Shongololo Express
African Train Adventures
The Dune Express Tour - 12 days Tour
Windhoek / Johannesburg OR Vice Versa

The Southern Cross    Dune Express    The Good Hope  Shongololo Express

DEPARTURES & RATES

This route explores the magnificent landscape of Namibia - a beautiful country of extreme contrasts, vast colourful deserts, dunes, almost extra-terrestrial rock formations, great game reserves, delightful coastal towns with old world German hospitality, bushman settlements and the wind vitality of the south Atlantic seaboard. Add to this 3 days to enjoy and explore the many splendours of Cape Town where the tour starts or ends

Day 01 - Windhoek

Windhoek City Tour

The city tour of Windhoek starts with a visist to the TransNamib Transport Museum. The museum at hte Alte Feste Castle features a range fo displays, including the Social History Gallery and the Independence Display. At the top of Robert Mugabe Avenue is the Christuskirche or Evangelical Lutheran Church. Our last visit is the Namibia Craft Centre in the old Breweries Building. (Half day. Distance traveled: ± 50 km).

The train departs at 16h00 for Tsumeb.

Day 02 - Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park

The tour departs to Etosha National Park, entering via the Namutoni Gate. Game viewing takes place from our air-conditioned vehicles. Lunch (Guests' own account) is enjoyed in one of the camps. (Full day. Distance traveled: ± 250 km).

The train travels empty from Tsumeb to Oshivelo where it remains stationary.

Optional Extras

1. Etosha National Park

Guests spend another full day of game viewing from the safety of our air-conditioned vehicles. Lunch (Guests' own account) can be enjoyed in the park. The night is spent in a tented camp inside or close to the park. Distance traveled: ± 250km).

The train remains stationary overnight at Oshivelo station.

Day 03 - Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park

Guests spend a further full day of game viewing in our air-conditioned vehicles. Lunch (Guests' own account) can be enjoyed in the park. Guests return back to the train at Otjiwarongo. (Full day. Distance traveled: ± 250 km).

Day 04 - Omaruru

Called the 'Garden Town' of Namibia. Omaruru is a town and constituency in the Erongo Region of Nambia.

Its offical population is 6,792. The town is situated by the Erongo Mountains, on the usually dry Omaruru River.

The town was established in 1872 by Gottlieb Viehe, now a museum, and was attacked in 1904 during the Herero and Namaque Genocide. Experiences include a white wine tasting conkey cart ride, dinosaur footprint and the Tikoloshe root-carving factory.

The train departs early evening from Omaruru via Kranzberg and Usakos to Swakopmund. (Full day. Distance traveled: ± 10 km + 500m on a donkey cart).

Day 05 - Swakopmund, Spitzkoppe and North Coast land excursion

Spitzkoppe, Henties Bay and the Cape Cross Seal Reserve

After visiting the granite mountains of Spitzkoppe we continue to the small, thriving town of Henties Bay where guests can enjoy lunch (Guests' own account). After lunch we visit the Cape Cross Seal Reserve north of Henties Bay, making our way back to the train in Swakopmund in the late afternoon. (Full day. Distance traveled: ± 350 km).

The train remains stationary in Swakopmund.

Day 06 - Swakopmund / Walvis Bay

Moon Landscape, Welwitschia Drive, Walvis Bay and Dune 7

Our day starts with a drive into the Namib Deset for the Welwitschia Nature Drive, returning to Walvis Bay for a lunch break (Guests' own account). We visit the Walvis Bay Lagoon and Dune 7, located ont eh outskirts of Walvis Bay. (Full day. Distance traveled: ± 200 km).

Day 07 - Swakopmund

The day is spent at leisure.

Optional Extras

1. Sossusvlei Fly-in

A flight over the Namib Desert and along the Kuiseb River. After passing over Tsondabvlei, we land at Sesriem and take 4x4 vehicles into Sossusvlei. Luch will be served at hte Sossusvlei Lodge.

2. Epupa Falls / Ovahimba Fly-in

A flight past the Brandberg and over Damaraland and Kaokoland to Epupa Falls.

3. MollaMola Seal and Dophin Cruise

A boat cruise to view dolphins and seals. This is a morning-only activiity. (Morning. Weather dependent).

4. Sossusvlei - "Classic Flight"

A flight over the desert and coastal scenery. Fly over the Namib Desert and see the dry Kuiseb riverbed to Sossusvlei (Duration: ± 2h30. Minimum of 5 participants required).

The train remains stationary in Swakopmund.

Day 08 - Swakopmond

The day is spent at leisure.

Optional Extras

1. Ocean and desert combination tour.

Guests depart from Walvis Bay for a marine seal and dolphin cruise around the bay. A light lunch of fresh oysters, snacks and sparkling wine is enjoyed on the beach.

At Pelican Point, guides with 4x4 vechiles will drive you through dune landscapes.

2. Quad Bikes

No prior experience is needed as this is a fully guided tour through the dunes. (Morning. Duration: ± 3h30).

3. Conception Bay flight

This flight affords stunning views of Swakopmund and its surroundings.

The train departs at 12h00 for Aus.

Day 09 - Luderitz and Kolmanskop

Luderitz and Kolmanskop.

Guests depart in the morning for a drive through the desert, visiting the desert horses en route to Luderitz where guests enjoy a tour of this histrical town. Later we travel on to the ghost town of Kolmanskop where it is hard to imagine a thriving community which in the 1930s had electiricty, ice makers and a 10 pin bowling alley! The town is now deserted and heaped with drifting sand fromt he encroachin desert.

Guests re-join the train at Aus Station.

Day 10 - Fish River Canyon

Fish River Canyon

After breakfast on board, we depart for our morning visit to the spectacular Fish River Canyon. Guests meet the train at Holoog Siding.

The train departs for Ariamsvlei Border at 12h00. Luch will be served on board whilst traveling.

Day 11 - Border crossing and Augrabies Falls

Augrabies National Park

Visit the Augrabies National Park and enjoy one of three short hinking trails. (Distance traveled: ± 260 km).

The train journeys over night from Upington to Johannesburg.

Day 12 - Transfer Day

Guests flying from OR Tambo International Airport later in the afternoon/evening can enjoy the day at leisure or take one of the optional extras offered for the day.