Blogs from Namibia, Africa - page 125

We embarked on another lengthy journey to the Etosha National Park in the north Namibia. Our campsite that evening was very nice. There were no upgrades left so we made do and erected our trusty dome tents where we would be spending the next two nights. Our campsite was situated beside a popular watering hole where many species of animals came to drink and where we would spend the next two days wildlife spotting. That evenings meal was not too appealing to Charmaines tastebuds so we went to the campsite restaurant where Charmaine indulged in a buffet of roast beef and gemsbok (tasted like a cross between beef and pork), followed by a good serving of ice cream and chocolate sauce. Mmmm. That evening we got a good seat at the watering hole where we watched ... read more

Scooted along the very bumpy road to dune 45 at 5.40 to climb it before sunrise. Tim had advised us all to make sure we had enough sunscreen, hat, etc. Well it was FREEZING-you could see your breath but no dune due to significant quantities of fog! We climbed up the ridge (not an easy task- the trick is to walk in someone else's footprints), the sun rose for 30 seconds before being sucked beneath the clouds at which point we promptly ran down the dune to the truck to attempt to warm up with tea and eggs, whilst Tim claimed it had never been that cold before. The fog gradually cleared to reveal a fantastic orange landscape. We then had a fabulous tour with Frans from Soussess-on-foot through incredible landscape (including beautiful white Dead Vlei ... read more

Departed at 7 after the lads fixed the fuel blockage (due to dirty fuel we'd been given). Stopped for more fuel at tiny Kamanjab and they had to change pumps as the first one ran out! The scenery began to change from acacia scrub to plains with the occasional tuft and the Brandenburg mountains in the distance to the flat crystalline rock and sand of Skeleton Coast. Onto Cape Cross which was superb. Huge numbers of Cape seals (mammoth dominant males, fighting males, big pups slumped over rocks and hoardes in the sea on their backs flippers in the air) , cormorants, terns & kelp gulls. Shared dorm in Swakop lodge and Meze/snoak fish in Cape to Cairo restaurant -all v. civilised- followed by beer and much pool-playing with the locals (who seemed to take it ... read more

Up at 04.30 for breakfast duty before long drive but it was definitely worth every minute it gave us in Etosha. As we entered the National Park, we spotted giraffes wrapping their black tongues round the spiky acacia branches, zebra standing about & elephants refusing to pose by the side of the road. The campsite is marked out by a large white fort which could belong to the Foreign legion. The actual site was full of glossy starlings, grey louries (go away birds) and little laughing doves. Once the tent was up, we visited the site's waterhole- a pair of beautiful blue cranes stood alongside giraffes and elephants by the edge whilst springboks and kudu stood in the shade. At 3pm, Tim took us for a game drive and saw LOADS- stunning oryx, tiny dikdiks, hornbills, ... read more

We got a speedboat from the houseboat up the Okavango river & were transported back to Ngepi in a pickup. Back at the campsite there was time for few rounds of frisbee golf, hazards included Robins tent, Sam in the Today shower, long possibly snake infested grass & prickly Acacia trees which Tom was particularly partial to. The frisbee course was then extended to swimming pool, a cage sunk in the river so as to protect the swimmers from crocs, hippos & large tiger fish (the smaller ones could get through the mesh & nibble extremities if they wished). The advantage of having a cage in the river is that you can swim in current without going anywhere. After a traditionally Namibian dinner of fish & chips it was time for some traditional Namibian dancing by ... read more