Walking/Fitness Levels on tour in Namibia

I can only comment on Twylfontein, due to volume of traffic there is a definate route but it isnt paved or anything, there are one or two bits of what I would call scrambling, but the guide was always there to assist, Im lucky and am a regular hill walker, so was no problem to me, but one of our party suffered vertigo and he managed the walk, there are some climbs on the walk, but nothing too serious and the boulders going up are nice and big and have good footing, it took about 2 hours in total but that is governed but how long you stay at each view point. I did the walk in walking shoes, but no need for walking boots. Hope that helps you a bit, tell the guide you are nervous and Im sure he would assist you, just give him an extra tip at the end!

Given your concerns, you might want to skip Fish River Canyon.

I do not know the details of your injury, but going down declines can be particularly difficult for some non-hikers. (The uphills take more effort, but the downhills use less-used muscles.)

I recommend bringing a pair of trekking poles. These will help with stabilization. Some poles even have shock-absorbing capacity. These are really nice, especially when you are feeling tired.

Sessriem Canyon is quite short, rocky - small stones, uneven surface at the base - can't remember the climb up or down in to it so it can't have been too bad.

(I don't like climbing) Walking in the sand was tiring and heavy going and hot but flat.

Twyfelfontein - admittedly one tends not to notice things like terrain when you don;t need to but "scrambling" in my book implies getting hands out of pockets to hold on. I don't remember anything worse than a few steps there, and I'm sure it would be possible to see much of the site without clambering.

FRC - one for the fit, fit, fit, unless you stay on the rim and enjoy the views.

Sesriem Canyon - again can be seen from the rim, but to see it better, you would need to walk down a firaly steep path (50 feet?). Agree that poles/sticks would be helpful.

Petrified Forest - is all on the flat.

Thanks, everyone for your really useful advice. I feel prepared now, and will be taking walking poles - good idea!

Unless you have booked to go on the 5-day trail at the Fish River Cabyon, all you will do is go the the view site about 15km from Hobas (by car) and walk a few hundred metres, if that.
The trail, which you cannot do if you have not booked with a group, is for the very fit only. The descent from the view point looks to me to be a virtually impossible task anyway.
Although it is a long time ago that we visited the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein I do not even recall a scramble of any sort, although there might well have been one. The engravings are (IMHO) something special and you should make the effort - especially in the softer afternoon light when the sun is on them.
The pertrified forest is as Peterscot says. Flat. There are also a couple of smaller Welwichias at the forest (youngsters not more than a few hundred years old I guess).
I committed the cardinal sin of not going to the Sesriem canyon at all, being more interested in the Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei and the dunes.

Oh oh Scrambling in Geordie Land means something different the world over, I didnt intend to confuse of give incorrect information, but there was 2 points on the walk to the etchings where my collegue who had the vertigo was helped by the guide going ahead and holding his arm as he "scrambled" /jumped/not walked on a straight piece of flat ground. Go for it you will be fine especially with walking poles and I will try not confuse in the future with my over zealous descriptions.

Lynda

Be sure your shoes are a half size to one size larger than what you normally wear. The heat will make your feet expand like they've never expanded before...