Stumbling across the largest meteroite in the world - Namibia

Thursday-Friday 21-22.02:

In Grootfontein we made a side trip to the largest Meteorite in the world. It fell from the sky about 80000 years ago. In the afternoon we used up our last internet we had on our Namibian sim cards. At night we drove a while to find a suitable camping spot next to the road to Rundu at the Okavango river. On the way we helped some guys to change a tire. At least we tried but had to admit that we are not to familiar with the basic car first aid tasks. 

The next day we decided to try out all the extras on our amazing car. Searching through the gear we found a power shower, awesome luxury gadget! But a little bit water and time consuming.

We also tested the winch which we might need in the muddy tropical roads ahead of us.

In the afternoon we arrived at the Okavango River in Rundu. Along the road to Rundu we saw many small African villages with little wooden huts with straw roofs, kids running around playing with handmade toys, women balancing food on their hats, men sitting together talking. Every few kilometers we had to slow down for donkeys or cows standing or crossing the road. I guess we arrived in the “true”  Africa.

We stayed for two nights at a river campsite to get a rest and reorganized.

Searching for the Big 5 in the Etosha National park - Namibia

Tuesday-Wednesday 18-19.02:

We entered the Etosha National park Gate at 6:30 at sunrise. Etosha is one of the biggest wildlife parks in the world. You can drive on designated dirt roads through the bush land surrounding the Etosha salt pan. It did not take a long time until we spotted the first animals. Throughout the day we spotted giraffes, elephants, rhinos and even one lion among many other animals. At night we went on a night safari with a park ranger. He could literally smell nearby animals. Suddenly an enormous elephant stood right before our car. It was an unforgettable experience.

The next day we explored the east of the park. Just before leaving the camp we saw dozens of giraffes crossing our road. We left the park at its best!

Rock Paintings in an ancient mystical landscape - Twelfefountain - Namibia

Sunday 17.02:

For breakfast I could try out my new camping table and chair. I am convinced it was a good investment; Ju has a different opinion about it. We entered the stretch of the skeleton coast for which a permit is required and drove for another 2 hours through the monotonous landscape.

Driving inland again the countryside slowly became greener and greener and we saw the first real rain since 3 weeks.  In Twelfefountain visited the world heritage site showing 5000 year old rock engravings. We found a beautiful camping spot in the middle of the rounded sandstone rocks.

Ship Wrecks at the Skeleton Coast - Namibia

Saturday 16.02:

We left Swakopmund to go Sand boarding on the nearby dune 7.

In the afternoon we drove up the skeleton coast to see a few shipwrecks that were stranded at the beach. The thick dark clouds and the desert like landscape created a melancholic atmosphere. Driving through it is an experience but you do not want to stay for long. We stopped our car in the middle of a huge salt plain close to the shore. We could hear the waves but could not see them.

Speaking German in Swakopmund - Namibia

Tuesday-Thursday 12-14.02:

We crossed the Naukluft Mountains and the Namib desert on the usual gravel road and arrived at the Atlantic ocean in Swakopmund. Here a lot of people still speak German. They even have a Brauhaus. On Wednesday night we went surfing with Gesha one of the local surfers who gave us the necessary wet suit and boards. For me it was the first time since years to catch some waves. It felt great although my back and muscles are aching now the next day. Unfortunately Ju was more unlucky. The board hit her right beneath her eyes and left a blue mark.

Hiking in the Naukluft Mountains across dead Zebras - Namibia

 Monday 11.02:

We stayed overnight in the national park. The next day we hiked for 8 hours along the Waterkloof trail.

Sunday 10.02:

We arrived in the Naukluft mountains national park. I saw my first Zebras in the wild.
In the afternoon we hiked for four hours along the Olive trail.

Climbing Sand Dunes in the in the Namib Wueste - Soussusvlei - Namibia

Friday 8.02:

On the way to Sossusvlei we passed the Duwisib castle built in the middle of nowhere by a German Baron in 1908.

In the afternoon we arrived in the Sossusvlei national park. In this part of the Namib desert up to 350 m high dunes were formed. After setting up our rooftop tent and jumping into the camp's swimming pool. We drove into the dunes and climbed the first one that came into our sight. The scenery and colors were amazing and made up for the extremely exhausting climb up to the top.

Saturday 9.02:

The next morning we got up at 4:30 to drive to Sossusvlei. Here we climbed up the Big Daddy. It is the highest dune with 350 m.

It took us about 1:30 hours to climb up along the sand ridge. Down we ran the steep side of the dune in about 3 minutes. So much fun!!!!

We ended up in the Hiddenvlei which is a clay pan that fills with water only every ten year.

 

Camping in a Ghost Town - Lüderitz - Namibia

Wed-Thu 6-7:

We stayed for 2 nights at Point Diaz close to Lüderitz watching seals, organizing our gear, Judith was working hard applying for jobs for the time when we return while I set up this blog. Scattered around our campsite were abandoned houses. They were left by the German settlers after the diamond rush in the early 19^th century. At dawn a spooky place.

We left Lüderitz in the late Thursday afternoon.

Unfortunately we only saw Kolmanskop the ghost town from outside the fences because we arrived after the official visiting hours.