Cycle Namibia

Most Inspirational Moment

On Day 5 when we cycled through Namib Naukluft Desert, we set off before sunrise so we had the sun coming up behind us, we had a herd of mountain zebras running parrel to the cycling group it was so surreal!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gabriel was our leader, he was so passionate about Namibia and it's people so it was lovely to experience the trip with him. He was amazing throughout with everything!

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is a unique trip! If you want a cycling adventure this is definitely, be prepared for ascents and descents and cycling through sand and bumps but the views and wildlife as all worth it, it will be the trip of a lifetime!

Most Inspirational Moment

Fat-biking over the dunes in Swakopmund and watching wildlife at the waterhole in Etosha campsite.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gabriel (our Group leader) was very nice, fun , knowledgeable of the Country and always supportive. A special mention to Mr.Happy, our cooker, always smiling and preparing excellent food.

Advice for Potential Travellers

In the first two days you will be at approx. 2000m altitude, and it was VERY COLD at night (especially the first night, really freezing) so make sure to have a good 4 season sleeping bag (if going in that period).

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling for 10 miles accompanied by a group of 4 oryx (or 4 black rhino around the waterhole in Etosha, or the fat biking of the dunes in Swakopmund)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam was great, efficient, good spirited, fun and on top of things

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a brilliant trip with a good balance between cycling and site-seeing. Really right up there with the best travel I have ever done. The things you see and do are unique and inspiring. The camping is well organised, comfortable and and food is good. If travelling in winter, remember a good amount of cold weather cycling and leisure wear (don't underestimate), and bring full length cycling gloves, a woolly hat and lip salve as it is very warm and dry. Also the roads are bumpy and sometimes tough to cycle but the equipment is good.

Most Inspirational Moment

so many .... for me climbing the dune at dawn, camping under the stars surrounded by mountains, watching wildlife at the waterhole

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam had not done this trip before and was drafted in to cover last minute but he did a good job, organised and cheerful and kept us all safe. The support staff have done the trip many times, Mr Happy who was our cycle support and breakfast chef (French toast to die for!). Special mention for MC (MacLeod) who was our driver and chef who produced unbelievably delicious meals throughout the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The roads mainly unmade so transfers and the cycling is a bumpy ride! It is VERY COLD at night (when we went in July anyway) so make sure you bring a decent 4 season sleeping bag (ours were inadequate 3 season and we had a couple of really uncomfortable nights). Camping equipment and support is great, but don't expect 4 star comfort on this trip! Fairly physically demanding but so so worth it to see and do all that we did.

Most Inspirational Moment

The beautiful loneliness of the countryside where you are cycling Dunes and fat bike in them Animals in freedom in Etosha National Park

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good job in all aspects, personal and professional, solving all circumstances of the trip

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling in the game reserve on the last day was brilliant . 3 1/2 hours of off road cycling next to white Rhino , an experience not to be missed.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hanz was very good . He changed the cycling when the weather was too bad ( sand storm) . As their was only one cycling guide for a group of 12 he managed to accommodate us all.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you you go when we did I would take a sheet to put on the mattress as well as a sleeping bag as some nights it was too hot with the sleeping bad Their were very few chances to wash clothes. Head touch was a must . Stock up on snacks when you can as shopping is very limited

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved it all but the highlights were the ever changing scenery and racing down the hill on hairpin bends on my mountain bike. Everyday brought something different and I wasn’t to go back!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hans was extremely knowledgable about EVERYTHING! Wilidfle, geology, Namibian history and so on. He had a genuine interest in sharing this knowledge with us. He also got us to where we were meant to be and sorted out meals and accommodation effectively. Benson our driver, cook and tent erector was brilliant too. He was friendly, helpful, made amazing meals and drove well on some terrible roads.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware you will be getting up by six everyday for early starts, this was great as you got to see the sunrise but won’t suit everyone! Take wet wipes, after some rides you then Travel in the truck for a few hours in your cycling gear so good to have a refresh Binoculars are a must, so much to see, the lions we saw were amazing but those without binoculars couldn’t really see them. Camping temperatures varied so take a sleeping bag liner so you can just use that on warm nights and the sleeping bag for cooler nights. Take something you can use as a pillow, I didn’t but my lightweight down jacket did me proud.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Louisa for her review; we are delighted to read that she had an enjoyable time, but are sorry that she was disappointed with some aspects of the trip.  We very recently amended the cycling on day 10 of the itinerary, having received feedback that the road existing Etosha National Park had become increasingly busy and therefore was not as suitable for cycling as it had previously been.  We will update the trip notes to reflect this, although we regret that Louisa was disappointed that this ride did not take place.  We were also sorry to learn that the fat-biking activity was shorter than listed; our local team have explained that the fat-bike operator will sometimes curtail the length of this ride, depending on individual group preferences.  Moving forward, we have asked the local supplier to ensure that both longer and shorter rides are offered to every group, which we hope will ensure future clients do not encounter similar disappointment.  We are happy to read that overall Louisa enjoyed her time in Namibia, and in particular appreciate her kind words regarding Hans, her tour leader; we look forward to hopefully welcoming her on another trip in the future.  John Penge – Product Manager

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing the dunes, Experiencing Etosha wildlife then tiny desert animals, seeing sidewinders ... experiencing a thunderstorm Namibia style Cycling the huge vast areas was mesmerising and challenging, admiring the beauty whilst concentrating on the sandy tracks- Cycling with the game in the ranch reserve near the end of the holiday, being a few hundred yards from White rhino- without a fence! Hiddenvlek at the dunes Sundowner after cheetah experience at Solitaire lodge

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good very knowledgeable on wildlife, Namibia in general. The group felt very well lead by the three team members Happy and McLoud were brilliant and the three worked well together, complementing each others skills. Stefan team leader was great, always cheerful and obliging, answered any questions we had, looked after us all. Occasionally a little light on specific details of the trip (eg how long upcoming cycle was) but we felt this was sensible as it allowed him to be flexible and he always made good decisions as to when we had had enough! I would encourage him to talk to the whole group more about history/ geography of Namibia as he had much more to tell when we asked him on a 1:1!

Advice for Potential Travellers

make sure you take lip salve a cycling scarf that you can soak in water to keep the dust out ear plugs for camping- some of the others will snore! camera! I don't think I ever stood up in my pedals to cycle, it's all steady, flattish and you develop skills on sand!

Most Inspirational Moment

Scenery. Wildlife, especially rhinos at the watering hole at night at Etosha. Fantastic meals by chef McLeod.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent organizational and people skills. Knowledgeable and fit.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Need to be quite fit and heat tolerant.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many! Seeing black rhinos on two separate occasions in Etosha, cycling past baboons, zebras, warthogs and giraffes on the side of the road, the incredible sand dunes, the incredibly feeling of space and emptiness with endless horizons and far-reaching roads. The stunning night sky with so many stars.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hard-working, laid-back and happy.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't expect to cycle vast distances each day...the heat and road conditions allow for only a few hours riding each morning. Think of it more as a tour of Namibia with time for exercise each morning. A lot of the roads are heavily corrugated which makes for slow and uncomfortable riding, although in the second week we had beautiful tarmac so managed a lot more miles. Always have your swimsuit in your daybag so you can take a swim to cool down and refresh as soon as you arrive at that night's rest spot.