Excursion Sossusvlei scenic flight tour at Walvis Bay

Take a two-plus-hour scenic flight over the Namib Desert, with a total distance covered by air of 630 km. From Swakopmund board a light aircraft over the Namib Desert to the Kuiseb River for a flight that promises to be a highlight of the entire voyage.

Enjoy some low-level flying along the Kuiseb River onto the Desert Ecological Research Unit Gobabeb, founded in 1959. Pass Tsondabvlei, the only known breeding area for the Lappet Face Vulture in southern Namibia, towards the highest shifting sand dunes in the world at Sossusvlei. No part of the desert is visually more stunning than Sossusvlei. The warm tints of the sand range from pale apricot to brick orange and deep red, vividly contrasting with the large white clay pans at some of their bases.

From Sossusvlei fly into the Diamond Restricted Area, soaring over the remains of three old diamond camps. Cross the coastline at Conception Bay, passing colonies of Cape Fur seals and the shipwreck of the passenger liner Eduard Bohlen. Stranded in 1909, the ship lies 250m away from the shore. Further along the coast is another shipwreck, the "Shaunee" stranded in 1976.

Along the coast with the Atlantic surf on the one side and the "long wall" (Namib Dunes) on the other, reach Sandwich Harbor, a wetland of international importance and protected by the Ramsar Convention. The highest recorded density of Lesser and Greater flamingos was recorded at low tide with 7,791 birds/km. In harmony with the surroundings are Namibia's coastal salt mines, south of Walvis Bay, attracting thousands of birds.

On arrival at Swakopmund Airport transfer back to the quayside.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Namib Desert, Kuiseb River, Tsondabvlei, Sossusvlei desert, Diamond Restricted Area, Eduard Bohlen and Shaunee shipwrecks, Sandwich Harbor

Note

Please note: This tour requires minimal walking but does entail climbing four steps into the plane.