Tiras Mountains Holidays

The Tiras Mountains rise from the desert floor, hulking behemoths marching on the horizon. This private nature reserve in Namibia’s dusty south borders the Namib Desert, home to beige-coloured beasts like kudus and springboks, as well as the prehistoric-looking ostrich, bat-eared foxes and nocturnal jackals. Rock climbers come to tackle the saw-toothed peaks, the highest being 1902-metre-tall Schanzenberg, the perfect vantage to take in the otherworldly, untouched scenery.

Visitors usually treat the Tiras Mountains as a mere photo stop as they road trip through Namibia, but stay a little longer to explore its charms. Soak up the desert stillness in rustic lodges where you can ride horses and hike, birdwatch or take guided safaris to explore further. Photographers will revel in the star-filled night skies and maroon, rock-strewn landscape; the area stretches over several ecological zones, its floor carpeted with a biodiverse range of plants, grasses and succulents.

Organise a peaceful stay in the Tiras Mountains as you drive through Namibia.

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Scenic drives in the remote Namib Desert

Explore the remote Namib Desert on a scenic drive. You’ll travel with a guide in a converted Toyota land cruisers. Head out at sunrise or sunset for three hours to the reserve’s top spots. Along the way, you’ll be surrounded by vast grasslands, the Tiras Mountains and rolling sand dunes and you’ll rarely see another vehicle.

The landscapes are the main draw here but you’ll also spot desert creatures as you drive. You’ll stop at waterholes where oryx, springboks and ostriches sometimes gather. If you head out for sunrise, you’ll enjoy coffee and rusks at a scenic viewpoint or sundowner drinks and snacks in the late afternoon. Watching the sun rise or set over the desert is an incredible experience; the sky turns pink and orange and the landscape glows.

You can also take scenic dune drives, which take place on the other side of Kanaan Desert Retreat. The landscape here is covered with shifting sand dunes – the Namib Desert has some of the oldest dunes in the world – dotted with petrified trees. Guests love the adventure of bumping over the dunes in a 4×4. If you’re keen to see the desert after dark, take a night drive which allows you to experience the star-studded night skies and spot nocturnal creatures such as foxes, owls, and striped polecats.

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