Swakopomund, Namibia, Sept 13th, 2014

A couple of photos which missed the boat.

Nesting gannets near Lambert's Bay

 

 Mandela's Gold,a new variety of Strelitzia bred in Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Town.

 We left Cape Town a week ago. The drive near the coast was through an expanse of wildflowers until we stopped for lunch at Muisbosskerm a fish reataurant right on the beach. First course was absolutely superb mussels and then we used the shells as cutlery to eat more fresh fish and springbok stew followed by fresh baked bread and home made apricot jam washed down with good South African wine at $2.50 a glass.

On then to Lambert's Bay where thyere is a huge gannet colony on an island connected by a short causeway. Lambert's bay had no power. It was supposed to come back on at 6, but at 9 we gave up and went to bed (Power finally came on at 4 am). Next day we crossed into Namibia.  The immigration official studied the stamps in our passports very carefully to make sure we had not been in west Africa.

We stayed in Felix Unite a lovely lodge on the Orange River - thatched cottages with views.On Tuesday morning we started the day with canoeing on the Orange River. I had never been in a canoe, but Dave - a NZ fellow and I safely negotiated the rapids and it was quite idyllic.

Felix Unite Lodge on the Orange River

Canoeing on the Orange River

In the afternoon we drove to Fish River Canyon - very spectacular and saw the sunset.

Fish River Canyon

Namibia is twice the size of France with a population of little more than 2 million and miles of gravel roads. sheep farms - mostly karakul sheep and tiny towns such as Helmeringhausen which has 16 inhabitants. Here the hotel is one side of the road and the service station and shop on the other side, but they do not talk to each other.

After a long days drive we came to Sossusvlei and are staying on a farm. Water is very scarce but there is a small patch of water in from of our balcony where springbok come to drink.

In the morning we were up at 5 to be at the gates of the National park before they open at 7. This is the area of the spectacular orange sand dunes as once featured on a Windows screen saver. We saw oryx and ostriches and a jackal.

Waiting for the park to open

Climbing the dune on the way to Deadvlei. There is an easier way to get there!

Dead vlei. The trees maybe 500 years old. In the desert climate decay is very slow.

 Dead vlei. The trees maybe 500 years old. In the desert climate decay is very slow.

 

An oryx strides out along the road to Sossusvlei.

Fancy some snacks!

Ice flowers

Solitaire (near the tropic) population 92.

 The famous bakery in Solitaire

Picnic lunch of apple pie from Moose's bakery.

Friday we drove onto Swakopomund Namibia's second town. It is near walvis Bay an important harbour and so like Port Hedland there is a line of cargo shipson the horizon.Also there is quite a lot of new luxury accommodaion going up along the beach.

The German influence is strong and the architecture and food reflects this. English is the official language which makes it easy. Forgot to say we saw our first zebras and there are flamingoes just outside town.