:: The Northern Naukluft
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The Naukluft area, only a few kilometers from Sesriem, offers a complete contrast to the dune dominated desert with its mountainous terrain, fresh water spring pools and lush ephemeral river valleys.
A small National Parks campsite provides the only accommodation and as such the area is tranquil and unspoiled. Hiking trails meander through the hillsides and lead to many sparklingly clear and refreshingly cold natural pools. Two day-hikes are marked, the Waterkloof Trail which is a 17km loop and takes around seven hours to complete, and the Olive Trail which is 10km long and takes around 4-5 hours. For the more energetic there are also two trails which take 4 and 8 days to complete and which must be booked in advance.
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The four-day hike covers 60km and takes in the same scenery as the first part of the 8 day hike.
Between 3 and 12 people can complete the overnight trails at any one time, and these run between March and October in order to avoid the heat and rain of mid summer.
Wildlife in the area includes zebra, kudu, springbok, klipspringer and leopard. In addition the area is prime habitat for the magnificent black eagle as well as many other smaller bird species. During the rainy season, it is sometimes possible to watch as rainwater flows down the mountains, gaining momentum on its journey from the highlands through the usually dry riverbeds in torrents. The transformation of this arid environment is truly spectacular to witness.
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