Tracks in Namibian lands

Near our small town, two sites are worth a visit: a "forest" of kokerbooms, the quiver trees typical of the Namibian desert, and, close by, the Giant's Playground, a strange landscape of upright and stacked boulders. Then, still heading due south, we ride to the edge of the Fish River Canyon, which we'll see tomorrow. Meanwhile, the symphony of deserts that change every 50 km goes on. Still feeling fresh on arrival? A short walk around the lodge is possible, and well worth it.

A morning loop takes us to the Fish River Canyon and several of its viewpoints: a lovely ride! This geological wonder is not to be missed; it is the second largest canyon in the world. Then we head due north. On tarmac... but there is an alternative track along a railway line. Up for it? In that case, the off-road share will climb above 90%, we'll see! At the lodge, discover something you have probably never seen before: lithops, the "living stones".

The morning takes us across the Huib-Hoch range, on wide tracks winding through beautiful high-altitude hills and basins. Lunch stop in the small town of Aus, before heading down to the Atlantic coast on a tarmac road through Tsau-Khaeb National Park: ostriches, oryx, feral horses... We arrive in the sleepy town of Lüderitz, a piece of Germany in the middle of Africa, surrounded by a wild, rocky coastline.

A day to relax and explore Lüderitz and its surroundings. This colonial town, founded at the end of the 19th century by the German merchant who gave it his name, surprises with its historic buildings and colourful houses. A very fun loop, sandy here and there, takes us round the wild peninsula to the south, to Diaz Point, where the Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias raised a cross in 1488. Back in town, the cold-Atlantic seafood feast continues.

Off to the Namib Desert. We stop at the ghost town of Kolmanskop to learn the history of this former mining town and wander around its buildings buried in sand. The arid landscapes unfold an extraordinary palette of colours as we approach the southern flanks of the "orange" desert. On the D707: if you didn't like sand, now is the time to finish learning, and to start loving it! Our lodge sits in the middle of spaces almost too vast for the eye.

This stage takes us along the edge of the Namib Desert and the Naukluft Mountains. The oldest desert in the world reveals its many shades of colour and rocky landscapes. We reach Sesriem at the end of the day, at the gateway to the famous dunes of Sossusvlei. In the evening, we take in Namibia's immense starry sky, eyes wide open.

We set off at dawn by 4x4 into Namib-Naukluft National Park to see the otherworldly Sossusvlei and the highest dunes in the world. The more energetic can climb to the top of Big Daddy, more than 350 m high, and will be rewarded with an unreal panorama from the summit. Below lies the clay pan of Dead Vlei and its dead acacia trunks. After lunch, we get back on the motorcycles for a short stage north, with a stop in Solitaire. Last night on the edge of the desert.

It's already our last day of riding, but what a day! After crossing the Spreethoogte Pass, known to be a little technical, we ride the fantastic C26 track to the capital, Windhoek. Picnic somewhere along the way, before returning to civilisation.

Depending on your flight times, you may have time to visit Windhoek and do some last-minute shopping. Transfer to the airport.