa and maintain them ourselves to make sure they are in optimal riding condition for your ride with us. If you will be hiring a bike from us please let us know prior to your trip, and please feel free to bring your favourite saddle and clip in pedals (if you normally clip in).

What is the maximum size of the cycle group?

This trip has 8-12 bikers, plus two experienced Escape Adventures tour leaders and a local driver and interpreter.

2 Reviews
Sort By:RatingDate

Maryanne Turner

Couple Traveller

The Guides
Timbo and Mumma T were first class their foresight to change the tour to help us cope with the heat and terrain was well thought-out and much appreciated by all. Snack food, dinners and all food prepared at the back of the truck and advice re hydration was excellent, their energy levels were outstanding and information given to us each day – perfect. We really enjoyed our time with them both lots of fun along the way and many many laughs. Elisha was also outstanding coping with long periods in the drivers seat always a smile and lending a helping hand when required.

Accommodation
The tents were fine and perfectly adequate. Easy to set up and pack away. The occasional upgrade would be helpful to be made known at the start of the trip so they can be prearranged. The Munster upgrade was a must we all enjoyed a bit of luxury for a night the pool, bar and owners braai was a highlight.

Bikes and Biking
The bikes were fit for purpose and generally could be configured to suit the rider. Timbo’s knowledge of bike maintenance is first class and he was always on hand to undertake any ‘tweaks’ required. In hindsight I believe we should have attended to the malfunctioning front forks a lot sooner than I did (totally overlooked by myself ……). Forks/suspension should be checked for correct function at the beginning of a tour just as brakes and gears are checked, as the rough gravel roads can be challenging for less experienced riders.

The Tour
We feel Namibia is a challenging country to manage a MTB tour. The heat, the long distances transferring and then riding two or more days with little or no changes in scenery. Timbo and Mumma T did an amazing job incorporating interesting cultural aspects along the way. The Himba tribe visit although well staged for tourists was really interesting, riding through Mondesa township on the outskirts of Swakopmund, the interaction with Chris from Andis Farm, the owners of Munster Farm were so interesting learning about the challenges they all face in their daily lives. The main highlight for me was Etosha National Park – possibly two nights there would be worthwhile. To sit above the waterhole in the evening and watch the wildlife coming in was incredibly special.
It was apparent some hosts (camping grounds) struggled with their facilities, ie running water, plumbing to toilets etc. We have a suggestion that Escape Adventures supply in lieu of camp fees hose fittings, shower nozzles that will not only make the stay more comfortable for future Escape Adventure tours but others visiting the campsites.

In summary
The Namibian Tour was an all out adventure, challenging yet a lot of laughter and fun along the way and reconnecting with the friends we made in Colombia 5 years earlier. Learning a little about new cultures and lifestyles is always a plus and certainly makes one appreciate what we have back home.

November 9, 2023

Nicky McIndoe

Solo Traveller

My Namibia cycle tour was the trip of a lifetime. I’ve done lots of travelling, but this cycle tour would’ve been impossible without the planning and contacts of EA, and the support of the tour leaders and truck. We were so far off the beaten track that some days only 1 or 2 vehicles passed us. Deserts, campfires, amazing sunrises, bakeries, wildlife (elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetah, rhino!), historic sites and the chance to spend time with Namibians in love with their country. Sure, some days were a bit hot (or cold!), and the roads were sometimes sandy or corrugated (or both), but there was usually a refreshing pool and cold drink at the end of the day. I can’t wait to sign up for my next trip.

September 28, 2022