A loop around Namibia

[Bindibuys]

Loving the wildlife photos!

Ditto what he said.....

 

[drron]

And another really good pictures of the wildlife.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

That sounds like an awesome trip, we are going to try for the falls in 3 yrs time, so I'll be keen to see how you go . Yes our car hire was with Budget. A lot of others used Caprivi car hire, didn't see a lot of Avis 4x4s on the road. Are you going to camp or stay in lodges?

A mixture.

The 4WD (Nairobi to Victoria Falls) comes with a quick erecting tent. Some places there will be no option but to camp. Other places it is optional to upgrade, and others a lodge is included.

Post Victoria Falls am still deciding what to do. But it most likely will be mainly lodges and hotels wit one night on a train. But with perhaps a night or two under canvas. In South Africa will just hire a 2WD for the Garden route and in the Kruger Region.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

time to get out the DSLR and put the 500mm zoom lens on. We purchased a sigma 500mm lens for the camera, .

Yes I need to upgrade too. And love your wildlife pics. Did you use a stand, or monpole? Or just hand-held?

What do others think as well, 500mm?

Some reviews I have read have suggested 400mm.

 

[TraceyK90]

No tripod at all, I was worried about the weight but didn't have a problem with it. The lens has a handle under it and it was really comfortable to use.

 

[TraceyK90]

Day 2 Driving around Etosha

Did a huge drive out to the eastern waterholes, saw diddly

Had lunch at the Okaukuejo camp, was a buffet style. Stayed away from nasty wine.

Then we headed off and saw a couple of waterholes







Mr Kudu has had his fill.



Ostrich butt jokes and singing a song about butt wiggling continued for the rest of the afternoon. Then it was back to the lodge.

 

[TraceyK90]

The park gates are open from sunrise to sunset and if you are not staying at the camps inside the park you need to be out of the park before closing. Our lodge was only a couple of kms from the gate.

The Etosha Safari Lodge is part of the Gondwana Collection and we stayed at another of their lodges later on. They also have a camp just before the lodge. We met the head chef from the camp at the lodge we stayed in the south, Frieda. The lodge is set up a small rocky outcrop. The road is paved all the way up. The guys at the date radio ahead so they have cold iced tea ready for you.



Not a bad view!


There are about 65 chalets here, three swimming pools and the main lodge. We had a family room and double.



Little solar jars that were used to light the tables at night.



Dinner ($A 23) was a buffet style for starter and mains an then desert served at the table.



There is a viewing area where sundowners are served in the afternoon. They bring a coughtail bar on wheels out!

Rustenberg Chardonnay $A 16.50
Groot post Wooded Chardonnay $A 26
Had a Don Pedro (whiskey dosed thickshake) after dinner about $5



That's me in the corner trying to set up a Skype call for the eldest 9th birthday and enjoying a glass of the wine. It worked and he was rather happy to get a camera.

We had some clothes washed here, it was $A 1 for a pair of jeans to be washed.

Gondwana Collection: Etosha Safari Lodge

Driving distance ~ 200km

 

[ellen10]

Loving the trip report and the photos are fantastic!
Thanks for sharing.

 

[TomVexille]

Ditto what he said.....

I think you mean she

 

[Bindibuys]

I think you mean she

Sorry Blackcat20, (don't know why I assumed "he" )

 

[TraceyK90]

So then it was off to Twyfelfontein, where we stayed at the Twyfelfontein Country Lodge. On the way there are a couple of interesting geological stops such as the petrified forest. its a fair distance and not a lot to see or do for most of it or places to stop and eat. Twyfelfontain is in Damaraland and a world heritage site, listed for its rock engravings.



Not a lot of development out this way and beware of donkey carts on the road. Cattle are penned at night due to jackal and leopard attacks.



The area is known for its desert elephant, unfortunately we didn't see any but did see broken fences, ellie footprints and poo.



Dinner was a buffet with roasts (game, beef, pork and lamb) various veg and sides. Best part was the staff break into song part way through the meal. You then get hit up the next day to buy the cd

 

[TraceyK90]

So then it was onto Swakopmund, a town on the coast, where we had lived previously. In the past 15 years there has been huge development in Namibia and Swakop/Walvis Bay were no different. The two towns will almost be joined up apart from the new national park area. There are new hospitals, shopping centres and low cost housing developments. The township when we were there is almost all low cost houses now but a new township has sprung up further out.

Its all dirt roads until we get to Swakopmund. We decided to drive via UIS (the mine here shut down and it hasn't been regenerated) and catch a look at Brandberg (Brandberg Mountain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). The area is know for its proliferation of minerals and the high quality of specimens. Often they are sold by roadside vendors and the kids decided they had to try their had at bargaining. Result 1x quartz, 1x amethyst and a very nice tourmaline with a bit of help from Mum and Dad.



Most towns have a mountain or hill on the outskirts with the name spelt out in white rocks.



There is the berg and a lot of not much else.

Then we started to see the familiar sights of the namib



We had time so decided on a quick trip up the coast to see the seals, also known as the stinky seals.

 

[TraceyK90]

Cape Cross Seal Reserve



Awww aren't they cute but STINK, you have no idea how bad this place smells. We were lucky as the wind was blowing from the desert. The road is about 120km from Swakopmund and is on a salt road. Really good to travel on, really bad if you own the car.



There are a couple of salt works along the coast (the biggest one is at Walvis Bay), so as you drive along the road, the entrepreneurial types have set up stores selling salt crystals. Based on the honesty system.



It is a reserve so you have to stoop and pay to get in, once again $N170 ($A 17), 80 for each adult and 10 for the car, kids under 16 free!



The area has now had walkways constructed to keep visitors away from the seals. The seals don't seem to even notice the people and are more interested in sunning themselves.

 

[JohnM]

What is/was the duration of your trip in Namibia?

 

[TraceyK90]

Three and a half weeks

 

[TraceyK90]

One last seal photo, taken by Mr9 who got a camera for his birthday the day before



If you look closely the Mr9 in the blue striped shirt has his nose covered and Miss6 also has hers covered.



So its called Cape Cross because back in 1486 Diago Cao landed here and as was customary put up a cross. Then about 400 years later it got taken back to Germany. Two years later a replacement stone one was installed. Then this was put up...

 

[amaroo]

Fascinating TR....we really need to visit Africa.

 

[blackcat20]

Sorry Blackcat20, (don't know why I assumed "he" )

You're not the first; I always thought the butterfly was a good hint Once upon a time you could safely assume most people here were male but it's nice to see more girls around now.

 

[Bindibuys]

Fascinating TR....we really need to visit Africa.

JohnM piqued our interest with his TR. Think Africa will be our next port of call (After Adelaide in January)

 

[LadyC]

It's a shame you didn't get to see any of the desert elephants, we saw them last year, it was great. We didn't stop and see the seals though. Enjoying the TR