I’m staring straight down at the red hot sand. As I concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other, Mama G, my tour leader, walks by my side.
I’d been looking forward to seeing the landscape of Deadvlei for a long time. The unique dead forest of trees was the reason we’d booked this Namibia group tour. But in this moment, I’m not sure if I’m going to make it.
The “short walk through the desert” I was promised was turning out to be harder than I had imagined. As soon as we had set off from the comfort of our 4WD, I was already at the back of the pack. With the Namibian sun blaring down upon me, I was really struggling with the heat.
Mama G must have noticed early on, and told Jeff not to worry. “You keep going, I’ll stay with Kristen”. What a relief. If I didn’t make it, at least I wasn’t holding back Jeff from the experience of a lifetime.
For the next 30 minutes, but what seemed like hours, Mama G stayed by my side. We talked about everything from our lives back home to funny stories on tour. Anything but the task at hand.
And then I saw it. As we made our way through the sand up a small hill, the clay pan of Deadvlei was laid out before me. The dead trees were surrounded by the dunes. It was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen. We’ve gotten quite used to other worldly landscapes on our adventures, and the beauty of Deadvlei is truly like nowhere else.
Like a giddy child, I found my second wind and walked down to the white crusty surface. I’d made it. But there was no way I’d be there without Mama G. I was so very thankful that we’d booked this group tour with Nomad Adventure tours.
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Back to the beginning
Our decision to book a Nomad group tour wasn’t taken lightly. On our year long full time travels we’d gotten very used to being self-sufficient. In fact, we’ve travelled to over 70 countries and I can count the number of group tours we’ve done on one hand.
Yet, we’d found ourselves in a period of travel burnout. I hear my friends left in the office scoff at this, but I assure you it’s real. After more than 6 months on the road, the travel planning was getting a little tedious. We booked ourselves a one way ticket to Johannesburg. With just 3 days before our Africa trip, we hadn’t booked a single thing.
When we finally started researching self-drive options for Namibia, I realised that this was a place where pre-planning was vital for a successful trip. Namibia is one of the most sparsely populated countries on earth. In fact, ‘Namib’ means ‘vast place’. If something went wrong, it’s possible we’d be on our own for a long period of time. Discussions with our friends who’d driven through Namibia confirmed the same. So, with not much time to spare, I started looking into group tours.
The Desert Explorer tour via Nomad Adventure tours instantly appealed to us. The tour departed from Cape Town and spent a week making its way north. Importantly, it spent time in the Namibian desert, which was at the top of our bucket list. I read a few Nomad tour reviews and felt it served our needs perfectly. With just 2 spots left on the tour, we booked and hoped for the best!
So after spending a few weeks in South Africa, including a week in Cape Town, it was time for us to join our first group tour in 8 years. Read on for our Nomad tours review of the 7 day Desert Explorer.
Day 1: A warm welcome and saying farewell to Cape Town
Our first day of our Namibia tour starting bright and early. Meeting at a hotel in Cape Town at 6:30am, we covered all the formalities and said our hellos to fellow guests. We boarded our truck which was to be home for the next week and departed at 7am.
After about 30 minutes of driving we stopped to have one final look at Table Mountain. We then visited a supermarket for some supplies before continuing our trip north.
Today was one of the shortest driving days of the trip, just 2.5 hours, as we made our way to our accommodation at Maaskeral. After checking into our rooms we had our first meal from the truck. It brought back so many memories from a safari we’d done through Tanzania 10 years earlier.
Afterwards we set out for a 45 minute drive towards a Roobios farm. Roobios is a tea that is endemic in the southern part of Africa and something we became a little addicted to during our time in South Africa. So much so in fact, it is now our tea of choice! We were led around the property and learnt a lot about the tea making process. We weren’t left begging though, enjoying a tea tasting session at the end.
Our first dinner on the tour was made by the owners of our family-owned accommodation. A delicious meal of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and veggies. All washed down with some local South African wine.
Seated at a big table, we got to know everyone. This was aided by the fact that a microphone was put on the table as we each had to introduce ourselves. It was fantastic to see that we had such a diverse group of nationalities, gender and age groups. The tour was fully booked with the maximum of 20 people.
In addition to the guests, there were 3 Nomad guides on our tour. Mama G was the trip leader, our go-to for everything. With many years of experience leading tours through southern Africa, we were assured we were in good hands! Hamish was our camp assistant and helped out Mama G with the cooking, packing and keeping everyone in order. Finally, Jabu our driver, promised frequent African massages as we hit the bumpy Namibian roads. The trip was off to a great start!
Day 2: an adventure day and crossing into Namibia
Mama G prepared us the night before about what was in store for this day. Called an “adventure day”, it basically means a bloody lot of driving. It was also the day we were crossing the border into Namibia. So we were warned to expect some delays. We set off at 7:30am to start the long drive north.
Lunch that day was not included and we stopped off in the small town of Springbok. We were excited to see that we could get one final Nando’s fix. At home we will often have a “cheeky Nando’s”, and given South Africa is actually the home of Nando’s, it felt fitting that this was our final meal in the country.
In the mid afternoon we hit the border. We were let on through and Jeff and I were excited to be in Namibia, our 70th country visited.
The good news was that we didn’t have far to travel once crossing the border. In fact, our accommodation was located on the river which is the border crossing marking. We were stunned to find Felix Unite Provenance Camp to be such beautiful accommodation for our first night in Namibia.
Given we were on the ‘Desert Explorer’ Nomad tour we had prepared ourselves for the desert like conditions. Instead, we had a cabin right on the river with the most delightful views of the lush greenery. There was a gigantic pool which we used to cool off and enjoyed a drink as the sun went down. Dinner that night was from the truck at the campsite. It felt great to be outside enjoying the wonders of nature.
Day 3: a lazy start to our Namibian adventures
Today was a rare treat! Due to leave the camp after lunch meant that we were given a choice of morning activities. We could either join a canoe trip along the river, or relax by the pool. The group was split about half/half. We chose the latter option and spent a lazy morning poolside.
After another delicious meal by the truck, we had another short driving day. Our destination was Ai Ais, an area known for its natural hot springs. We stayed at the Ai Ais Hot Springs resort. For accommodation in the middle of nowhere, it was surprisingly nice. Although the rooms were basic, there was an indoor and outdoor pool. We booked ourselves in for a massage and then spent more time poolside.
Another dinner by the truck under the beautiful stars was a real treat.
Day 4: A canyon and quiver trees
On day four we left Ai Ais in the early morning and made our way to our next accommodation in Keetmanshoop.
The first stop of the day was the Fish River Canyon. This canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. The largest of course is the Grand Canyon in the USA. We were lucky enough to see both these canyons within 2 months of each other. At the Grand Canyon we were freezing cold and trying to avoid slipping on ice, whereas at the Fish River Canyon it was stinking hot.
We’re still not entirely sure where the “Fish River” part comes from, there wasn’t much in the way of either fish or river during our visit. However, the rocky expanse laid bare in front contrasted against the cloudy sky was a beautiful sight. We enjoyed a walk along the rim of the canyon before continuing on our way.
A quirky road side stop
Coming to Namibia we were well prepared for the long stretches of nothingness. What we didn’t know in advance is that there are a few amazing roadside stops as we made our way up to the Namib desert. Our stop today featured rusted old cars, peculiar trees (which we learnt is called a Quiver tree) and a bar with hundreds of number plates from around the world. We enjoyed spotting some Aussie plates. It was a welcome respite as we continued our journey north along the dusty road.
Lunch that day was going to be by the truck and Mama G told us that she needed to find a place to pull over. She wanted to try a backpackers she hadn’t visited in nearly 8 years. We pulled up and we were greeted by the most delightful lady. Sat inside in the air conditioning, we downed some ice cold drinks. In about 30 minutes we were called outside for lunch, and there was a massive batch of tuna pasta ready for us. I’ll never know how Mama G and Hamish could get everything ready so quickly!
After a quick check in to our hotel we headed out for some afternoon activities.
Quiver Tree Forest
Our first stop was to the Quiver Tree forest. As a group we made our way through these uniquely shaped trees, trying to avoid stepping on a snake. We learnt that you mostly find quiver trees in dry and hot areas like the Namib desert. They got their name by the fact that in the past, huntsman used the trees for the quiver on their bows and arrows. All these trees grow naturally in these parts and flower in June and July.
From the forest, we made our way to the Giants Playground. This area is filled with massive rocks or boulders. It is aptly named given it looks like a giant person was picking up rocks and putting them on top of one another. It was thought to have formed around 160 million years ago.
A lucky near miss
Back at camp, we spent another night by the truck sharing all our stories from that day. And whilst stories were shared, we were unaware that this evening would be a story unto itself.
On a tour like this, whilst there are guides and staff, everyone tends to pitch in and help with cleaning up. Jeff was drying some plates with Hamish. Chatting away, Hamish’s face turned serious very quickly. Putting an arm around Jeff’s waist, he may have thought the relationship had been taken to a new level.
“Don’t move suddenly Jeff, but just take a couple of steps forward” Hamish explained. Upon moving and turning around Jeff couldn’t have been more than a foot from stepping on a Cape Cobra snake. Only a baby it turns out, but it’s bite could prove fatal nonetheless. Importantly, we all kept an eye on the snake in the dark as it headed off. That led us to another question. If there is a baby, where is the mother?
Our walk back to our room was the longest 50 metres in history. In the dark with only the light of our torch to guide us, we legged it as fast as we could. There was no sign of the mother, and both of our hearts were in our mouth before we cracked up laughing. It’s the sort of story you can only expect in Africa. And Jeff’s gratitude for Hamish’s quick thinking will be forever remembered.
When the adrenalin stopped flowing, we hit the sack with another early start awaiting us.
Day 5: on the road again
Today was another adventure day. However, we were all excited as we were reaching the Namib desert. Our next 2 nights were also going to be in the same place, so there was less moving about.
Solitaire
Our first stop of the day was to the little town of Solitaire. Now, I am calling it a town, but that’s being generous. It was literally a stop with a petrol station, motel, a general store and a small café. However, what it lacked in amenities it made up with in cuteness. Old, rusted up cars were scattered across the land, making great photo props. The signs around the property were vintage and we were in typography heaven. After some time wandering around the property and grabbing some supplies, it was time to leave. Apparently the café had some delicious cake, but we didn’t have enough time to try it!
Soft Adventure Camp
From Solitaire we made our way to our accommodation for the next 2 nights, the Soft Adventure Camp. This spot was the accommodation highlight of the trip. The camp is located on a private reserve at the base of a rocky hill. Each pair had their own tented chalet, with an incredible view out across the landscape. There was an undercover dining area for our meals. The bonus was a small pool to help cool off under the Namibian sun.
After a complimentary afternoon tea (which more than made up for the lack of cake in Solitaire!), we literally rotated between the pool and the bar. By this stage we were looking forward to our afternoon Savannah Dry cider. The only thing that topped this off was watching the sunset. As the sky lighted up in a pink glow, we were content and happy.
Dinner in the evening was a real treat. It was especially a treat for Mama G and Hamish, as the local camp cooks were on duty tonight. We dined on a smorgasbord of local meat dishes and vegetables. Afterwards the cooks broke into an impromptu traditional dance performance.
After dinner Mama G provided the next day’s briefing. Day 6 was the day we were due to explore the Namib desert, so I was super excited. That was dampened just a tad when we were given our instructions. A 5am bus boarding time for a 5:10am departure. Wonderful!
Day 6: Dune 45 and Deadvlei
Bleary eyed from our 4:30am wake up call, we stepped outside our cabin to make our way to the bus when we saw it. The cloudy sky from the night before had cleared. Never before had I seen the stars in the sky shine so bright. It felt like a million torchlights beamed down upon us as we made our way to the bus. It was simply mesmerising and I didn’t want to tear myself away from it.
Yet, we boarded the bus and arrived at the national park gates right on opening at sunrise. We started the drive through the park passing by the sand dunes coming out from the shadows.
Iconic Dune 45
Our first stop in the Namib desert was Dune 45. This dune is the most popular dune in the desert to hike. We decided to give it a go. At this time in the morning, the sand was lovely and cool. However, standing at about 170 metres tall, the hike isn’t for the faint of heart. It felt like for every two steps upwards we took one step back. There were more than a few moments where we were a little off balance.
To be honest, we only made it around three quarters of the way up, before the sun started to hit hard. Still, it was an amazing experience. By the time we got down at around 8am, the heat was starting to set in and there was no one starting the trek upwards.
Getting back to the truck, we were delighted to see that our amazing Nomad tour guides were preparing breakfast for us. Enjoying eggs on toast whilst staring back at Dune 45 was a blissful way to enjoy our morning.
The beauty of Deadvlei
After finishing up at Dune 45, our next stop was to Deadvlei.
Arriving mid morning, in the middle of summer, meant that “hot” does not describe the temperatures reached. In order to reach the clay plan of Deadvlei, you need to take a short walk through the desert. It really isn’t too far, but with the scorching heat and all that sand, well, it can be a little tough. With Mama G’s help, I got there. The pain was all forgotten once I’d reached the destination.
Deadvlei is stunning. Its unique dead forest of trees, set against iron rich red sand and a sparkling blue sky is unique and breathtakingly beautiful. The trees themselves are dead, and have been for a long time, some 600-700 years. There once was water underneath the table these trees sit upon, but that dried up long ago. The trees remain as skeletons almost, with no water and an unrelenting sun.
We spent some time exploring the clay pan, and taking so many photos. I reluctantly started the walk back when the heat got too much. Those moments at Deadvlei will remain etched in my mind forever.
4WD experience through Sossusvlei
Back at the car park, we boarded a 4WD for an epic driving experience through Sossusvlei. There were lots of bumps and tons of laughter as the driver went at speed through the sandy surrounds. There’s a unique way of driving in the sand where the driver turns the wheel quickly back and forth to ensure we don’t bog. Equal parts practical as it is exhilarating!
Heading back to camp, we made a pit stop at Sesriem Canyon. A gorge of around 1km in length, it looked beautiful from above. In truth, I skipped this additional walk as I was way too worn out from the morning adventures!
We enjoyed a late lunch at a nearby restaurant. Heading back to camp in the afternoon meant there was a lot more pool time. A delicious braii (barbeque) tonight was cooked by Hamish and Mama G.
Day 7: Heading to Swakopmund and the official end of our tour
Today was a sad day for Jeff and I as it was the official end of our Nomad Adventure tour. It turned out that we were the only people ending our tour with Nomad today. The majority of our group were going on for another week to explore Etosha National Park. Some were even on the tour for 55 days, heading into East Africa. We still had more adventures in store, unfortunately it wasn’t with our newest group of friends.
On this drive, we were even treated to a somewhat unexpected sight. We had a tower of giraffes on the road. One of the most wonderful things about Africa is you just never know what you might see, at any time.
In the morning we visited a local camp and went on another desert tour. The sandy landscape around us was beautiful. Our local guide had us in awe as he told us stories of how he has walked for weeks on end from the desert to the sea. In the same way I might nonchalantly share a story about driving down the coast at home. We also learnt so much about the history and geography of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei.
Back on the road, Jeff and I sat up front in the truck with Jabu. Jabu and Jeff hit it off and still keep in contact months later. It was fantastic to see the dusty roads from this perspective. The vast expanse of nothingness was plain for us to see, as we travelled for hours barely passing another car.
Passing the Tropic of Capricorn
The vast expanse ended of course when we came across the famous sign at the Tropic of Capricorn. We had to wait our turn for a photo, because surprisingly, there were 2 other cars. Busy by Namibian standards!
The Tropic of Capricorn is the southernmost latitude where the sun can be directly overhead. In these parts though, it’s probably most well known for the very cool roadside sign that marks this spot. Here travellers like to leave a mark on the sign with where they’re from. There are literally hundreds of stickers plastered over the sign. Given the vastness of Namibia, it’s easily spotted on the drive up from Sossusvlei to Walvis Bay.
A quick stop in Walvis Bay
Our next stop was the town of Walvis Bay. We were shocked to find quite a large, new shopping mall on the outskirts of town. We had to grab our own lunch today, so tried a local burger joint. After spending time in the bright lights of the mall, I found myself longing for the vastness of the desert. It really felt like we were on our way home now, and our desert adventure was over.
We visited the waterfront of Walvis Bay, which is famous for the pink flamingos that call this place home. Unfortunately for us, the flamingos decided to stay well out to sea. So far away that the guy with the best zoom lens on the tour couldn’t capture a good photo. If you make it to Walvis Bay, hopefully you’ll have some better luck than us!
Arriving into Swakopmund
Swakopmund is a large coastal town that was colonised by the Germans in the late 1800s. There were a few things that surprised us the most about this town.
Firstly, it was quite cold! Coming from 40 degrees+ in the desert a day earlier, we reached Swakopmund and had to put on a jacket. The change in temperature was remarkable, yet very much welcomed.
In addition, the signs of German colonisation were everywhere. If I was to have been transported to this town and had to guess where I was, I would definitely have guessed Germany.
Finally, our accommodation had all the creature comforts of home. We decided to stay at Stay at Swakopmund with the rest of the group that night. With good WiFi, our few days off the grid has us catching up on stories from family and friends back home (including the arrival of my baby nephew!).
Final group dinner
That evening, our grouped dressed up and went out for a lovely dinner at a seafood restaurant in town, The Tug. It was a wonderful way to end our trip and bid farewell to our new friends. We finished with hugs and high fives. It’s amazing how close you can become to people you’ve known for only a week!
We had an amazing adventure with Nomad tours in Namibia. It was a true highlight of our year-long full time travels. I’m so happy we made the decision to go on this group tour and to see the beauty of Namibia.
Based on our experience, I would 100% recommend a tour of Namibia with Nomad Adventure tours. In addition to this Nomad tours review, I’ve included a Q&A section below which may help you decide whether this tour is for you. Also, if you’ve already booked a tour, some pointers below may help you with your preparation.
If you’ve got any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments section below.
Nomad tours review: What was the truck like? What facilities were on board?
I was pleasantly surprised to find how well-equipped and comfortable the Nomad truck was.
The seats were in a 2×2 formation and everyone sat with their travel companion. For the singles on board, they either got their own 2 seater (lucky them!) or shared with another person. Whilst you could sit next to your buddy each day, we rotated seats so that everyone moved around the truck and you weren’t stuck up the back for the whole tour for instance.
Each seat had a pocket you could put a few items in, like a water bottle. There was an overhead section for small bags, and lockers up the back for your large luggage and any valuables.
A large esky was provided and filled with ice each day to keep drinks cold. The tour leader had access to a freezer for the food supplies.
The windows were nice and large. Whilst there is no air conditioning, smaller ventilation points up the top made sure that there was good air flow.
Our truck even had a USB charging point for every seat, which meant that we could keep our phones and electronics charged up all day. Although our phones were only good for taking photos or playing games on those long driving days.
Nomad tours review: Does your bag really need to fit in the locker?
Yes! And yes. Let me think about it further – yes! Possibly the most important part of any Nomad tours review is this very question. This is not a place to bring along a hard-shell wheelie suitcase.
Take good note of the size requirements Nomad tours will provide you with prior to the tour and make sure your bag will fit. There is no room for error here. Most people on the tour, including us, used a duffle bag. I found a sturdy bag by High Sierra that came with wheels and straps to use it as a backpack. Most of the time I could get away with rolling it along on wheels. However, there were times I had to use it as backpack or carry it via the straps. For instance, when moving from the truck to our rooms over sand/rocky surfaces.
Make sure you can lift your own bag or carry it on your back.
Nomad tours review: What was the food like on the tour?
We didn’t know what to expect when it came to eating in Namibia, but it turns out the food was excellent. We’d been travelling full time for over 6 months by the time we went on this tour, and it’s fair to say that eating out can be somewhat of a chore. Our week on tour in Namibia was such a nice break, with cooked meals prepared each day.
There were some people on the tour that had some specific food requests (not just allergies either). Mama G and Hamish worked around these requests. These often included making separate batches of food too.
Don’t expect a buffet where you can choose from a variety of options at each meal. For instance, one night we had Spaghetti Bolognese. For lunch, it was sandwiches one day and tuna pasta salad the next. If you really don’t like some particular foods, it would be best to talk to your tour leader on departure (as they buy the ingredients on the road). You can always take your own snacks too.
Whilst food is included, drinks were always required to be purchased and brought along yourself. Our tour leader advised us of the best places to stock up on drinks along the way.
Was there WiFi at the accommodation?
In this day and age, a Nomad tours review needs to address connectivity. We had access to WiFi at about half of our accommodation options in Namibia. At most, we went 2 days without any WiFi. When we did have WiFi, at roadside stops for instance, it was generally slow and good to use only for messaging. At some places we needed to pay a small fee for access too.
I’m addicted to my phone at the best of times, but found the lack of connection to be a non-issue. It was really nice to unplug for a few days and enjoy the experience. I made sure my family knew how to contact Nomad tours in the case of an emergency, so that gave me some peace of mind.
Is it better to do a group tour or do a self-drive option in Namibia?
This was one of the first questions we asked ourselves when planning our trip to Namibia.
We can’t compare the two, as we didn’t do the self-drive option. What I can do is tell you the benefits and disadvantages of a group tour:
Benefits of a group tour of Namibia
- No need to worry about detailed route planning.
- All accommodation is booked in advance.
- The tour leaders are knowledgeable about the places you are visiting. We learnt so much on the road.
- No need to worry about not having mobile service. The guide had a Namibian SIM card which could have been used in the event of an emergency.
- The ability to meet people from all over the world.
Disadvantages of a group tour of Namibia
- Not as much flexibility as a self-drive option. You need to go where the tour goes!
- You can’t choose your group. Whilst we were blessed with an amazing bunch of people, I have heard stories of people who have had disagreements with others on tour.
- You can’t see out the truck as well as you would if you were driving your own vehicle. We spent one day at the front of the truck, and it was incredible to see the road from this perspective.
If we went to Namibia again, I honestly don’t know if we’d choose to do a group tour or self-drive. We’d probably weigh up on the pros and cons of both methods and choose what serves us best at that point in time.
Where did you go from Swakopmund?
As the tour was progressing further north to Etosha National Park, we had to make our own way from Swakopmund. We booked a local transfer service that did a door-to-door drop off from Swakopmund to the capital, Windhoek. Mama G actually phoned the company and booked for us directly.
The bus seated around 10 people. Given the rest of the passengers were all locals, it was an interesting drive through the local townships.
From Windhoek we were flying out to Qatar. The key reason we chose Qatar was that it was one of the only non-African destinations with a direct flight out of Windhoek. The bonus was that it was on Qatar Airways, the plane was at 25% capacity and we got to visit another country we’ve never been to.
Why didn’t you go to Etosha National Park?
We absolutely love going on safari. We’ve been on safari previously through Tanzania and Kenya. However, we were travelling in January which is the wet season. We know that wet season is generally the worst time to undertake a safari, as you’re less likely to spot animals in the wild. Because there is so much water around, the animals don’t need to visit the watering holes as often.
However, if this is your once in a lifetime safari experience, I’d definitely recommend a visit to a national park such as Etosha.
We hope this review helped paint a picture of what a Namibia group tour is like with Nomad. Have you been on a trip yourself? What did you enjoy?
