The surface changes. Pale, sharp edged rock replaces the sand under your tyres, and the wall ahead begins to climb. A thousand metres of mountain stands above the plain. After three days of dunes, this is the opposite of red emptiness.
- Highest point
- 1,988 m
- Age of the basement rock
- Over 1 billion years
- Olive Trail and Waterkloof Trail
- 10 and 17 km
- Naukluft Trail
- 120 km in eight days
- Hiking season
- 1 March to 31 October
The basement rock is volcanic and more than a billion years old, overlain by dolomite and limestone from the Damara orogeny. The highest point measures about 1,988 metres. Kudu keep to the gorges, dassies to the steep faces, springbok, oryx and duiker to the plateaus, and leopards and jackals move through all of it. The Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park was proclaimed in 1968 to protect the endemic Hartmann mountain zebra.
Three routes carry the walking. The Olive Trail runs about ten kilometres and takes four to five hours, the Waterkloof Trail 17 kilometres and six to eight hours, both rated moderate to hard. Then there is the Naukluft Trail, a circuit of about 120 kilometres over eight days, with stages of twelve to 17 kilometres between 1,250 and 1,950 metres. Hiking in the Naukluft is only allowed between 1 March and 31 October, because the summer heat rules out the rest of the year. Camping is basic and comes with no supplies.
- Time needed
- half a day of driving, four to eight hours per day hike
- Cost
- entry for the Naukluft section of the park, trails booked separately
- When
- between March and October, setting off early
- From Sesriem
- 60.0 km
Our tipThe 60 kilometres refer to the southern edge of the range near Zais. The trailheads sit considerably further on, so treat the Olive Trail as a day of its own with an early start rather than an afternoon outing.
Naukluft Mountains: frequently asked questions
How long is the Olive Trail in the Naukluft Mountains?
The Olive Trail in the Naukluft Mountains is about ten kilometres long and takes four to five hours. It is rated moderate to hard.
When can you hike in the Naukluft Mountains?
Hiking in the Naukluft Mountains is permitted only between 1 March and 31 October. The trails stay closed through the Namibian summer because of the heat.
Which zebras are found in the Naukluft Mountains?
The Naukluft Mountains are home to the endemic Hartmann mountain zebra, which occurs almost only in Namibia. The Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park was proclaimed in 1968 to protect it.
How long does the Naukluft Trail take?
The Naukluft Trail is a circuit of about 120 kilometres walked over eight days, with stages of twelve to 17 kilometres between 1,250 and 1,950 metres. The first four days are considered moderate, the last four harder.