So let me begin where i last left off way back on the 9th December We packed a back pack of all the stuff we needed for one night bush camping on an island in the middle of the Okavango Delta (its not much at all in fact we only took one bag between us and all that came out of it were our jandals and our doxy...) so off we trotted to the river bank where we jumped onto a speed boat and speeded down river to a point where we could transfer into Makoras (traditional dug out canoes) i sat right up front (almost losing my hat in the extreme wind...) and took in the view as it blurred past we arrived at the canoes where we met our polers (that's right we ride in style whilst someone else does all the grunt work...) our original guy was called Jack and he had a fairly new fibre glass jiggery whatsit i was like "so this ain't really traditional...but its sound,watertight and has nice high sides and comfy seats..."but then my contentment was dashed as we were asked to change Makoras (a weight thing) so we met our new poler Gladys i have to admit when she introduced herself i thought we wouldn't make it to the delta till night fall but she proved me wrong and showed what a tough old biddy she was we kept steady pace relatively close to the front the whole journey plus she pointed out heaps of neat stuff and caught a frog for us! we shared our snacks with her and became fast friends! her Makora was however more of a tradition style...basically a carved out tree trunk floating along the Delta i was concerned that if a hippo should cross our path we would be wasted!..(fortunately it doesn't really matter if you are floating on a dingy or a speed boat if a hippo don't like you he don't like you an you are toast...) the ride took about 2.5hours that's 2.5 hours of blissful sun filled snack filled floating along through the reeds (no hippos) when we arrived on the island (cant remember the spelling of its African name and i wont attempt to guess but it translated to 'Kudu horns') we had some lunch the lounged around for a few hours (the day was a sizzling hot fry an egg on your head 40 something degrees) the idea was that after 4pm the day would be cooler and we would go in search of some game only it hadn't cooled off at all...none the less we trooped off (in boots and long pants due to holes and long grass) we didn't see any animals just loads of spoor but we did have a walk filled with snacks first up we had some wild onions which tasted of...onions! then we had some small sour plums the skin was really bitter and jank but the flesh was like eating a squidgy sour lollie (sweet/candy bit of translating here) we walked for about 2.5 hours taking in the lovely scenery of the island before heading back to camp for tea and to my extreme delight we had baked beans and jacket spuds heck yes!
Friday 10th woke up at 5am (the first Early of many in a row!) for another game walk and it was worth it within minutes we spotted a massive bull elephant just going about his business enjoying life we also saw hippo,zebra,impala,warthogs,red lechwe,black backed jackel,wildebeest and a heap of birds including fish eagles,bateleur eagles an African barn owl and several hammerkops. we didnt walk too long just a few hours before the intense heat got us down so we headed back to camp and hung out till it was time to float our way back to the mainland the float took the same amount of time but we did see a crock which was EXCITING we were hands reach away from him just basking in the sun ignoring us completely!
Saturday 11th not alot to report from today we were on the road from 6am (yes driving from 6am till 7.30pm! we crossed the border into Namibia which was uneventful... (apart from the random girl doing drugs in the toilet whilst i almost peed my pants waiting)
Sunday 12th another long day on the road leaving at 7am and driving till about 3.30pm when we arrived at camp we didn't do alot set up tents and cooled off in the pool then that evening we drove to a big canyon which we climbed down...(being slightly retarded and not finding the stairs) we walked through the canyon and baboons threw rocks at us whilst i smiled and waved we clamoured here and there before heading back to the car park and having sun downers by the truck (and posing for some cheese factor photos on top of the truck...and almost falling whilst standing on one leg...) after sunset we went back to camp and crashed....
Monday 13th i feel like today was special...oh right it was MY BIRTHDAY! we woke up at 4am and drove 45km into the desert to climb a dune (named dune 45) and watch the sunrise! who else can say they watched the sunrise in Namibia on their 23rd birthday? we were told it only took 5-6 mins or 10 if you are slow so we set off at speed running up and almost dying in the process it actually took closer to a half hour to reach the highest ridge but heck it was worth it! we stayed up there quite a while taking in the spectacular view (and catching our breath) then we ran down the dune...LP is in his element here in Namibia he has both swimming pools to float like a dead person in (dont ask) and dunes to roll down (easily explained he likes to roll down stuff..) so he set off at extreme speed lost control and ate sand as he rolled to a stop at the bottom (and then staggered like a drunk person) we got back to the truck for birthday brekkie BAKED BEANS! then we drove further into the desert to explore we found a sand whippit snakes a bunch of lizards and a ton of beetles we also say gemsbok and sprinbok the landscape is truly outstanding and the sun played ball and didnt get to hot till we left yay! the rest of the day was spent chillaxing and eating lody a truly most perfect birthday!
Tuesday 14th another day on the road starting at a reasonable hour of 9am after a brekkie of eggy bread we drove and drove but it was through amazing landscapes of desert and gorges and canyons and big huge rock shapy thingys it was so lovely to look at we arrived into Swakapmund in time for a late lunch and a chilled afternoon and the loveliness of 3 nights in a hotel!
Wednesday 15th got up and had a huge cooked brekkie then got picked up and drived into the desert for a morning of sand boarding action! surprisingly LP didnt roll down a single dune instead saving his energy for the walk up between each run he maxed out at a speed of 71km/hour on the fast slope whilst i did a steady 67 then 68 the 69km/hour try as i might i couldn't brake the 70 barrier but heck yes it was fun! we spent all morning boarding then walking up and doing it again exhausting but brilliant at middayish we stopped for lunch then came back into town where we de-sanded not easy....then headed out shopping for my bday dress! (and my xmas dress) at about 7pm we headed out for dinner we had a beautiful gemsbok steak best game/antelope so far melt in your mouth perfection! then headed out for a night on the town (which was mostly playing pool and being checked out by a man in a white shirt....no Sam that's a women!)
next national park in a few days is Etosha (which my new e-mail friend Leonardix (the bank security guard)says is amazment yay)
who else can say they watched the sunrise in Namibia on their 23rd birthday?
ReplyDeleteProbably a lot of Namibians.