A loop around Namibia

[TraceyK90]

so I got my photos back, now to finish this TR off. The photos I am using are low res or I'd blow the upload limit. So we had three days in Swakopmund. Its a seaside town that is bit of a holiday hotspot. I'd seriously live here for a few months each year. It had changed so much.


This is the low cost housing, quite a good idea


The Strand Hotel is being ripped down and rebuilt, no OHS here.

Lighthouse, many a good time was had here previously.

Gembok steak, very nice and decent wine.

When they say its a big burger, it is!

 

[TomVexille]

Now that's my kind of burger

 

[TraceyK90]

So for my fellow geologists, here are a few from The Crystal Gallery Welcome to Kristall Galerie

 

[TraceyK90]

We spent most of the three days chilling out and catching up. Most of the places we use to frequent were still there.




We ate lunch at The Stand Café each day as Mr Now9 decided he liked their chicken snitties. He decided he was going to find the best schnitzel in Africa.





This is the Swakopmund Lighthouse


One for you Mrs drron, yes considerable samples were taken.

 

[Daver6]

Thanks for the updates and photos. Will be in Namibia (including Swakopmund) in June. Cannot wait!

 

[JohnM]

Thanks for the updates and photos. Will be in Namibia (including Swakopmund) in June. Cannot wait!

We'll expect a TR D6!

I'll be there for a couple of weeks in October. Can't wait, either!

 

[TraceyK90]

So this was my home for a year and there were a few favourites...


There is a great coffee shop here and one of the shops that sell the amazing rugs and other hand crafts

Authentically Namibian - Travel News Namibia


This is the German supermarket and bottle shop, great nibbles....mmmm cheese.



On our way back, see the fog....it sits over the town most days. In the afternoons you can see it roll in from the Atlantic. The middle one is carrying his souvenir, a potjie pot, its an African cooking pot, like a camp oven.


Hotel Europahof...eat here and at The Tug



SO the place we stayed at wasn't the best, mouldy bathrooms and run by a grumpy German family who screeched like a banshee at the staff and her husband.... but the staff we great and had fun placing Brown Bear and our new Mr Fluffy the Wild Dog in positions each day.

 

[TraceyK90]

Day 3 in Swakop

It was overcast and drizzling, which is a rarity. So we decided to head off to the local aquarium. Its bit of a surprise that there is one here but there is a pretty big fishing industry and significant support from the Scandinavian countries, including a research institute. It is small and off course outside it are the market sellers.

I think it cost us about $10 for the family. It is small and there isn't a great deal of displays but you do get a good overview of the Atlantic and the local fishing industry. Try not to drool over the tanks of the lobsters.






Yes, its the windscreen wiper, it was cold and windy but the kids wanted a run around and collected mussels from the beach.

So then we drove back down to Walvis Bay. Its the industrial sister of Swakopmund but starting to come into its own. The cruise ships dock here. We went for a drive along the beachfront to see the flamingos and the salt works.



Along with pink flamingos....pink jellyfish.



So time for something to eat.

 

[TraceyK90]

One last flamingo pic....



Then it was off to the lighthouse for oysters and a mussel pot. mmmmmmm

 

[TraceyK90]

From here we headed south to Sossusvlei via Sesriem and Solitaire. There is a cannon at Solitaire that's worth a look. Lunch was at Moose McGregors bakery at Sesrium. Unfortunately Moose passed away but his bakery is still a national legend. Best cheesecake in a desert that I've had!

The lodge was very disappointing and even had open sewer work going on. Its pretty obvious when there is a large green patch.

We went into the park the next day, best time is early morning or late afternoon, we were there mid morning so not the best lighting but still very impressive.

So here are the photos of the dunes




The last part of the track is 4 WD only but the park run access vehicles in. Very easy to get stuck if you don't know what you are doing.

 

[TraceyK90]

Next stop Luderitz.

On the way, near AUS you can find the wild horses. First off it was a stop for fuel and a look at the war graves. There has been quite a bit of work preserving these in recent time.



Then it was off to Garub where the waterhole is. A man made water point was established to help with the survival of these horses, which are now a recognised breed. As you'd expect they are not in the best condition given there had been a drought and they live in the Namib Desert.



Saw a couple of oryx making use of the waterhole. There is a view point that provides some nice shade and some of the horses were wandering around it.

Namibia Wild Horses Foundation

 

[TraceyK90]

We spent two nights in Luderitz. Stayed at the Ludeitz Nest, LÜDERITZ NEST HOTEL Best oysters ever at the restaurant

It was established as a harbour town but due to the shallow bay, didn't have a great deal of success. It is mostly fishing (a couple of fish canning factories) and tourism now.

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The second day we organised our permit for Kolmanskop, an abandoned diamond mining town, just outside Luderitz. This was one of the bucket list places on this trip.

Early in the 1900's diamonds were found (there is still an active diamond area around Luderitz and you can drive off road etc). The population exploded and a town quickly sprung up. It had a bowling alley, hospital with the first x-ray machine in the southern hemisphere (used mostly to find out if workers were smuggling diamonds), school etc. There was even a little tram system that went around the houses delivering ice and also used by the ladies to get to each others houses. The boom was short lived and after WWI declined when bigger and more diamonds were found at the mouth of the Orange River, so people just walked out. Some families stayed until the 1950's. They run tours here which were really informative and then you can wander around.

Some of the better photos....




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolmanskop

 

[TraceyK90]

The bath tubs got me, I think I counted 3 sitting in the sand.

 

[TraceyK90]

see another bath tub!






I loved the frailness of the buildings



Back to town for a late lunch and a few cold ales down at the waterfront. Shame you could smell the fish canning factories. Blugh!




Good advice not to drive your car into the bay.




mmm fresh fish

 

[TraceyK90]

Okay now its off to the Fish River Canyon. But first lunch at Canon Roadhouse. This place is awesome. Its full of old car wrecks, history really good food, cold beer and friendly staff who sat and had a chat with us after the lunch rush.



Kids loved this sign and had to Skype their Auntie to tell her. I thought it was good to.



Quiver trees







It would have been better to take a flight over this and get a better view.

 

[JohnM]

Glad you've returned to this as I'll be in Namibia in October and renting a 4WD.

 

[TraceyK90]

Game schnitzel Mr 9 ate it all, except the salad.



African wild cat that adopted the place, looks pretty much like a moggie to me.



Amarula cheesecake - even the guide books mention this. it was good.





Stayed at Canon Village. Very nice, the chef was a gem. She came out and spoke to everyone and even went and rustled up some extras for the kiddos.

 

[TraceyK90]

Thanks JohnM, I managed to recover the hard drive.

 

[TraceyK90]

Some more of the Fish River area







Next place was on the banks of the Orange River in South Africa

 

[TraceyK90]

Boarder crossing photo. We had to park the car and go first to the Namibian office then to the building across the road to the South African one. All pretty easy, the Namibian guys were more interested in talking rugby.



Must have really fast sheep here! Then it was on to Springbok or a farm about 20 min outside it. We had two nights here and it was just a chill out couple of days.