Oct 7

The day is spent driving through the Namibia National Park on our way to Swakopmund. The Namibia-Naukluff Desert is an ancient land with an ageless spirit. It is home to some of the rarest plant and animal species in the world.  Sightings of this flora and fauna on a Namibian safari is a must. The animals in this harsh landscape include the Oryx, Springbok and the Hartmann's Mountain Zebra. All of which we did see. 

 Today we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and of course stopped for the photo op.  One can also see the Welwitschia Mirabilis which is an odd looking desert shrub and one of these desert shrubs is a large protected specimen estimated at over 1500 years old.  We saw the Hoddia cactus which was about ready to flower it is used as an appetite suppressant. We talked about the devil plant that was used for childbirth pain.  Malven turned over rocks and found us a baby scorpion.  Among our many creatures were the mamako gecko, sidewinder snake, diving lizard, Tokie Tokie beetle.  

On the way we travelled through Kuiseb pass with spectacular views.  We stop along the way to Swakopmund in Walvis bay with its thousands of flamingos. I have never seen flamingos flying and here we enjoyed watching them take off and land and showing off their splendid pink wings.  They have two types of flamingoes here the Greater and the Lesser Flamingoes. The Lesser are the pinker ones.  

Walvis bay is a fishing destination and also a whale watching destination.  This is the only place that was never under German colonization in all of Namibia.  It is a natural harbour. 

We continue our drive and arrive in Swakopmund.  This also is a quant little village on the ocean.  Here we stayed at the Hotel A La Mer.  It is located just steps from the dock and we enjoy a lovely dinner at the tug the first night and the second night we went to the jetty restaurant at the end of the dock and enjoy another great dinner with a view of the sunset.  

The first night when we arrived in Swakopmund  Judy and I went for a sunset 4 by 4 adrenaline rush over the sanddunes.  

The next day I walked around Swakopmund and did some shopping at the market and got some much needed laundry done.  Judy went sand boarding back on the dunes.  Here in Swakopmund it was cooler and a nice break from the 40 degree weather we were having. 

Oct 5 & 6

Moving inland we make our way towards the Namibia Naukluft National Park.  Driving into this area we see stunning views of Tavel mountain and many birds. We see the Martial eagle and the Pale chanting goshawk. 

 We cross the Zaris pass which also is breath taking and when we get through the pass we see sand dunes in the distance. Malven tells us more about the large socialable weaver nests and how their nests can last for 80 years, Or how if they become to heavy and the tree branches will snap under their weight and the weavers will just start to build over, or how they may combust from the heat and the bird feces inside.  The pictures will show you how big these nests become, it is truly amazing how these little birds carry out such a feat and all live together.  The nests have all individual rooms, kind of like a bird condo!  The openings of each condo have long dry grass hanging over it to poke snakes and try to keep them out.

  We stay 2 nights at Hammerstein Lodge it is situated on c19, 100 km from Maltahohe and only 60 km from Sesriem the gate to the beautiful Sossusvlei.   A few kilometres from the lodge, rocky outcrops of massive granite boulders conjure up visions of a giants playground. It is from one of this boulders - an enormous rock shaped like a hammer - the "Hammerstein", the German name of the form was derived.   This evening we arrive to some friendly stringbok grazing on the grass.  We saw a ton of springbok in the wild but trying to get that perfect picture proved to be challenging. Here they grazed among the outdoor patio.  That evening three of us went for a very interesting walk with one of the staff.  He took us into an enclosure and we all looked at each other.  Judy, Michele (one of our travel companions from Australia) and myself, we had no idea what was in this enclosure but whatever it was we couldn't find it.  It was a huge enclosure and finally he told us it was a Caracal.  A What? A cat similar to a lynx, seriously, we are in an enclosure with an wild cat who doesn't know us and we can't find him. That was pretty tense.  The three of us stayed pretty close to our staff member.  He kept saying its ok They know him.  Oh great now there are more than one and they don't know us.  Well we finally look in this rock den and there is one.  He takes one look at us and starts hissing.  He was not happy.  We take a few pictures and continue to look for the next one.  Finally I spot her under a bush.  She too is not interested in being approached but as we are taking pictures we notice the male one has come out of the rock and is sitting close by watching us.   Lets just say we were glad to get out of that enclosure.   Oh by the way they call them Romeo and Juliet but are thinking of renaming them because they have yet to reproduce and no one has even seen them together.   Romeo was killing livestock and instead of killing him he was brought there.  Juliet was a orphan.  

He takes us to the next enclose but this one he says we can't go inside or even come near fence because Lisa the leopard is very dangerous.  Only one person can go into enclosure and that is owners son who raised her from a baby when her mother was killed.  She was raised In The house until she was 4 by the boy who at that time was 10.  He is the only one she will let into enclosure.  They are working at releasing her into the wild.  

The third enclosure was 2 cheetahs.  Oscar and Wild.  We were able to go inside and walk with these magnificent creatures.  Our guide told us the if we were lucky and Wild was in a good mood we maybe able to pet her but it all depended on her mood. We just waited to see what they did.  But once inside they followed u, first Oscar.   Wild was way on other side on a high wall.  She watched from a distance and then slowing made her way over.  The quide took his time and then tried to extend his hand to touch his head but jumped back.  Second attempt was successful.  He pet her for a while and she started to purr loudly.  He then called us over to pet her.  It was pretty nerve racking but we all did it and then she started to lick us.  She was pretty relaxed.  On leaving our guide says don't tell anyone he let us pet her!   Really!   Guess it was dangerous!   Well we all survived and was an amazing experience.  

Next morning we wake up early, before sunrise, to visit the worlds highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei and Deadviel. These dunes, which can reach heights of over 300m are absolutely spectacular.  The best pictures are at sunrise plus the heat here is unbearable so in order to climb the dunes and walk into see Deadviel we must go as early as possible. We get to the gate at Sossusllei and line up with all the other vehicles waiting for the sunrise and the gate to be opened.  There are some that stay within the park that will beat us to the dunes.   The sand is so hot that you must wear socks and shoes or you will for sure get blisters and burns on you feet. I understood this immediately as I stood for a few minutes in Dubai on a dune and got sand in my sandals and my feet were burning.  

The pictures of sunrise here at the gate were breathtaking.  We saw hot air balloons on the horizon. We made our way to dune 45 which is one of the most famous dunes.  It is the largest and one that you are able to climb.  We take some pictures as the shadows are postcard quality at this moment but don't stop to climb as we want to make it to Deadviel,  (Deadvalley) before it gets to hot.  We transfer to 4 by 4 vehicles to get us as close as we can then continue by foot.  This area is a valley that once was a lake during flood season but over the years the sand dunes have cut off the water supply all together and now there is only a dead valley.  It took us about an hr to walk in, it was already 35 degrees and it was only 8am. The Deadviel was just like all the pictures and postcards we have seen and we had to walk up some very high dunes and over and Down into the valley.  Our shoes are full of sand, we are sweating.  We stop for pictures and to empty our shoes and drink lots of water.  Not sure if I mentioned that we buy 5 litre water bottles.   We carry smaller ones that we refill.  Usually go through 5 litres in a day and a half.  

We take some fabulous pictures, rest before making the return walk.  

Did I say it is unbareable hot!!!   Well it is!! 

We do stop at dune 45 and some make the attempt to climb it.  By this time it is mid day very hot and we are exhausted.  I was so excited to do it in the am but now a  migraine prevents me from attempting it.  A few venture out but the only one that makes it to the top is Judy and our guide Malven. 

We leave the dunes and head to the Sesriem which is a canyon. It is just 15 minutes from the Sossusvlei park gate.  We have lunch there, truck side.  Then walk down into the canyon, this is because it is dry season.  Once we got down to the bottom it was nice and cool but the walk back up was very warm.   I have to say, I did not feel very comfortable down there.  Looks like pieces of large rocks could fall at any time.  

Oct 3

'

Today we woke up to gorgeous scenery we could see right from our bed.  

We enjoyed a nice breakfast in the restaurant over looking the orange river. 

 Then we loaded a bus and headed out up river to start our canoe trip down the orange river ending up back at our huts. 

The birdlife and the scenery was wonderful.  We even had a few rapids to manoeuvre through. 

We stopped for a swim about half way.  These look more like kayaks to us but they call them African canoes. They have no buoyancy and therefore they place three buckets in each to give them buoyancy.  These buckets also serve as dry place to put your stuff. 

Some of the birds we saw were the pied kingfisher, eagle, southern red Bishop, African darter, sacred ibis, grey heron, reed cormorant, red eyed bobo, tickmice and a very large nest of the Hamerkop. 

We ended up back at huts for lunch and then had afternoon to our leisure.  We went for a swim, then did laundry and hiked around the shore line. 

Ended our day with a BBQ of chicken kabobs, beef sausage, yam potatoes, corn on cob and salad.  Well done boys!!

Oct 2

Left the farm house after breakfast and travelled 500 km through South Africa into Namibia.  We drove along the elephant river which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. I saw a water buffalo in the distance.  We had some delays along the way, There was a bad accident which involved a tourist bus and the roads were being paved.   We passed through some magnificent mountain ranges on our way to the orange river. Seeing that it was spring we saw spectacular carpets of wildflowers in the famous Namaqualand 

Region. 

  

Along the roadside they were growing the Roobus plants used to make the tea. We also saw orchards of orange trees.  We stopped on the roadside to have lunch and were entertained by the weaver birds in their nests.

 

After lunch we stopped in Springbok to do our grocery shopping as we do everyday.  Springbok is a copper mining town.  Arriving at the border it proved to be quit the ordeal, first had to get out of vehicle and get stamps leaving South Africa.  Then we had to go through police check.  Then we got into vehicle and had vehicle searched.  Then a few minutes later got to the border of Namibia and had to go through it all again. No line ups just paper work.  

After getting past border we arrived at our place where we would stay for 2nights, Felix Unite River Camp.  It had lovely thatched huts over looking the orange river.  

 

Our hut had a fabulous view of the sunset.  

After sunset we enjoyed a great dinner prepared by our guides, Malvern and Blessed

Our Afrikaans word of the day!  Hawker - taxi 

Oct 1

We woke bright and early for today was the day our tour left.  But before that we had to go to Langa to drop of our school supplies and toys to a school of young kids in need. So Judy and I packed our bags and left the room at 630am in a taxi for the township by the airport.  The taxi driver got us there in about 10 mins but once arriving in Langa we had to stop at the police station to get an escort to the area in which we wanted to go.  Thembeka the principal of Nolukhanyiso meet us there.  When we got there at 645 there were four children there already.  A baby sleeping on couch.  A little girl and 2 young boys.  The little girl wanted me to read her a book. So I started to read her a book.  It had lions and tigers in it.  And even though she didn't speak English.  She started saying lion to me and pointing to the lion.  The lion was playing soccer and I said I have a soccer ball.  Her eyes light up.  I went and blew up the soccer balls and more children started to arrive.  We went out to the court yard and played with the soccer balls, sidewalk chalk and some other toys.  They were so cute and all full of smiles.  Only one girl made shy.  The rest were so eager to play and communicate.  One little girl started dancing, so one of the teaches started singing and a couple more kids joined in.   They speak Afrikaans.  The teachers did not speak English nor any of the children.  A few of the children knew a few words because they had a volunteer from Vancouver just spent 3 weeks with them.  Our visit was way to short but it was the best that we could do.  The taxi driver took us back and we arrived just as our tour bus was ready to pull out.  They were waiting for us.   We were a few minutes late, but they knew where we had gone so they waited.  

 

These children live in dire conditions. 

Thanks Breanne, Christine, Bev, Marilyn and Charlotte for your donations. The  Children really appreciated them.   When I went to wave goodbye they all ran up and gave me high fives.   I hated to leave.  I will be visited another school in Namibia and will be shopping for books to take to them.  Can't wait.  

We left on tour and found out rather quickly that our vehicle is not very comfortable.  

It does have big viewing windows, is high up and has a pop up roof so the game drives should be good. It has fridge inside but no washroom.  So we have had to use the bushee bushee a few times already.  

After leaving  Cape Town we stopped at Sunset beach on the Atlantic Ocean to get one last picture of table mountain across the bay before heading off to cedarberg mountains.

  

We stopped for a wine tasting and tour at a local vineyard,  Org De Rac.

  On route we saw ostriches and baboons. There is this yellow tree that is brought in from Australia that they were having trouble keeping alive due to moisture lose.  In order to keep the moisture they had to import a butterfly from Australia that lays its eggs in this tree and helps to stop moisture loss.  I don't know the whole story and will have to read up on this at a later date, but it sounded interesting. 

We stopped in Malmesbury for shopping. It is a wheat town.  This part of the country is mostly farmland with lots of wild flowers and birds.  We saw sheep, cows, donkeys, magpie bird and citrus orchards. 

We arrived shortly after lunch at our first night which was a farm called the old village.  Judy and I had a cottage to ourselves, with 2 bedroom 2 bathroom, Kitchen and and living room.  We enjoyed a farm cooked meal.