led by Dr Paul Selden
The University of Manchester and
The Natural History Museum
and Dr Roger Smith
Iziko South African Museum and
University of Cape Town
LATEST NEWS: We had a fabulous study tour to Namibia. Exceptional rains earlier in the year provided the most spectacular Namaqualand flower show and, in Namibia, unbelievable grasslands where there are normally gravel plains, vegetated Namib dunes, and water and ducks on the vleis. Click on the sidebar Kokerboom photo to see a picture album of the trip. You can also download a pdf of Peter Wells’s final night eulogy.
Namibia is a land of geological superlatives: the oldest desert, the highest desert dunes, the second-largest canyon, the largest iron meteorite, and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The rocks of Namibia span some 2600 million years of Earth history, from among the oldest rocks on the planet (Archaean) to vast expanses of some of the youngest (Kalahari). Though its mountains are not high (the highest, Brandberg, is 2573 m), they are geologically complex: running through the middle of the country is an ancient mountain belt formed between 1800 and 1000 million years ago. In contrast, the Cape Fold Mountains of South Africa are geologically young, having been formed a mere 280–235 million years ago. Between the mountain ranges lie vast plains, with their evocative names: Karoo, Kalahari, Etosha Pan. But it is the deserts which are so characteristic of the region, in particular the unique Namib.
The dry climate of the south-western corner of Africa is
due to the north-flowing, upwelling Benguela Current. There
is little evaporation because of its cold temperature, but
a thick coastal fog provides sufficient moisture to support
a great many plants and animals which have evolved to
survive in the ancient Namib desert. Other parts of the
region benefit from rainy seasons, when the desert blooms
and there is food in plenty. In addition to the unique
flora, Namibia and adjacent areas of South Africa are noted
for their characteristic wild animals which form a
highlight of any visit to Africa.
This tour will indeed be the desert adventure of a
lifetime!
THE STUDY
TOUR is designed to take in as much of the diversity
of rocks and scenery of Namibia and the western Cape as
possible. The tour starts in Cape Town, where there is a
chance to visit Table Mountain or the Kirstenbosch Botanic
garden. We then set off northwards to stay for two nights
at Clanwilliam in the Cedarberg Mountains. Part of the Cape
Fold Belt, the sandstones here are carved by nature into
bizarre shapes, and the prehistoric San rock art adds to
the mystic quality of the landscape.
Continuing north, we visit Namaqualand, with its
magnificent flora on ancient granite-gneisses. This areas
is a botanist’s paradise whether or not the rains
have prompted a show of spring flowers. In Namaqualand, we
also visit the copper-mining districts of Okiep and
Nababeep. Travel ling eastwards across the Karoo, we spend
two nights in the relatively lush surroundings of Augrabies
Falls National Park, with its spectacular gorge on the
Orange River. We then head off to the Kalahari Desert.
Here, we enjoy a number of open-vehicle drives to view the
diverse wildlife, including wildebeest, springbok and the
magnificent gemsbok; predators we might see in the park
include lion, leopard and cheetah.
We enter Namibia across the Kalahari dunes and salt pans,
and spend our first evening enjoying sundowners at the
Kokerboom Forest before a night in Keetmanshoop. We then
head west into the Namib Desert with its giant sand dunes
and special wildlife. We spend two nights in the
Sossussvlei region, and enjoy two four-wheel drive
excursions to see the famous dune areas, and then drive on
to Swakopmund for a three-night stay. From here we visit
the northern Namib, where the sand sea gives way abruptly
at the Kuiseb River to rocky desert, and visit the Gobabeb
Desert Research Station. Of especial interest here is the
fascinating plant Welwitschia.
We have a day to explore the old colonial town of
Swakopmund and then drive north along the Skeleton Coast.
Turning inland through Damaraland, we reach Palmwag for a
two-night stay to visit the variety of interesting
phenomena in the Karoo rocks around here: the Etjo
Formation, Petrified Forest, Twyfelfontein rock art, and
the Organ Pipes dolerite columns. Leaving Palmwag, our
route continues to Etosha National Park. Here we stay for
two nights and experience an open-vehicle drive to view the
wonderful wildlife. Our final night will be spent at
Windhoek, where we have time to explore the capital before
our evening departure back to England.
The tour is led by two geologists/natural historians with
long experience of teaching adults and leading field study
tours. No previous knowledge of geology or natural history
is assumed. The tour is organized in conjunction with
Zulwini Tours (http://www.zulwini.com).
The Study Tour runs from Sunday 6th August to Sunday 27th
August, 2006. The fee of £3595 includes all transport, by
luxury coach and air (via Gatwick), starting from and
returning to Wilmslow and Manchester Airport, quality
half-board accommodation in twin-bedded rooms, scheduled
entrance fees, six scenic/game drives, snacks and bottled
water, and an additional guide in Namibia. Insurance,
lunches, gratuities and any optional entrance fees or
excursions are not included. Single rooms are available for
a supplement of £375. This is likely to be a popular study
tour so you are advised not to delay in making a deposit to
secure a place.
PROVISIONAL ITINERARY
Date Accommodation Itinerary
6-Aug In flight Leave Wilmslow, coach to Gatwick
7-Aug The Portswood Hotel, Cape Town Cape Town
8-Aug Strassbergers Hotel, Clanwilliam Drive to Clanwilliam
via West Coast Fossil Park
9-Aug Strassbergers Hotel, Clanwilliam Tour of Cedarberg
10-Aug Annies Guest House / Mountain View, Springbok Drive
to Springbok, via Goegap NR
11-Aug National Parks Augrabies Falls Nababeep mining
history, Drive to Augrabies Falls
12-Aug National Parks Augrabies Falls Augrabies Falls NP
13-Aug Molopo Lodge (before the park), Kgalagadi National
Park Drive to Molopo Lodge
14-Aug Twee Rivierin, Kgalagadi National Park Kalahari
Gemsbok National Park
15-Aug Canyon Hotel, Keetmanshoop Drive to Keetmanshoop,
sundown at Kokerboom Forest
16-Aug Sossusvlei Lodge Drive to Sossusvlei (evening drive
arranged locally)
17-Aug Sossusvlei Lodge Full day in Sossusvlei
18-Aug Strand Hotel, Swakopmund Other localities in
Namib-Naukluft Park
19-Aug Strand Hotel, Swakopmund Gobabeb: Desert Ecology
Research Station
20-Aug Strand Hotel, Swakopmund Day in Swakopmund
21-Aug Vingerklip Lodge, Khorixas Drive via Skeleton Coast
22-Aug Vingerklip Lodge, Khorixas Tweifelfontein rock art
and petrified forest
23-Aug Toshari Lodge, Etosha NP Drive to Toshari Lodge
(close to Anderson Gate)
24-Aug Toshari Lodge, Etosha NP Etosha NP Day Visit (half
day coach / half day open vehicle)
25-Aug Windhoek Country Club, Windhoek Drive to Windhoek
26-Aug In flight Evening flight so day in Windhoek
27-Aug Arrive Gatwick Coach to Wilmslow