After the Windhoek Marathon: Three Nights near Sesriem and the Namib

The Route: Windhoek hotel → Truckport → Go2 shuttle → Sesriem area (3 nights) → Shuttle back Logistics: Book the lodge, the park fees and any onward vehicle separately, and leave a buffer before your flight. Marathon Month: May Duration: 3 nights

Windhoek hotel ──> Truckport ──(Go2 shuttle, about 5 hrs)──> Sesriem area (3 nights)
                                                                   │
                                 Windhoek <──(shuttle back)── Vehicle days <──┘

The desert is the best reason to travel after this race, and the worst place to arrive on stiff legs. The dunes will still be there on the third day.

May in the Namib: the dry season. Nights are cold and the middle of the day is warm and bright. Wind and road conditions vary, so ask your lodge.

Getting There

Go2 publishes a 07:00 departure from the Windhoek Truckport. The journey takes about five hours, with stops at Solitaire, Sesriem and Namib Desert Lodge. The most recent published fare was N$850 one way; check the current figure and the days it runs. The shuttle's drop-offs are different places, and a lodge is not automatically the gate to the dunes, so arrange the onward vehicle and the room separately and in writing, and check the park fees in advance.

Nights One to Three

Travel on the Monday after the race and keep the first night plain: dinner and bed. On the second day use a vehicle-based drive and keep walking to a minimum. Hold the dunes for the last full day, and do not climb one if your calves are still complaining. Ask any lodge about step access and the distance from the room to the dining area.

Getting Home

Take the shuttle back to Windhoek, then a transfer to Hosea Kutako International Airport, 45 km east of the city. Leave a full day between the desert and an international flight, and keep your insurance details with you, because FCDO notes that private healthcare may need upfront payment.