Ranch Koiimasis

An approx. A 9-hour drive towards the south of the country awaits you. The time will fly by, because our staff already has a lot of exciting information about the country and its people.

Start your journey by meeting our herd. We’ll begin with a relaxed session in the arena to pair you with the horse that best matches your riding style and personality. After a short introduction to our Western riding techniques, we’ll enjoy a fresh lunch together. In the afternoon, the real adventure begins. We’ll head out for your first trail ride across the estate, winding our way up toward the main lodge. Along the way, your guide will share the history of Ranch Koiimasis - from the bold vision of breeding horses in the "middle of nowhere" to the secrets of surviving and thriving in this beautiful, wild landscape. Riding Time: Approx. 3 hours

The morning’s ride focuses on the history of the Khoisan people. As we traverse the savannah, your guide will share insights into how Namibia’s indigenous ancestors survived this harsh environment, highlighting fascinating artifacts found on the ranch. In the afternoon, we test the strength and agility of our Western horses on a mountain climbing tour. We will ride deep into the rocky terrain to uncover more of the region's unique history. If time permits, we’ll conclude the day with a sundowner atop one of our central mountains. Riding Time: Approx. 4 hours

Prepare for a true highlight of the Koiimasis experience: working with our cattle. Under professional guidance, you will learn the fundamentals of livestock herding before driving a herd across the ranch’s vast plains into the corrals. Once gathered, you will assist in the essential tasks of sorting, marking, and branding. This is a hands-on opportunity to experience the daily life and responsibilities of a working Namibian ranch. In the afternoon, exchange your saddle for a seat in our open-top Land Cruiser for a photography safari into the savannah. We will head out to track the ranch’s wild horse herds. This excursion offers a rare and intimate look at our foals and stallions living in their natural habitat.  Riding Time: Approx. 2-4 hours

Today, we ride southeast toward Farm Weissenborn. We’ll guide you through adventurous climbs over ancient mountain passes, reaching the historic Bushman Valley. Here, we’ll discover ancient artifacts that show us how the Khoisan people once thrived in this rugged landscape. As we arrive, our camp and cook will be waiting for us. We’ll gather around the campfire for a traditional dinner of Oryx meat (or vegetarian alternative) prepared "Bushman-style." You can retreat to a comfortable bed in our tents or, for the ultimate experience, we invite you to sleep directly under the vast African stars. Riding Time: Approx. 6-7 hours ​ Note: If you’ve booked the "Atlantic Coast" extension, we will shorten our ride today and return to the main ranch for the night.

We’ll load our horses into the truck and head south toward the edge of the Namib Desert. From here, we begin our ride into the iconic red dunes. We’ll guide you through the soft, rolling sands, where we’ll stop to take plenty of photos of you against the breathtaking backdrop of the Tiras Mountains, memories you'll definitely want to share back home. After our picturesque journey, we’ll load the horses back up and drive home to the ranch to relax after an unforgettable morning in the oldest desert in the world. Riding Time: Approx. 3 hours ​ Note for Atlantic Coast Guests: If you’ve joined us for the extension, we won’t head back to the ranch; instead, we’ll continue our journey from here toward the coastal town of Lüderitz. Safety Notice: From December through February, we cannot guarantee the desert ride due to extreme temperatures but we will provide an equally exciting alternative program if the heat is excessive.

After the excitement of the desert, we take the morning to let both you and the horses rest your legs. We’ll start the day together with a delicious cowboy brunch - the perfect time to relax and soak in the ranch atmosphere. In the afternoon, we head back out on horseback, riding toward the northeast. We’ll guide you high into the mountains to explore our ancient Quiver Tree forest. These iconic trees have fascinating survival tactics for the desert heat, which we’ll share as we take in the mountain views. Riding Time: Approx. 2.5 hours   Note for Atlantic Coast Guests: If you have booked the extension, this itinerary shifts slightly, and today will become Day 10 of your 12-day adventure.

Option 1: The Cattle Drive Today, we head back out to work with our herd of nearly 200 cattle. They require regular checks and need to be moved to fresh, lush pastures. We do all of this on horseback - an environmentally friendly tradition that we believe is far more rewarding than using a quad bike. Riding Time: Approx. 2-4 hours Option 2: The Black Mountain Trail Depending on the weather and how you’re feeling, we may choose to ride north toward the "Black Mountain". Along the way, we’ll look for our wild horse herds and keep our eyes peeled for Oryx and Springbok crossing our path. Once we reach the summit, we’ll take a moment together to soak in the view of Namibia’s seemingly endless desert landscape. Riding Time: Approx. 4 hours

Unfortunately, we must say our goodbyes. We’ll gather for one last hearty breakfast together before we set off early in the morning for our drive back to Windhoek. As we leave the ranch behind, we hope you take with you unforgettable memories of the Tiras Mountains and the spirit of the Namibian wilderness.