In a nutshell

The Living Desert Tour is a unique 4x4 adventure drive through the coastal dunes outside Swakopmund.

The programme

Driving through the dunes is in itself an amazing experience. However, this tour shows you far more than just sand. Your driver will bring the desert to life, while sharing with you the amazing beauty of the Namib Desert. The coastal dune belt may seem barren and lifeless to many people, but in fact it is alive with a fascinating variety of specially adapted plants and creatures, which are able to survive on the life-giving fog which consistently rolls in from the cold Atlantic Ocean. Creatures endemic to this area include Sidewinder snakes (Peringuey's Adder), and the Palmato or Namib Dune Gecko (Pachydactylus rangei), with its transparent skin, beautiful colours and webbed feet which are equivalent to 'snow shoes'. You can track down the large Namaqua Chameleon and watch it enjoying brunch before you dash off to catch up with a swift Sand Diving Lizard (Meroles Anchieta) - it will even entertain you by dancing on the hot sand! You can follow the tracks of a Legless Lizard (Fitzsimmon's Burrowing Skink) across the dune face, in the hope of finding this elusive creature. Watch a Dancing White Lady Spider (Carparachne aureoflava) cartwheel 44 turns per second down a dune to escape its enemy. Other creatures that may be found or spotted include the Parabuthus Villosus black scorpion; the occasional horned adder or sand-snake; desert wasps; desert chameleons; fish moths; crickets and several other beetle species; and so much more. Along the way you will learn about the geology, structure and formation of the desert, as your driver explains the variety of dune colours. Admire the vast and beautiful landscapes while enjoying a scenic drive combined with fun and adrenalin. At the end of the tour, weather permitting, you may have the opportunity to experience a 'roaring dune'. Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the desert up close and personal.

Good to know

This tour is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties, back and neck problems, and it is not suitable for women who are pregnant.
The vehicles drive over gravel roads, which can be rather bumpy at times.
The tour does not include a guide.