scenic

SCENIC FLIGHTS

SOSSUSVLEI – SEA OF SAND DUNES

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With Sossusvlei lingering in your mind’s eye, we overfly the forbidden Diamond area where remains of old diamond
camps can still be seen. Our flight continues over the ‘sea of sand’, approaching the shore at Conception Bay.
Soaring along the coastline we fly over the shipwreck of a German passenger liner, Eduard Bohlen.Stranded in 1909,
she now lies inland, for the entire world as if she were sailing through the desert. Forthwith the shipwreck of the
fishing trawler, Shaunee, comes into sight.

Often described as “the flight of a life time”, we take you from the Swakopmund airfield along the Kuiseb River bed,
over the impressive Kuiseb Canyon, the natural border of the dune formations. Forward onto Gogabeb, the desert
research station. Although the Namib is just as dry as the Sahara, it has a much richer fauna and flora, attracting
researchers worldwide. We continue our flight over Tsondabvlei towards the highest dunes in the world. Shortly the
awe-inspiring dunes at Sossusvlei will come into sight. The colours and shadows of these gigantic mountains of sand
change by the hour from beige to rust-red to purple, dazzling the eye.

As we continue northward we see the never-ending battle for supremacy between the sand and the sea, as we
pass the “Lange Wand”, a 500 feet high dune rising from the waters edge. Nearing Sandwich Harbour, your pilot will
ascend to 1500 feet. Sandwich Harbour is a large saltwater lagoon and home to an incredible variety of bird life and
one of southern Africa’s greatest natural bird sanctuaries.

From Sandwich Harbour our flight takes us over the salt mines and Namibia’s major harbour, Walvis Bay. Next we fly
over the guano-collecting wooden platform, where thousands of seabirds settle and leave their droppings.
Periodically these are scraped up and fertiliser results. The recreational resorts Dolphin Beach and Longbeach are
our next destination. As the town of Swakopmund comes into sight, your pilot will prepare for landing.

We take-off from the Swakopmund airfield, flying over the ‘sea of sand’ over flying the diamond camps on to
Conception Bay. Soaring along the coastline we fly over the shipwreck of a German passenger liner, Eduard Bohlen.
Stranded in 1909, she now lies inland, for the entire world as if she were sailing through the desert. Forthwith the
shipwreck of the fishing trawler, Shaunee, comes into sight.

As we continue northward we see the never-ending battle for supremacy between the sand and the sea, as we pass
the “Lange Wand”, a 500 feet high dune rising from the waters edge. Nearing Sandwich Harbour, your pilot will ascend
to 1500 feet.

Sandwich Harbour is a large saltwater lagoon and home to an incredible variety of bird life and one of southern Africa’s
greatest natural bird sanctuaries. From Sandwich Harbour our flight takes us over the salt mines and Namibia’s major
harbour, Walvis Bay.

Next we fly over the guano-collecting wooden platform, where thousands of seabirds settle and leave their
droppings. Periodically these are scraped up and fertiliser results. The recreational resorts Dolphin Beach and
Longbeach are our next destination. As the town of Swakopmund comes into sight, your pilot will prepare for landing.

One of the world’s most treacherous shorelines. It’s white sands are strewn with the skeletons of ships and men.
From the Swakopmund airfield this flight first takes you inland, over Damaraland. Further flight over the table top
mountains and the majestical Brandberg, famous for the rock painting known as the white lady. We reach the Ugab
river bed and fly along it as it meanders its way towards the coast. In the river bed, keep a lookout for the desert
elephants, ostrich, oryx and other game. As we near the coastline, the sand dunes form intriguing ripple patterns,
which give colour, texture and a graphic quality to the dunes. Flying along the coast, you will come to appreciate it
as one of the globe’s last wilderness areas.

Diamonds do occursporadically in limited quantities along the Skeleton Coast. We continue our flight to Palgrave
Point, the site of many dramatic sea rescues. We reach Cape Cross, the largest seal colony in Africa, home to an
estimated 250 000 seals. In 1486, the Portuguese mariner Diego Cao erected a stone cross here, on his second
expedition to Africa, south of the equator. Shortly after we see the holiday town of Henties Bay, renowned for
recreational fishing, our flight continues passing Wlotskasbaken and the salt works, returning to Swakopmund.

We take-off from the Swakopmund airfield, and fly inland the table top mountains and the majestical Brandberg,
famous for the rock painting known as the white lady. We reach the Ugab river bed and fly along it as it meanders its
way towards the coast. In the river bed, keep a lookout for the desert elephants, ostrich, oryx and other game.
As we near the coastline, the sand dunes form intriguing ripple patterns, which give colour, texture and a graphic
quality to the dunes. Flying along the coast, you will come to appreciate it as one of the globe’s last wilderness areas.
Diamonds do occur sporadically in limited quantities along the Skeleton Coast.

We fly over the best known of these terraces at Toscanini. From Toscanini we continue our XWFHMS`1o Palgrave
Point, the site of many dramatic sea rescues. As we overfly Cape Cross, your pilot will prepare for landing.
Transfer to the newly opened Cape Cross Lodge. Enjoy a light lunch, with views of the turbulent Atlantic Ocean.
After lunch, transfer to the airfield and we continue our flight along the coast, passing the holiday town of Henties
Bay, renowned for recreational fishing, Wlotskasbaken and the saltworks, returning to Swakopmund.

Half Day

Early morning transfer to the Swakopmund airfield. This flight takes you over the Spitzkoppe Mountains, and the
majestical Brandberg with its dazzling contrast of colours. Landing at Opuwo, th ecapital of the Koakoland,
accompanied by a guide and translator we make it possible for you to visit the Ovahimba tribe. It is hard to grasp
that these proud people still live as they did hundreds of years ago, sticking to their ancient beliefs and traditions.
The Kaokoland belongs to its inhabitants and it is only right to show respect for their way of living and their
traditions. The “kraal” consists of simple huts that are built of mopane branches, mud and dung.Cattle mean life to
the Ovahimba, and play an important role in ceremonies and rituals .Brides are paid for with cattle and the death of
a chief demands slaughtering of the finest animals.

The women have an unusual sculptural beauty, enhanced by intricate hairstyles and jewellery, which is made of
twisted copper, small iron beads, shells and bones threaded on thin strings of leather. When you are ready, we return
to the guest house where a light lunch is served.After lunch, transfer to the landing strip and we continue our flight
via the Hoarusib river bed. We follow the river bed as it meanders its way to the coastline. Low-level flight along the
treacherous Skeleton Coast with its remains of shipwrecks passing the, diamond mine at Toscanini, the seal reserve at
Cape Cross and the coastal town of Henties Bay on our return to Swakopmund. Full Day "Ovahimba Excursion": OPUWO
(1110 km = day trip)

Early morning take off from the Swakopmund airfield, flight over the Kuiseb riverbed as we head towards the highest
shifting sand dunes in the world at Sossusvlei. The colours and shadows of these gigantic mountains of sand change
by the hour from beige to rust-red to purple, dazzling the eye. We head eastwards to Keetmanshoop where we refuel
the aircraft and you will have a chance to stretch your legs. Flight continues towards the largest Canyon in Africa, the
Fish River Canyon. Landing at the Canyon, you will be driven to the viewpoint where a spectacular view of the Canyon
can be enjoyed. Lunch at the Canyon lodge. The flight continues as below, but excludes the stop over in Lüderitz.
Lüderitz & Kolmanskop visit flying low-level in the Kuiseb Canyon, our flight continues over the diamond-restricted area
towards the coastal town of Lüderitz. Landing in Lüderitz, you will enjoy a guided city tour of this quaint town
and visit Namibia’s most famous ghost town, Kolmanskop. In 1908 a railway worker found the first diamond.This
discovery was the spark of a diamond rush. The development of Kolmanskop reached its pinnacle in the twenties.
However, when richer diamond deposits were discovered further south, operations were moved to Oranjemund. Within
a span of 40 years, Kolmanskop lived, flourished and died. Today the ghost town’s crumbling ruins bear little
resemblance to its former glory.

Before we return to the airport, you will enjoy a picnic lunch. Our return flight is along the desolate coast, passing the
shipwreck Otavi and Meob Bay At Conception Bay we fly over the shipwreck of a German passenger liner, Eduard
Bohlen. Stranded in 1909, she now lies inland, for the entire world as if she were sailing through the desert. Forthwith
the shipwreck of the fishing trawler, Shaunee, comes into sight. As we continue northward we see the never-ending
battle for supremacy between the sand and the sea, as we pass the “Lange Wand”, a 500 feet high dune rising from
the waters edge. Nearing Sandwich Harbour, your pilot will ascend to 1500 feet. Sandwich Harbour is a large saltwater
lagoon and home to an incredible variety of bird life and one of southern Africa’s greatest natural bird sanctuaries.
From Sandwich Harbour our flight takes us over the salt mines and Namibia’s major harbour, Walvis Bay. Next we fly
over the guano-collecting wooden platform, where thousands of seabirds settle and leave their droppings. Periodically
these are scraped up and fertiliser results. As the town of Swakopmund comes into sight, your pilot will prepare for
landing.

"Lüderitz & Kolmanskop": (day trip = 1200 km)

SOSSUSVLEI DAY EXCURSION

As described above, with landing at Sesriem. ± 1 hour. Accompanied by a guide you will be driven in a 4x4 vehicle into
Sossusvlei. Time at leisure in Sossusvlei. When you are ready, you’ll be transfered to the Sossusvlei lodge for a light
lunch. After lunch a transfer to the landing strip and we continue our flight as described above.

± 1 hours 20 minutes

DIAMOND CAMPS AND SHIPWRECKS

± 1 hour 30 minutes "Desolate Diamond Coast": (1h30 = 360 km)

SKELETON COAST, BRANDBERG, UGAB

"Coast of Loneliness / Skeleton Coast" : (±2h15 = 780 km)

SKELETON COAST : with stop over at Cape Cross Lodge

HIMBA DAY TRIP

"Ovahimba Excursion & Epupa Falls": EPUPA (1410 km = day trip)

FISH RIVER CANYON

"1 HOUR COASTAL SCENIC FLIGHT " : (01h00 = 270 km)

A short flight over the dunes, Shaunee Shipwreck, Sandwich Harbour Kolmanskop
Shipwreck and coastal Towns of Walvis Bay, Long Beach & Swakopmund.

ALL RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE

Click here for further information, rates or booking

"Sossusvlei": (2h15 = 610 km)