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Published: April 27th 2009
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Wow, done so much since last wrote (btw sorry last blog has only just been published from Namibia wouldn't work before). In summary we've stroked cheetahs, gone canoeing, winetasting and quadbiked over dunes and walked and rode horses in the Namib Desert and I've sandboarded, gone karting, abseiled and jumped out of a plane from 10,000ft!!
From where we last left off, first went to Cheetah Park where we saw and handled big and baby cheetahs and saw them being fed. One licked me and was like somebody rubbing sandpaper up my arm! They also had a baby giraffe which was massive! Next we went to Spitskoppe one of Namibia's greatest natural wonders which are huge rocks rising out of the desert with ancient rockpaintings on them. Camping out under the stars with no amenities, we were entertained firstly by the local choir and then one of the group organised a quiz in which my group was 1 point off victory (you know the feeling Pau!).
From Spitskoppe we spent the weekend (3 nights) in Swakopmund and this is where most of the action happened. Swakopmund is adrenalin central - a Bavarian town on the Namibian coast where the
big 3 activities are quadbiking, sandboarding and skydiving. We both went quadbiking over the huge sanddunes that completely surround you (a lot of fun) on the Friday when we got there. Here we were for the first time since Victoria Falls not camping and were pleasantly surprised by our double room (upgraded from a dorm) which had a lounge with TV and en-suite! We certainly didn't miss putting the tent up! On the Saturday I went karting with the Ozzies and did a GP race (came 4th/10). The Sunday though was where I packed the whole day out starting with sandboarding in the morning - basically snowboarding but on sand. I also tried it lying down reaching a speed of 65km down the massive dune. Fun once you get to the top of the dune but they're not allowed cable cars due to conservation so it's pretty hard work having to walk to the top of the dune each time, every step you take you seem to sink back half a step in the sand.
After lunch I was taken straight to the skydiving centre where I boarded the smallest plane which took me 10,000 ft up before the
door opened and my tandem master shuffled me to the edge before immediately diving out head first. Has to be the greatest rush I've ever experienced and I was nothing like as scared as I imagined I would be considering I hate heights! It's only really the bit when the door opens that I felt uneasy and you're out so quickly there's no time to panic and once you are its WOOOOWWWWWEEEEE all the way flying so free!! I freefalled for 39 seconds reaching a speed of 220 km/h (140 mph) before the parachute opened and the remaining 5,000 ft by contrast was extremely peaceful and everything round seemed so quiet. Had incredible view of the Namib desert to my left and the sea to the right. I also went for the video option - a cameraman goes up with you and when the door opens climbs on the wing to film my exit then jumps and falls parallel filming the whole freefall experience.
From the skydive centre I went from one extreme to the other - horseriding with Jessie! I thought as it was another experience I hadn't properly experienced i might as well do it plus its
in the desert so a bit different. Unfortunately as we were only beginners we weren't allowed to even trot and it was all a bit too slow - especially after I'd just jumped out of a plane!
The next day we left Swakopmund for Sossusvlei and climbed Dune 45 - one of the largest and most pictured dunes in the Namib desert - a lot of effort to get up but worth it for the sunset and the fun running down the side of it! Next day we went to Fish River Canyon (the 2nd largest canyon in the world after Grand Canyon) for another beautiful sunset - the sun goes down a lot quicker here and between about 5:30 and 6:30 it is known as 'the golden hour'. The following day we crossed into South Africa where things seemed immediately a lot greener. We canoed down the Orange river before volleyball back at the camp. Next day we winetasted in the Cederberg Mountains which was a good start for the following fancy dress party.
Finally the next day we arrived in 'the mother city' Cape Town! What a fantastic place, extremely cosmopolitan with nearly every type of
food catered for and clean but with great contrasts between upmarket white areas and the shanty town tin huts of the black townships. Everywhere you go in the city has a great view due to the majestic Table Mountain that overlooks the city. Sunny when we arrived but unfortunately the next day was surrounded in fog and it rained all day. Apparently as bad as their winter gets which is mild by our standards. We met up with our volunteering co-ordinator Kevin who took us first to our beautiful house where we are staying in the middle of Cape Town and then drove out to Hout Bay (where the school in which we are volunteering in is based) and showed us the townships. In the afternoon we explored the waterfront and its markets. The next day was a lot brighter and we got a taxi out to Kirstenbosch gardens before going back to the house and meeting the other volunteers. Here we had a BBQ and sat on our balcony admiring the beautiful view we have of the bay and Table mountain.
Today we walked up Table Mountain, a steep climb which took about an hour and a half
to the 1100 m top. Stunning views all around of the city and surrounding mountains and bays. Then after much deliberating I decided to abseil back down the mountain (well for 112m of it) - the world's highest commercial abseil. Like the skydiving not as scary as you imagine mostly in part to the fact I wouldn't look down as I went over the edge as this was the worst part (hanging over a cliff with a 1000m straight drop beneath you). Once you've done that bit though the rest is pretty smooth and the view was incredible! Took the cable car back down the mountain with Jessie before walking down to the Internet Cafe and that just about brings us up to date! Photos to come soon x
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Toobz
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How jealous are we?!
I'm sure I speak for pretty much everyone reading your blogs when I say: Damn you Siandjess, it's not fair, you're having SUCH a good time! Seriously, sounds amazing, and well written too mate. You'll have to go back next year and win that quiz though...