The Namib Dunes - the perfect playground for a variety of adrenaline- pumping adventures.

The strip of coastal dunes between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund is the perfect playground for a variety of adrenaline-pumping adventures.

Quad biking is the most popular activity in the dunes and guided trips of varying duration are offered. Racing up a dune at full throttle to get to the crest without getting bogged down is a thrilling experience.

If you are relatively fit and know how to handle a bicycle, you can opt for something more physical but also more eco-friendly. Pedalling up and down the dunes on a fat bike is a thrilling experience and you will enjoy breathtaking views of Swakopmund, the Swakop River and the dunes. Guided trips last about 2 hours. Riding along the beach at low tide is another option and physically less demanding than longer fat bike trips along the coast to Sandwich Harbour.

The many different slip faces of the dune belt create ideal conditions for yet another popular dune adventure – sandboarding. If you don’t mind getting down and dirty there are two options: lying down or stand-up. Lying down is a simple process and the only requirements are nerves and enough energy to get back up to the dune crests. You lie down on a piece of hard board, lift your legs, arms and the front of the board and off you go on a high speed thrill as you accelerate down the dune slope at a speed of up to 60km/h. No experience is needed for stand-up boarding which is somehow similar to snowboarding, but you need to have a good sense of balance. Although speeds for stand-up boarding are slightly slower than lying-down boarding because of the soft sand, it is nevertheless an exhilarating experience. Several coastal operators have the gear and know where the best slopes are.

The fresh southwesterly winds blowing off the coast and the dunes south of Swakopmund provides the ideal conditions and a perfect launching site for paragliding. Once you’ve mastered the techniques you will enjoy stunning views of the dune belt and the Atlantic Ocean as you glide effortlessly through the air like a bird.

At first glance, the dune belt looks devoid of any life, but it is home to a fascinating variety of small creatures that are adapted to survive in this seemingly hostile environment. On a Living Desert trip you will learn more about the “Little Five of the Namib Desert.” In addition to the stunning scenery you will also get a fascinating insight into the survival of these creatures.

Go on a desert adventure!