A 10 Day Yoga and Hiking Roadtrip through Namibia

I landed in Windhoek and was welcomed by Marcel. She’ll be guiding me through Namibia over the next 10 days. She was born in Cape Town, lives in Swakopmund and is the owner of Namaste Yoga Safari. She shows me the travel route and also some sights in Windhoek. Namibia was a German colony from 1884 to 1915, and traces of that are still visible.

This morning at 7 am, we set off toward the Namib Desert (the oldest desert in the world). It takes us about six hours to reach the Tok Tokkie Trail, where we’ll be hiking through the Namib for three days. We drive through beautiful landscapes and meet our very international hiking group at the Tok Tokkie Trail reception.

We drop off our luggage and begin a roughly 3-hour hike toward Horseshoe Canyon, where we’ll spend the night. Along the way, our guide Sebastian explains, using the tracks in the sand, who has been here before: lizards, snakes, Tok Tokkie beetles and much more. Around 5 pm, we reach our camp, which consists of two cooks, a simple toilet and field beds. As we enjoy the landscape and a sundowner, dinner is prepared for us! The scenery is otherworldly beautiful.

In the evening, Sebastian shows us the Milky Way, Jupiter and Alpha Centauri, and we happily lie down in our field beds. Not a sound to be heard - absolute silence.

Today, Sebastian wakes us up with fresh coffee and warm wash water — what a luxury! The sun is rising, an unforgettable moment… I’m still a bit dazed from the magical experiences. After breakfast around 8 am, we set off, with 21 km ahead of us. Hiking through the desert feels incredibly calming — there’s never the sense that you’re missing out on anything — you’re always in the right place. In the desert, we realize we actually need nothing because everything we need is already here, a quote from the travel writer Pierre Loti. The whole desert seems riddled with holes and inhabited by mysterious creatures. Sebastian explains how the sociable weavers build their nests, which can span several meters wide.

We hike through what are known as fairy circles, round, vegetation-free patches up to 10 meters in diameter. Again, we’ll spend the night in camp on field beds. After a 7-hour hike, I’m hungry and looking forward to dinner, the stars and another night in the desert.

Sebastian wakes us again with coffee and wash water — a dream! The sun rises and I greet Marcel — we’re really a great team! We’re already pretty skilled at tracking the traces in the sand… who visited us last night? The dune is the desert's morning newspaper. Our guide immediately recognizes the tracks of an oryx antelope. After breakfast, we set off and discover not only the tracks of a snake but also an actual snake… as well as Tok Tokkie beetles, centipedes and dung beetles. I’ve been paying close attention 😜 These days in the desert have left me speechles. The landscape is otherworldly beautiful! I am having a dreamlike experience here.

Around midday, we say goodbye to our hiking companions — we’ll likely cross paths with some of them again, and then we drive to Sossusvlei.

Once we arrive at our lodge, Marcel and I plan to head into Sossusvlei Park around 4 pm Here, we’ll see star dunes as high as 350 meters. The Tsauchab River flows into the dune world of the Namib, where it hits the barrier of the dunes at Sossusvlei. There, it forms a small lake, which eventually evaporates, leaving behind a cracked salt and clay pan, the Vlei. The park road follows the Tsauchab for 64 km, passing massive dunes.

In Deadvlei, Marcel and I spontaneously decide to do Yin Yoga at sunset. The way there is quite challenging, and since most people visit at sunrise, we have Deadvlei completely to ourselves! Marcel has never done yoga here before because it’s usually too hot, so it’s a first for her too. This definitely ranks among my top ten most extraordinary yoga spots in the world! We savored every second and just barely made it back to the gate by 8 pm. I will never forget this and am infinitely grateful to this amazing woman!

In the evening, we sat by the fire, reflecting on this intense day!

We wake up at 4 am for a hot air balloon flight over the Namib Desert! We gather at the park around 5 am for a briefing, and then at sunrise, we take off. It’s indescribable, magical.

Seeing the landscape of the Namib Desert from above is beyond words. What we see is the Namib Sea of Dunes around Sossusvlei in the midst of the NamibRand Nature Reserve. We’re looking at one of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth. Sand and mountains, light and shadow… we drift with the wind! This area is normally unreachable, which makes this experience so exceptional. I savor every second.

The flight lasts about 45 minutes, then we land almost directly at an “Out of Africa” champagne breakfast 🥂. Is that even real? I think I’ve never had champagne on an empty stomach at 8 am! In the end, we even get a flight certificate 🤣!

Around 10 am, we drive six hours to Swakopmund, passing exciting yet barren desert landscapes. We take the C14, the so-called “corrugated iron road,” to the Solitaire gas station, where they serve apple strudel. This stop isn’t just a gas station — it’s an experience! There are old car wrecks everywhere, making for great photo opportunities.

We continue past the Tropic of Capricorn and take some obligatory photos. Then, we head through the Kuiseb Pass, winding through the gorge. After that, it’s a vast, sandy and rather desolate stretch until we reach Walvis Bay. The long drives give me a lot of time to think, it’s doing something to me.

In the late afternoon, we arrive in Swakopmund. Here, we’ll stay for two nights in a comfortable lodge and do some yoga.

Since Marcel lives in Swakopmund, a friend has invited us to a gong bath. With the sounds of the gongs, you enter a meditative state, provided you’re open to it. The frequencies of the sounds have a calming effect on the body, mind and soul. Brain waves slow down, bringing incredible relaxation. It worked for me — the frequencies completely freed me, and I’m fascinated by the sounds and vibrations.

I don’t even know what to say — I definitely want to continue this practice. Just wow, 🤩! What an experience, what an inner exploration!

Swakopmund is named after the mouth of the Swakop River. The city lies between the dunes and the sea. In the middle of the desert, there are timber-framed houses, apple strudel, sauerkraut and pork knuckles — it’s the most German city in Namibia. You could call it a German North Sea resort with an African flair — or the other way around. Due to the cold, damp climate and fog, many ships have been stranded here. Swakopmund is also known as Namibia’s refrigerator, which is a very pleasant change after the hot temperatures in Sossusvlei.

Marcel lives here and is showing me around the city. There isn’t too much to see here. Many people use it as a stopover between Sossusvlei and Windhoek — as we are too, as we’re heading north to Damaraland. We’re spending the day shopping, doing yoga in the dunes and enjoying oysters at a restaurant on the pier. We’re drinking an excellent 2023 Sauvignon Blanc! Wonderful!

We get up early to head to Damaraland for the next hiking trail: Etendeka. The drive takes about six hours. We travel through rugged, ancient Namibia, along the Skeleton Coast, heading north. We stop at the seal colony at Cape Cross, where we step out and take in the intense smell and sounds of the seals. The sheer number is overwhelming — there are said to be over 200,000 here. The smell lingers on us for a long time.

At Torra Bay, we turn inland and drive through the mountainous desert of Damaraland, which is stunningly beautiful. Around 2 pm, we arrive at the Palmwag Lodge, where we can relax briefly by the pool before setting off on a short 2-hour hike to our first camp around 4 pm. Our guides name is Gelasius. Since we’re still a bit spoiled from our previous guide, Sebastian, he has a hard time impressing us. The landscape is entirely different here — rougher, more barren, hotter! He shows us tracks of giraffes, zebras and so-called scops owls.

Around 6 pm, we reach our camp, where we sleep under the open sky on raised wooden platforms and enjoy potjie kos (a stew) — it’s delicious! I’m looking forward to another night under the starry sky… Good night, 💤😴!

We get up at 6 am and have to fetch our own coffee 🤣 — we’re really missing our Sebastian. We follow giraffe and zebra tracks, walking toward the sunrise. Today, we’ll be hiking for about six hours through the rugged and breathtaking landscapes of the Grootberg Massif. We trudge through dry mopane riverbeds, and the rocky plains give us views of the Etendeka basalt lava flows.

We spot giraffes and zebras from a distance. By 9 am, it’s already scorching hot, and by noon, the temperature climbs above 40 degrees Celsius, whew! The last 1.5 hours to Hill Camp are a challenge, as we hike uphill. I’m surprised by my own fitness — I tend to underestimate myself!

At the top, lunch awaits us. We savor the view of Hill Camp over Crystal Mountain. After lunch, we collapse onto our mattresses, completely exhausted. It’s blisteringly hot, with no relief in sight. We’re looking forward to a sundowner at the top of the hill, and I feel so content and fulfilled by this beautiful landscape. The sense of accomplishment in having made it this far is indescribable!

After a delicious dinner, we sat around the campfire for a while, enjoying the silence.

Another 6 am start to hike toward the sunrise. It’s only a 2-hour hike to the next camp. After that, we’ll drive for about six hours again (standard 😜) to Spitzkoppe. It’s one of Marcel’s favorite routes. The landscape changes constantly — it’s breathtaking 😍. I enjoy these drives with Marcel — we can simply relax or have the most intense conversations. The drives never feel long… We listen to music and look forward to the next adventure!

Along the way, we visit the Living Museum of the Damara, the indigenous people of Namibia. Here, their traditional culture is portrayed in a very authentic way. The funds help this community preserve their culture. The Damara share stories about life and daily routines in the past. It’s very impressive!

We continue on to Spitzkoppe, a mountain — also called the “Matterhorn of Namibia”—in the heart of Damaraland. Spitzkoppe is especially photogenic, perfect for capturing spectacular shots. After the long drive and tropical temperatures, we decided to relax at the pool.

The view is breathtaking, and the lodge is beautiful. At 6 pm, we do sunset yoga 🧘‍♀️—wow 🤩! Words cannot describe the feeling and beauty, and I feel blessed to be part of it.

At night, I go to bed feeling happy.

Day 10: Marcel turns 41, and we start the day at 7 am with sun salutations before sunrise 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♀️🔥 — what an amazing feeling! Marcel and I are so connected. We’re often asked if we’re sisters! Just meeting her has made the whole trip worthwhile! After yoga, we have breakfast and quickly set off, as the drive to Windhoek is long — around six hours. But first, we head to the heart of Namibia’s “Matterhorn” to take scenic photos. Spitzkoppe, the most photographed mountain in the country, stands 1,728 meters tall. We climb up and soak in this stunning environment — absolutely incredible!

Afterward, we head to our fabulous lodge, where I’ll get to enjoy a well-deserved massage! On the way, we had to change a tire — something quite common in Namibia. We often get curious looks, two women on the road 😎🔥. We listen to my playlist, and we’re both looking forward to a bit of luxury at the end of this Namibian journey. The lodge in Windhoek is indescribably beautiful. We relax by the pool in the afternoon, sip wine and celebrate ourselves 🥂.

Day 11: Today we get up at 4 am to get to Windhoek Airport and say goodbye to this beautiful country and once-in-a-life-time experience.