Planet Hiking Trail

A quite unique activity offered by Rooisand is our planetary walk, completed in early 2018.
A model of our solar system has been set up along the path stretching between the ranch and observatory, a distance of about 2.5km,.

True to scale in size and distance (about 1: 1.79 billion), the trail starts off at the ranch gate and guides the hiker along to explore Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and finally, Neptune, located at the end of the trail at the Observatory.
In this model, the speed of light is around 16.74 cm/s, or, in other words, hikers walk through the solar system at about 8 times the speed of light!
This activity is offered free of charge and is the perfect introduction to raw astronomy and thus an ideal prelim to an astro-tour in the evening.
 


Rock-Art Hiking Trails

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Well-preserved rock carvings created by Namibia’s indigenous hunter-gatherer people have long been known on the farm grounds.
Scientific research brought more elements to light in 2005.
The paintings are mostly done in shades of red, the colour pigment having been ground to powder from Rötelstein (hematite), a ferrous rock. The powder was mixed with blood or egg whites from bird eggs. Even today, body colour is produced in this composition.
Once applied, the ‘paint’ virtually penetrates and chemically binds with the surface it is applied on. Due to this chemical bond, rock art paintings fade only after centuries or even millennia, as there is no actual ‘paint on canvas’.
Animal hair or bird feathers attached to wooden sticks or bones were used as paint brushes.

Several large caves discovered near the rock paintings suggest that over decades different groups of people visited the sites over and over again.

Due to high temperatures during the day, we usually offer this tour soon after breakfast only, and it lasts for about two hours. Please accommodate this in your travel schedule.
 


Mineral Site Visits

Rooisand offers various quarries that have exposed interesting mineral deposits, amongst others quartz, smokey quartz and amethysts.

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In addition, deposits of a very rare type of amethyst, that changes colour from violet-red to yellow-green when exposed to sunlight for a few days, have also been found.
 


Guided Walking Tour

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A knowledgeable guide will walk you through the grandiose scenery surrounding Rooisand Desert Ranch, there is so much to discover!

Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views and, if you are lucky, you will encounter “other inhabitants” of the Rooisand Desert Ranch during your hike.
 


Sundowner Drive

Join us on a drive to one of the many stunning viewing points Rooisand has to offer and enjoy an unobstructed view of the most fascinating African terrain.

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With a cold drink in hand, enjoy an (almost)guaranteed spectacular sunset until the first bright stars appear on the Namibian sky above.
Due to the mostly clear and clean air, the setting sun shines immaculately bright, suspending the surrounds in a surprising sea of many contrasts and colours.

Should the sun set behind a range of clouds in the very far distance every once in a while, we spectators are presented with a colourful canvas, and perhaps even – though very seldom here, on the edge of the desert – nature offers a beautiful rainbow.

Please note:
Should you wish to join a sundowner drive, we request you to arrive at least 3 hours before sunset.
 


Scenic Drive

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Rooisand stretches across an area of almost 12 000 ha and there is so much to see!
During a scenic drive spanning a few hours, guests are given an overview of the diversified fauna and flora of the area. The experienced guide will explain many farming concepts while visiting numerous places of interest such as river beds, waterholes and some places which are rather difficult to access.
Usually, a variety of African game species such as kudu, oryx, springbuck are sighted – sometimes, with a bit of luck, also warthog, wild dogs and the famous Hartmann mountain zebra.