Tok Tokkie Trail

Day 1: Tok Tokkie Trail

Today you will join a 3-day hiking adventure. You should arrive at the Tok Tokkie farmhouse by 14h00. Upon arrival at the Tok Tokkie farm house, you will be introduced to your guide.  Prior to departing on a short scenic drive to the starting point of the trail you can refill water and you will be given a daypack with some nuts and a cup. All you have to do is add your camera, binoculars and a book to read during the heat of the day. Your luggage needed for the duration of the trail will be transferred to your overnight camp by vehicle. From your drop-off point in the sand dunes it is a short walk to your first overnight camp. The dunes are not the massive ones that are encountered at Sossusvlei, but small, vegetated dunes that have a unique beauty of their own. Relax with a sun downer, marvel at the magnificent scenery and start “feeling” the desert.

Afternoon hike: 1-2 hours

Overnight: Under the sky on stretcher beds including dinner

Day 2: Tok Tokkie Trail

Early morning tea or coffee is served before sunrise followed by a light breakfast so that you can set off in the cool of the early morning. You will be given a lunch pack, as the day heats up it is time to stop at a shady spot. The highlight of the walk is the breathtaking view of the dunes and plains as well as the “coming alive” of the desert as the guide allows you to feel, smell, taste and see the oldest living desert in the world. The “morning news”, as written in the sand of the dunes is always fascinating and with some luck, and the guide’s trained eyes, you may spot some of the desert specials. (Golden Mole, Dancing White Lady, Barking Gecko, Dune Lark, Flightless Wasp just to name a few). You spend a good part of the morning on the mountain, before descending the other side to a dry riverbed.

During the course of the day your guide will explain the wonders of the Namib – how the fascinating desert flora survives by tapping underground water from the riverbed, how insect life, which is prolific, adapts to the harsh environment. Birding is surprisingly good and you may be lucky enough to see one of Namib endemics, the Dune Lark. Larger animals you might come across include Bat-eared Fox, Oryx, Springbok and Ostrich.

As the day heats up it is time to stop at a shady spot where you can enjoy your lunch pack and fill up your water bottles. There is plenty of time to relax, have a siesta and reflect on all you have seen. As the heat recedes you start walking – on and through the dunes to your second overnight spot. The scene in front of you is an endless dune sea and “fairy circles” with a backdrop of magnificent mountain scenery. Photography is spectacular as the shadows on the dunes create an ever-changing palette of colours shortly before sunset. A delicious dinner after a long and enjoyable day is indeed welcome. The sound of barking geckoes, the occasional cry of a hyena, the hoohoo of spotted eagle owls, and more likely than not, the silence accompanies you through the night.

Morning hike: 4-4 ½ hours

Afternoon hike: 2-2 ½ hours

Overnight: Under the sky on stretcher beds including three meals

Day 3: Second Day Hiking

Once again you are woken in the soft light shortly before sunrise. Coffee and breakfast is served before you set off through the dune field. The soft and rolling dunes are interspersed by camel thorn trees, which provide welcome shade for a rest. Today’s walk is easy and you arrive at Tok Tokkie farmhouse at approximately 10h30.

Morning hike: 3-3 ½ hours including breakfast

Open from: Mid of February to early December

Tok Tokkie Trails Special Notes

1. Group size is limited to two to eight guests. Larger groups are possible on request.
2. Please arrive by 2 pm because once the group has left we cannot guarantee your transfer to the starting point
3. Lunch on day of arrival can be booked in advance (not included)
4. Whilst walking there are no facilities to charge batteries, so be sure to have sufficient batteries available.
5. Your guide will speak English.
6. Your luggage will be transported to the camps. You only need to carry the personal items you need during the day.
7. Tok Tokkie Trails is an outdoor experience. You will sleep out in the open on stretcher beds in a bedroll. All meals will also be served out in the dunes. Under special circumstances, e. g. unfavorable weather, tents are provided for sleeping, this is at Tok Tokkie Trail’s discretion.
8. Bathroom facilities comprise a long-drop toilet, bucket shower and a hand basin at the overnight camps.
9. Fresh water for drinking (from a borehole) will be available at the lunch spot and overnight camps.
10. If you have any special dietary requirements please inform us well in advance
11. Rates include all meals as stated above, the services of a guide and “back-up” crew as well as the group transfer to the starting point. Tea, coffee and juice, beer, wine and soft drinks are freely available at the overnight camps.
12. For the unlikely event of an accident or a medical emergency the guide carries a radio transceiver, a first-aid kit and he is trained in first aid. We strongly recommend all guests to take out medical and medical evacuation insurance with sufficient cover. Please be aware that Tok Tokkie Trails is in a remote location and there is no close-by rescue service.
13. Contact lenses are uncomfortable in the sandy and dry desert. Please wear your glasses instead.

What You Need to Bring

• Water bottles (at least 2 x 1 litres).
• Curiosity and good humor. Tok Tokkie Trails can offer you unforgettable experiences. In order to fully enjoy it, you must love nature and being outdoors with limited comforts.
• Camera equipment and binoculars – there are lots of opportunities to take great pictures!
• Comfortable worn-in walking shoes – NOT new shoes, these will cause great discomfort and spoil your walk.
• Sunglasses, sunscreen (at least factor 30) and insect repellent.
• Headlamp (torch) can be useful.
• Otherwise all equipment is provided, including a day pack for your personal things.

Clothing Needed

• Light and comfortable clothing, jacket and pullover for cool evenings, rain protection
• Especially in the winter months warm clothes, including beanie, scarf and gloves are a must
• Comfortable, closed shoes for the evenings
• A hat or cap for sun protection is essential

Character of and Requirements for the Trail

The trail is not difficult, but challenging. Fitness and good condition is essential as the trails entail 7 to 8 hours walking. Walking does normally not exceed 10 km a day; the pace is set to suit the group. Your main luggage will be transported by a back-up vehicle; you only have to carry a day pack, including a lunch pack, water and your camera equipment. As some of the routes lead through rough terrain and over sand dunes it requires well-balanced and secure walking. Please be aware of high temperature fluctuations, which can reach 35°C or more during the day whilst sometimes plummeting down to -5°C at night, which can cause additional stress to your heart and circulation. It is indispensable and vital to drink enough water. We recommend you to prepare yourself for the trail with some fitness training and if necessary get a health check.

Price:

Low Season: (February – June, October – December)

2 persons: N$ 5 830.00 per person

High Season: (July – September)

2 persons: N$ 6 520.00 per person

Prices are nett and include VAT.

• 01 x overnight on a Dinner, Bed & breakfast basis
• 01 x overnight on a Full Board basis
• Drinks at Camp
• Guide
• Back up crew

• Travel insurance
• Light lunch upon arrival
• Lunch pack upon departure
• Extra transfers
• Personal expenses (Telephone call, souvenirs etc)