Itinerary

Tok Tokkie Trails Itinerary

Open from: Mid of February to early December [Meals: B = Breakfast, L = Light lunch, D = Dinner]

Day 01

You should arrive at the Tok Tokkie Trails base by 14h00, where our friendly team will welcome you with some refreshments. You can refill water and you will be given a small daypack for the personal items you would like to take along on the walk. Your luggage will be transferred to the overnight camp by vehicle. A short scenic drive takes you to the starting point of the Tok Tokkie Trail. Today, you will walk over a slope strewn with mysterious “fairy circles” and over rolling sand dunes to the first overnight camp. The dunes are not the massive ones encountered at Sossusvlei, but small, vegetated dunes that have a unique beauty of their own. At camp, relax with a sundowner, marvel at the magnificent Sleep out in your “dune suite” under the stars!

Get up close and personal with the Namib scenery and start “feeling” the desert before dinner is served. For most the first night spent out in the desert will be unforgettable. If the sky is clear and moonless, you will quickly understand why NamibRand Nature Reserve is one of the few International Dark Sky Reserves in the world.

Walking time: 1 – 2 hrs, sleeping out in the open on stretcher beds; [D]

Day 02

Early morning tea or coffee is served before sunrise followed by a light breakfast so that you can set off in the cool of the early morning. The highlights of the walk are the breath-taking views of the dunes and plains as well as the “coming alive” of the desert as the guide allows you to feel, smell, taste and see the oldest living desert in the world. The “morning news”, as written in the sand is always fascinating and with some luck and the guide’s trained eyes, you may spot some of the desert specials (golden mole, dancing white lady, barking gecko, dune lark, flightless wasp just to name a few). You walk over a mountain saddle before descending gently to a dry riverbed. During the course of the day your guide will explain some wonders of the Namib to you - how the fascinating desert flora survives, how insect and reptile life adapts to the harsh environment and how mammals can survive here without water. Birding is surprisingly good and you may be lucky enough to see one of Namib endemics, the dune lark. Larger animals you might come across include bat-eared fox, oryx, springbok and ostrich. As we realize that our survival depends on the water that has been deposited for us, this will probably heighten our admiration for the plants and animals that dwell here.

For lunch we will stop at a shady spot where you can enjoy the treats prepared by our chefs and fill up your water bottles. There is plenty of time to relax, have a siesta and reflect on all you have seen. As the heat recedes you start walking again up and over the dunes to your second overnight spot. The scene in front of you is a sea of endless dunes and “fairy circles” against a backdrop of magnificent mountain scenery. Photography is spectacular! The shadows on the dunes create an ever-changing palette of colors shortly before

sunset. A sundowner and a delicious dinner after a long and enjoyable day are indeed welcome. You might hear some barking geckos, owls or just deafening silence.

Walking time: morning: 4 – 4.5 hrs / afternoon: 2 – 2.5 hrs, sleeping out in the open on stretcher beds; [BLD]

Day 03

Once again you are woken in the soft light shortly before sunrise.  Coffee and breakfast is served before you set off through the dune field. The soft and rolling dunes are interspersed by camel thorn trees, which provide welcome shade for a rest. Today’s walk is easy and you arrive at Tok Tokkie farmhouse at approximately 11:30. When time allows we visit the Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust (NaDEET), a non-profit, donor sponsored trust, which aims to develop environmentally responsible citizens of Namibia.

Walking time: morning: 3 – 3.5 hrs / afternoon: 0 hrs, [B]

Please note! Sometimes the trail is walked the other way around and the landscape will be seen at different times of the day than described above. This is at Tok Tokkie Trail’s discretion.

Facilities

Enjoy the Tok Tokkie Trails “desert luxuries”!  There is so much to discover – the desert is alive!

Listen to the silence! Our service team transports your luggage!

Get up close and personal with the Namib Tok Tokkie Trails Special Notes

1) Group size is limited to two to eight guests. Larger groups are possible on request.

2) Please arrive by 2 pm because once the group has left we cannot guarantee your transfer to the starting point.

3) Lunch on day of arrival can be booked in advance (not included)

4) Whilst walking there are no facilities to charge batteries, so be sure to have sufficient batteries available.

5) Your guide will speak English.

6) Your luggage will be transported to the camps. You only need to carry the personal items you need during the day.

7) Tok Tokkie Trails is an outdoor experience. You will sleep out in the open on stretcher beds in a bedroll. All meals will also be served out in the dunes. Under special circumstances, e. g. unfavourable weather, tents are provided for sleeping, this is at Tok Tokkie Trail’s discretion. Please also see the section on the climate.

8) Bathroom facilities comprise a long-drop toilet, bucket shower and a hand basin at the overnight camps.

9) Fresh water for drinking (from a borehole) will be available at the lunch spot and overnight camps.

10) If you have any special dietary requirements please inform us well in advance

11) Rates include all meals as stated above, the services of a guide and “back-up” crew as well as the group transfer to the starting point. Tea, coffee and juice, beer, wine and soft drinks are freely available at the overnight camps.

12) For the unlikely event of an accident or a medical emergency the guide carries a radio transceiver, a first-aid kit and he is trained in first aid. We strongly recommend all guests to take out medical and medical evacuation insurance with sufficient cover. Please be aware that Tok Tokkie Trails is in a remote location and there is no closeby rescue service.

13) Contact lenses are uncomfortable in the sandy and dry desert. Please wear your glasses instead.

What To Bring

 Water bottles (at least 2 x 1 litres).

 Curiosity and good humour. Tok Tokkie Trails can offer you unforgettable experiences. In order to fully enjoy it, you must love nature and being outdoors with limited comforts.

 Camera equipment and binoculars – there are lots of opportunities to take great pictures!

 Comfortable worn-in walking shoes - NOT new shoes, these will cause great discomfort and spoil your walk.

 Sunglasses, sunscreen (at least factor 30) and insect repellent.

 Headlamp (torch) can be useful.

 Otherwise all equipment is provided, including a day pack for your personal things.

Clothing Needed

 Light and comfortable clothing, jacket and pullover for cool evenings, rain protection

 Especially in the winter months warm clothes, including beanie, scarf and gloves are a must

 Comfortable, closed shoes for the evenings

 A hat or cap for sun protection is essential