Blogs from Luderitz, Namibia, Africa

Kolmanskop is one of the most striking, unusual places I’ve visited on my travels. Beautiful, desolate and haunting, I have never seen anything else quite like it. In 1908, a German railway labourer uncovered some interesting stones while shovelling sand. Thus began the history of diamond mining in Namibia. To begin with, diamonds were so plentiful you could simply walk through the desert and scoop them up with your bare hands. On a clear night with a full moon, you could see them glinting in the sand. Or so the story goes. Kolmanskop was the town that sprung from nowhere to mine this treasure. Fuelled by the explosion of diamond wealth, it rapidly sprouted luxuries unimaginable for Namibia at the time. There was a ballroom, bowling alley, swimming pool, ice factory, hospital, sports hall, it even ... read more

About an hour outside of Luderitz, we stopped to try and find the Namibian wild desert horses. There are various colourful theories about their origin, involving shipwrecks and famous historical figures. They are the only population of wild horses in Africa, and are scientifically interesting because of how they have evolved, over a relatively short period of time, to survive in the desert. Despite being an invasive species they have been afforded protected status, I suppose due to their uniqueness and the length of time they have survived here. The population never expands beyond much beyond 150 animals due to the harsh environment, so the damage they could do is limited. Their only source of water is a man made borehole next to the viewing hide just off the main road, so the horses are usually ... read more

Die Straße begann schlecht und verschlechterte sich dann.. Es gab eine Stelle mit ganz tiefem Sand - so ich mich sofort hinschmiß um zu spielen. Aber da ich kein Küberl und Schauferl dabei hatte, stand ich schnell wieder auf. In Helmeringhausen gab es ein sehr deutsches Hotel mit köstlichem gedeckten Apfelkuchen. Außerdem einem zahmen Springbock im Garten. Die letzten 40 km fanden alle anderen völlig grauenhaft, aber ich bin einfach zu dumm, um grauenhafte Straßenstücke zu erkennen. Also fuhr ich im 5. Gang sehr flott durch die Sandhaufen und fand das sogar noch schön. Aus ist ein kleines Kaff, an der Bahnlinie, die von Lüderitz herauf kommt. Sie scheint nicht mehr in Betrieb zu sein. Lüderitz war ein wichtiges Zentrum für den Diamantenabbau, jetzt gibt es da viele Geisterstädte. Die Zone, wo heute noch abgebaut wird, ... read more

Photographs from various locations in the world. Photographs on the official Michel Piccaya website: http://watchtheworld.net... read more

March 8, 2011 Tuesday night, half way between luderitz and st. Helena (1300 miles between, about 670 there) So for recap: Feb 10th – arrived cape town Feb 11th – moved on board Feb 23rd – left cape town for luderitz, 8-12 watch Foggy, cold, damp passage Feb 27th – arrived to luderitz in fog 2 days off in luderitz, Worked a day March 3rd – left for st. Helena March 5th – traded time March 6th – dogged watches to change from 8-12 watch to 12-4 watch I am writing this entry en route to St. Helena, the island where Napoleon was exiled. I have learned that there is no airport there making the only way to/from is via ship. I am steadily getting acclimated to life on board. We work 4 hours on and ... read more