Cycle Namibia

Enjoy an off-road bike adventure through stunning desert and over dunes

Namibia is a vast country with wide-open spaces and endless skies. Dunes gradually turn into granite hills, while rocky outcrops give way to vast plains where elephants, giraffes and lions roam. Travelling through the wilderness by bike is undoubtedly one of the best ways to experience the varied landscape of this desert nation and there is also the unique experience of cycling over dunes on a modified fat bike.

Discover the highlights and hidden secrets of the country on two wheels, watch the sun rise over some of the tallest dunes in the world and experience game drives in one of the best game reserves in southern Africa, Etosha National Park.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
• The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves generates income which is used to upkeep and develop these important sites. We visit Etosha National Park.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices regarding working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• With our partners, Rewilding Apennines, we rewild 100 square meters (1,075 sqft) of land per passenger who travels with us.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• Cycling trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the locals, as it is a quiet, low-impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challlenging). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Average daily distance: 24mi (39km)

• Number of cycling days: Eight (including a morning fat biking)
• Vehicle support: Fully supported with the exception of the fat biking excursion

Route: The cycling is approximately 90 percent on open public gravel/dirt roads or off road and 10 percent on paved roads. There is a mix of terrain, including some rolling rides, flat, downhill and uphill sections. The support vehicle is available, especially for the more challenging sections. Most of the cycling on roads is with little traffic, though there may be some busier sections. The last 2 rides are on jeep track roads on a reserve.

The fat biking on dunes is with a specialist guide and on modified bikes. You receive a tutorial before setting off but no experience is necessary. The terrain is rolling and you have the opportunity to cycle some steep gradients down the dunes. However, there is always the option of cycling down a gentler slope.

Safety: Helmets must be worn by all cyclists in Namibia.

Itinerary: On all days, we may do less or more cycling than stated in the Trip Notes. This depends on the ability and preference of the group plus the local conditions at the time. We also have many early starts.

Weather: It can get hot in Namibia and shade is not common on most of the rides.

Important flight information: If you’re booking your own flights, you should not book flights leaving before 3pm on the departure day.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

Namibia

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, rabies and tuberculosis. Malaria prophylaxis is essential, seek advice from your doctor about which malaria tablets to take. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm all requirements and recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

Namibia

Until the end of March 2025, travellers from the UK, US, Canada and some EU states normally do not need a visa to enter Namibia. From April 1, 2025, travellers from the UK, US, Canada, and some EU states, will need a visa to enter Namibia (see the full list here).

Visas can be obtained online (official site not live yet) or on arrival for 1,600 Namibian dollars (about US$89).

Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/namibia
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/namibia
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/namibia/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Namibia.html

If you are transiting through South Africa and are a non-UK passport holder you may require a transit visa. Please check before travelling. Please note that if flying via South Africa you will probably have to pass immigration there.

Passports: To enter Namibia, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least six months after the date you arrive. It must also have at least one blank page. If you’re travelling to South Africa, you will need an additional two blank pages.

Travelling with children: In addition to valid passports, parents travelling with children (under 18) should always carry the original or certified copy of the unabridged birth certificate (listing the child’s and both parents’ details). Adults travelling with children where they are not the biological or legal guardians of those children, should be in possession of an affidavit statement from the child’s parents giving consent for their travel. If a child is travelling with only one parent, the other parent should give consent for travel in the form of an affidavit.

Food & Drink

All breakfasts, two lunches, five dinners are included.

When staying at campsites, our guides cook for you. These will be hearty meals cooked over an open fire; expect braai (barbecue), potjie (stew) and stir fries for dinner. Breakfasts are continental and usually consist of cereals, coffee, yoghurt, muesli, fresh fruit or the occasional fried breakfast. For lunch, expect a good selection of sandwich ingredients such as cheese and cold meats plus pasta and salads. Our support vehicle carries a good selection of snacks and drinks, which are available to access every 9mi (15km) or so when the group stops.

Vegetarians can be catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests.

Weather

June, July and August, while clear and warm during the day, it can be cold and even freezing at night. Between September and May, it is considerably warmer with the time between October and April being the hottest, when it often reaches 30C (86F). However, it is always a dry heat and the temperature does drop at night. The wet season is between November and February (this can vary a month either side), but this is not a bad time to go as the desert blooms after rainfall and it never rains for very long.