Safari Holidays to South Africa and Namibia for independent travellers.

Only a 25 km drive from Windhoek is the  Daan Viljoen Game Park, a peaceful 4,000 hectare reserve set amid beautiful rolling hills.  

Named after a former South African administrator to South West Africa, the Park was declared a National Park in 1962 and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including blue wildebeest, zebra, kudu, baboons, gemsbok, eland and springbok.  There are also over 200 species of birdlife. 

There is a loop road which you can self-drive around, with several viewing points overlooking the surrounding countryside and mountains.  

However, as this is not a Big 5 game reserve, visitors are able to explore the reserve on foot, and there are 3 good hiking trails which can be followed.  Anyone going on any of the trails must report to the Main Office to sign the Visitor Book.

The 3 km Hike

The first is the easy 3 km Wag-'n'bietjie ('wait a while') trail along a dried up river bed to the Stengel Dam. 

Along the way, you pass a rocky outcrop which is home to a troop of noisy baboons, but don't let their shrieking scare you.  

However, it is advisable to ask at the main office before setting off whether there is water in the dam, as depending on the time of year you go means either the dam is full or empty.   

The 9 km Hike

The longer and more strenuous 9 km Rooibos (Red Bushwillow) trail takes you steadily uphill to begin with. 

It then lets you descend into a peaceful river bed which you follow back to the main camp.  The final stretch of the hike is particularly strenuous.   

The 32 km Hike

The 32 km 2 day Sweet Thorn Trail should be booked in advance, and the overnight stop is at a small shelter en route. 

The map provided by the main office is not desperately good, so care is needed to ensure that you do not miss the trail and get lost.