February 11, Sesriem, Namibia

Up very early as wanted to be at park gates when they opened at sunrise! Good thing a woman from the UK had her kettle to plug in! I got my coffee!

We went to Dune 45 to climb up the edge of the dune. Cool in morning with a lot of mist on top of the dunes and along the bottom. The guide has only seen this 2 times before. Lots of people around and walking up the dune.

Amazing views from the top, of the mist and the other dunes. This one is about 400 metres high.

Then a few minutes down the road into another open truck for a ride along a dry river bed to the Dead Pan. This is an area that a sand dune blocked any water from getting into. As a result the trees died. It was like the landscape of another planet!On the way back we stopped at a gorge/canyon. They called int Sesriem Canyon but really a deep gorge. Sesriem, meaning 6 riems, as it required 6 lengths of cow leather fashioned as a rope to lower into the gorge to get out water.

The sides are too deep for animals, but we found our way down. Very hot as there is no wind but very interesting. The walls are made of rounded river rock stone and compressed sand, so hard almost like concrete!
Stopped at restaurant just inside the park gates, they had great coffee, and then a short 20 minute walk back to campsite. It is probably 40 degrees C. So into pool, relaxing around the pool.

Dinner was cooked by guide again. This time an excellent leg of lamb done on the braai (bbq).



February 10, Sesriem, Namibia

An 8 am start, a 5 hour drive and arrived at Sesriem, a camping site on the edge of the Namib National Park. This park runs along the coast of most of the country!

This camp site is luxury! Each site has a shower, with hot water (solar), toilet and kitchen sink. With lots of shade on a brick deck. We had 4 tents sharing the site. Super place. It is on the edge of the desert, and although fenced there was still some impala and jackals running through the camp ground.
We got the tent set up and off to the pool. Small and cold but still felt great! Guide cooked a super dinner.


February 9 Swakopmund, Namibia

Relaxing morning but on the jeep by 8 am. This morning doing the Living Desert Adventure tour with Chris. Wow.
This guy is so passionate and enthusiastic about the dunes and desert! He found critters that no one else could even see! They were buried in the sand.

A gecko that is nocturnal, and white dancing spider that was buried as well, and legless lizard that was super fast burrowing in the sand, a chameleon and a snake!

The dunes are multi coloured, yellow, red, white and black. The black is magnetized. A great tour... but I can not remember the names of any of the critters!

Dropped laundry off to get washed and then headed down the beach for a walk.
That was after having some great coffee from a local roaster.
The beach was nice but the water was much to cold to swim! I don't know how some of the people could stand it, my ankles went numb!


February 8 Swakopmund, Namibia

Camp broke and on the road by 7 am......too many early mornings....but at least got some coffee!
Breakfast at small restaurant about 8.30. We arrived about 3 pm. Very nice clean city right on the Atlantic with sand dunes a couple of blocks down the street.

The drive was great with the landscape changing every couple of hours....it got progressively drier!
Out for a walk to beach and then dinner on the beach. Feels cool with the wind off the ocean but still about 21 degrees! All relative!