My hair feels like straw, my skin is drier than the Sahara Desert and my eyes are full of African dust but I’m having an awesome time!
We have been driving through different game parks along rough dirt roads but seeing amazing wildlife. One of our first stops took us to a waterhole and there were dozens of giraffe grazing in trees and at the waterhole. Had close encounters with elephants - the African elephant is so much bigger than the Asian one and close up they are huge. You will suddenly come across one at the side of the road feeding and it would turn towards the truck and you’d be mesmerized. Had an interesting time with one elephant walking down the road, it kept walking towards us and with ears flapping looked as if it was going to charge. Cars and our truck backed away quickly and then we had to wait for some time before it started to step off the road to feed. We passed cautiously but even so it turned its head quickly as if to have a go!
We went on an evening game drive and came across some rhino which was awesome as we hadn’t seen any before but the highlight was when a lioness with three cubs crossed our path and joined a large pride which was based around a waterhole. Such an amazing experience. We also saw quite a few hyenas - ugly creatures. Also during the night drive we came across 20 -30 elephants crossing the road. There were a number of babies and we had to stay exceptional quiet as they were so close to us - you sure don’t want to spook an elephant!
Just as we were about to enter our camp site yesterday we came across a lone rhino so now we have seen the Big 5! There are so many different types of animals roaming around that you just can’t capture them all but am sure the memories will linger on for a long time. Jackals running around the camp site - had to make sure we weren’t bitten because of rabies.
Another long rough drive bought us to a mountainous area called Spitzkoppe and a basic camp site - no facilities other than a long drop loo! This area abounds in scorpions! We were led to believe that there were so cave paintings worth seeing so the nine of us headed out and followed a, yes you’ve guessed it, useless map! We walked for a long way and found nothing but by then two of the group decided to scout ahead and we soon lost sight of them. Luckily for the rest of us a local was cycling by and was able to take us to the spot - we had been going in the totally wrong direction! After all that they weren’t really that spectacular. The walk was good after being in the truck for so long and watching the sun setting over the mountains was beautiful. I think the African sunsets will stay with me for a long time!
Knowing that we were in for a long cold night I’d bought ingredients to make mulled wine and so it was heated up over the open fire and was enjoyed by all - need more bottles of wine next time!! Our Kenyan guides were fascinated and I think will try to replicate it at some time. I think that they were a bit worried when I started chanting ‘hubble bubble ..............’ as I was stirring it!
It wasn’t too cold during the night and I think sleeping in a hat really helped - so glamorous! Next morning we were up and tents down by 7 - I seem to have been first for the last couple of days but that’s mainly because I want a cup of tea and we can’t have anything until we’re packed a way!
After a few hours we saw the sea - such a contrast! We are now in western Namibia on the Atlantic. We visited a colony of fur seals - there were hundreds and hundreds of them, young,old on the beach and out to sea and the stench was overwhelming! We then drove further down the ‘Skeleton coast and had lunch. A short time later we arrived at Swakopmund - as you can guess an old German town. Joy of joy we are not under canvas for the next three nights and we get to sleep in a bed. I’m in an A frame place with three youngies so am playing ‘mum’ for a few days.
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