Wonderful Welwitschia Goanikontes Moonlandscape Tour
Description
The Moonlandscape and the Namib desert gravel Plains, with dolomite outcrops, Lava dykes and evidence of at least 3 ice ages. The Welwitschia Plants only grow in a small belt in this area, the Welwitschia Plains, and plants up to 1500 years old are seen, they are unique in that they only have two leaves coming out of the stem. The Moonlandscape is about 500 million years old and is the only place on earth to experience the feeling of being on another Planet.. Goanikontes is the first fresh water Oasis in the desert and has therefore attracted human life and development here. History rich full of memories of hard days gone by. The utter quietness of the desert gravel plains have their own mystique... We drive past the tiny Lichens, a field covering the desert, tiny living organism, a joint venture between an Algae and Mushroom how do these and other plants survive in this harsh environment with only 15mm of rain per annum? Fog is the main source of moisture, how have they adapted?
Tour Options
Itinerary
We travel to Goanikontes , an Oasis in the Swakopmund River, which is the first water well in the Swakop River and has a rich history. Plantations from yesteryear include Date palms and Olive trees. Nowadays it has a fine restaurant.
We travel to the amazing Moonlandscape, we pass lichen fields and , Dolomite rocks and Lava Dykes on the desert gravel plains, look at various desert plants and how they survive, no rainfall only fog... the more we learn the more we want to know onto the world. The Moonlandscape. 400-500 million years old built on lava and dolomite rock, having endured 2 ice ages and being part of the old Gondwanaland... you feel as if you are on another planet its absolutely amazing... Minimum 2 pax. Please specify on booking
The tour takes us to the the 1500 year Old Welwitschia Mirabilis plant, across the gravel plains we drive viewing the desert lichen fields and other fauna onto the amazing Welwitschia plants. We learn how they survive, why they are only found in this area, how the male plants differ from the female and how they get pollinated... how they evolved and adapted, its a must visit. Minimum 2 pax
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up at all Hotels Guest Houses and B&b's in Swakopmund or Walvis bay Please take note all cruise liner passengers. We stand in the port after the first gate with a Gazebo that has our logo on. Please note your guide will also stand with a name board. please note all Cruise Liner passengers, your tour pick up time starts an hour after you have docked. The tour will depart latest an hour and a half after the pick up time. Late comers are considered a no show
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We require a minimum of 2 participants to start the tour, should this not be met we will offer you another date/experience or full refund.
- This tour is seldomly cancelled due to bad weather, but we have sand storms, should the tour be cancelled or postponed, we will offer you another time slot/ date / experience or full refund.
- Please note German guides are limited and we do not have the capacity to give everyone a German guide, These will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. Please note we can not guarantee a German guide on every tour!!
- please note all Cruise Liner passengers, your tour pick up time starts an hour after you have docked. The tour will depart latest an hour and a half after the pick up time. Late comers are considered a no show
Reviews(7)
The moonscape was breathtaking! Highly recommended! Stephan was a very competent guide and has and answered every question.
Thank you very much for the high recommendation. We look forward to welcoming you back for another adventure. Thanks Uwe
We experienced this beautiful tour today. Our guide first showed us the Welwitschia, several plants were explained in detail. Afterwards we went on a grand tour of the lunar landscape, with a stop at the oasis of Goanikontes . Later we had a delicious lunch. It was a very interesting and impressive tour overall. The guide drove very safely, gave us a lot of information, because through this tour was completely successful.
Thank you for your wonderful review! The Welwitchia plants and the Moon Landscape are truly fascinating natural wonders, and we're glad you enjoyed discovering them with us. ThankS Uwe
It was very fortunate to have Winton as a tour guide! He is very experienced, knows exactly what to do, where to go and which path/road to follow in the national parks. He has a very good sense of humor, adding to the tour some additional fun. The tour itself is very nicely scheduled, no rush, enough time to enjoy all the sights and amazing views, eat a delicious meal, enjoy some beverages and also take a lot of photos. Winton also helps a lot when taking photos/selfies! With his help it's possible to get very good pictures with oneself on a unique scenery. The tour is an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy fantastic views, amazing sceneries and see the unique Welwitschia plants. Winton readily shares his knowledge about everything in the visited areas. Driving in the national parks seems more than just challenging! First time visitors are highly advised to take a guided tour before attempting themselves to drive there. Thank you very much for the great time! Keep it up like this Winton! 👏👍
Thank you for your kind recommendations. Every thing you say is true. Glad you loved this unique landscape and the utter quietness. Uwe
We booked for the Welwitschia-Tour and it wasn‘t only a waste of time, but also a waste of money. We didn‘t get any refund or cheaper price and paid 200 Euro for 3 hours! We never experienced something like that before. The manager of the agency wa stubborn and really not sympathetic! Never again with this agency!!!!!
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're truly sorry to hear that your experience at Deser Dunnes and Dust Tours did not meet your expectations. Our team stives to provide a memorable and enjoyable adventure for every guest. We appreciate your comments and will use them to improve our tours. We hope to welcome you back in the future and provide a full experience that we are known for. Thanks Uwe
Thanks to our guide Winton. What a amazing tour, I dint know you can learn so much from the desert and their plants. Winton a nature lover and a well educated guide that knows his desert plants. Thanks again Winton and Desert Dune & Dust Tours that's making this possible for all.
The more you learn, the more you find out how little you know. We still have a lot to learn from the intriguing Desert , but its so satisfying seeing how everything intertwines ever so gently. Thank you for noticing and your kind review. Uwe
The surreal formations and breathtaking views make this place a true natural wonder. It was just amazing to wander through this unique landscape and admire the impressive colors and textures. An unforgettable experience that every visitor to Swakopmund should definitely capture! ✨ For those who want to know more about my experiences around the world, please check my profile ! There you will find a link to my video that captured my time in Namibia . Just great 😀
Danke die lieben Worte. Die Mondlandschafft und die Welwitschia pflanzen sind wirklich eigenartig und ein tolles erlebnis. Danke die Empfhlung. Gute Reise. Uwe
We were a little unsure about this tour before booking and it completely exceeded our expectations! The desert is a vast unknown, hosting so many secrets that just blow your mind! Uwe, is immensely knowledgeable of the region and related geology. Do yourself a favour and allow yourself to be seduced by what this tour has to offer. If you love fine details & hard to find natural treasures, don't miss this tour. We learnt SO much! Thanks Uwe!
Thank you Suzette. Glad that you were not disappointed in your choice. The Namib Desert is harsh and unique, it sure humbles you. The silence and vastness speak for themselves
