Tok Tokkie Trails

The Tok Tokkie Trails is a 3 day / 2 night guided walking trail in the intriguing and beautiful landscape of the private NamibRand Nature Reserve. A truly rewarding experience.

The beauty of the Tok Tokkie walking trail is the fact that you closely experience so many different aspects of the beautiful Namib desert – from mountainous terrain to sandy dunes.

In addition to the fantastic scenery and unfenced game such as herds of oryx and springbok, the desert holds big and small wonders of adaptation that cannot be experienced while driving, and, when explained by a knowledgable guide, really come to life.

Day one is very easy going as you meet with your guide in the mid afternoon, depart on a short scenic drive and then walk the last two hours into camp. The camp is set up in advance by the camp staff and your luggage, except for your day pack, is transported for you.

The camp is made up of an open-kitchen, a dining table for eating under the stars, long-drop toilet and bucket shower which is all shared with other guests.

The sleeping arrangments are your own private room which is usually a corner of the desert where your camp bed, wash basin, table and canvas chairs which have been set up for you away from everyone else.  The location in the middle of the desert and sleeping under the stars is wondrous.

Day two starts with breakfast and then a 3-4 hour walk, with breaks for tea/coffee. A shaded lunch spot is chosen where you can relax, eat and enjoy a couple of hours relaxing during the hottest time of day before walking for around 2-3 hours over the dunes and plains to the overnight camp.

The last hour or so before sunset is spectacular as the shadows on the dunes create an ever-changing palette of colours before you sit down and enjoy a delicious meal under the stars. The quality of food that comes out of the camp kitchen is really impressive.

On the last day you rise at first light, have breakfast in camp and then enjoy an easy walk through the dunes to the Tok Tokkie farmhouse arriving in mid to late morning.

The trail is not difficult, but challenging. Fitness and good condition is important as the trails entail 6 to 7 hours walking on the second day.  As some of the routes lead through rough terrain and over sand dunes it does require well-balanced and secure walking.

A really exciting wilderness experience which allows you to get close to nature and feel a real sense of glorious isolation within the desert. We love it.

(Safari Trivia: Tok Tokkie is the common name for beetles which produce a “tokking” sound when tapping their rear end on the ground. They perform this serenade in order to attract a mate.  Tok Tokkies belong to the Tenebrionid family, the darkling beetles.)