Cape town and the Deserts of Namibia


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Africa » Namibia
September 22nd 2007
Published: December 13th 2007
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Cape Town

Gordan- a taxi driver sold us on a private drive all the way down to Cape Point. He said that his Mercedes was comfortable and reliable...why wouldn't it be? why did this need to be emphasized? At 7am, Gordan pulls up in a 1970's Mercedes just about to fall apart- in order to roll up the window, you had to take the glass between both hands and manually slide it up! I had to sit on a broken spring the whole 12 hours. That was the least of our worries because we were stuck in traffic due to a tire-burning riot on the highway where one of the township was located. We got off the highway and drove into a township. As the car starts to heat up, Gordon explains that his car does well on long open roads and not traffic; he had to find a gas station to let the car rest a bit. There was no need to worry- the township was not dangerous in the morning as all the trouble-makers were still sleeping. How reassuring....NOT! So we drive to a gas station- why are the windows all boarded up? Gordon opens the hood and as he is yelling something to the gas attendant, Gordon runs to the truck to get a towel. The gas attendant opens the radiator value while the engine was still on and an eruption of searing hot water splashed all over the gas attendant's and Gordon's face. I was horrified. But at Gordon's insistence, the tour was not to be cancelled due to this little incident. Nice chap -that Gordan.


Namibia

I will let the pictures speak for itself because the scenery was breathless. What was special about this part of the trip was that we had our own chartered flight flown by pimpled-face 16 year old (trying to accumulate flying hours) boys. We were literally dropped in the middle of nowhere. Water was scarce, electricity ran on solar power and you had the most beautiful silence in the world accompanied by the brightest stars in the sky.


Umkomaas

Ok- enough land stuff. I went back close to Durban and spent one week diving in the top-ten dive sites of the world- Aliwal Shoal. I finished my rescue diving certification there and learnt what shore diving was all about. Because the waves on the
Unfinished highwayUnfinished highwayUnfinished highway

First time I've seen such a thing- but was not my last...
beach were so strong, you have to push the rubber boat directly into the crashing waves, haul yourself into the boat, put a lifejacket on, strap your hands and feet to the boat to pass over the waves and onto the dive site. THAT, in itself was a highlight of the dive. The first two days, the waves were rough; people turning yellow and throwing up from sick sickness- I tried to be the tough girl and look like none of this was affecting me, but I was not spared. Unfortunately, this is where I flooded my camera and only managed to have some photos as evidence of this diving.


Additional photos below
Photos: 31, Displayed: 24


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Cape PointCape Point
Cape Point

Where the Atlantic Ocean means the Indian Ocean
There is but one roadThere is but one road
There is but one road

Aerial view- Parallel to what seems to be the only road- is the start of the Namibian sand dunes
Destination- nowhereDestination- nowhere
Destination- nowhere

Our chartered plane dropped us here- those dots on top of the sand dunes was the camp


17th December 2007

Namibia
Very nice photos of Namibia! We are planning a two week trip there soon and so am reading up as much about the place as poss. Was the flight in that small plane very expensive? Hope you are enjoying the rest of your RW trip! Cheers
18th December 2007

Namibia chartered flights
Glad you like the photos! That trip was organized by C.C. Africa Corporation. The flights were around $350 USD per person one way. A little pricey, but highly suggested for the flight over the Atlantic Ocean- you will see shipwrecks washed up on the deserted beaches- gorgeous!

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