Namibia

(Our little gang)

We travel into Etosha National Park in northern Namibia, stopping at the Etosha Pan, a giant salt flat that can be seen from space. And take the opportunity to make some funny pics...

(Here’s Robbie doing a pirouette on a beer bottle)

(Tony and Janet striking their tried and true pose)

(Joe holding a giant squirt bottle)

(Donna laying down the law to Chris)

(Dave holding up a giant rock.)

(Me begging for water) 

(Raw and flat)

Wow! Namibia is most definitely an interesting country. Please do not think of Africa as a homogenous continent of similar, parallel countries. Each one is so unique. And while there are similarities in many of the countries, every now and then you hit a Namibia, and you say... whoa! This place is a trip, and in a good way. So different from all the other countries. First of all, it's located in a desert, the Namib desert to be precise. They filmed Mad Max here just to give you some idea. The climate and terrain are otherworldly, like living on the moon. The Hoba Meteorite landed here some 80,000 years ago, the largest intact meteorite in the world. It didn't do much damage as it came in at an angle that allowed it to slow considerably before impact. 

Back on the road, our big truck breaks down yet again... for over 6 hours! 

We finally get up and running and make it into camp at Spitzkoppe, a series of odd rock formations that give this place a reverent and mystical feel. In fact I’ve decided I want some of my ashes sprinkled here from atop the big, round mountain. I will make my kids do a pilgrimage here, perhaps even force them to travel all the way down from Egypt, through Nairobi and onto Namibia to dump me off a cliff. Ha! I truly believe that all people should make a pilgrimage here, to experience this beautiful setting. Forget about all the stupid, touristy places of the world… just come here my friends and gain a little perspective. Here, where life is bubbling over.

(That’s our truck down there!)

 

(Chuck me off of here!!) 

Next up is Etosha National Park and more game drives. You might think you would get tired of all these game drives, but all it takes is a pack of elephants, or black rhinos, a leopard or cheetah... or even, yes, the king of them all... the lion, to make your blood start pumping. 

Even our campsites have watering holes nearby where loads of animals come and go throughout the day and night. It is just so incredible to see all these animals, large and small, up close and in the wild. Animals you have only seen on TV or in a zoo. 

Then we have a final game drive ending with a beautiful sunset and cocktail hour. (FYI: Circle of life.)

We move down to the southern coast of  Namibia, known as skeleton coast, to visit Cape Cross, a seal colony. 

(Look at them all!)

They don't call it the Skeleton coast for nothing, apparently there are shipwrecks up and down the coast. 

Next we stop at Swakopmund, a strange city on the coast of Namibia which the Germans have turned into a second home. 

No longer feeling as though we are in Africa, we grab some good German schnitzel and bratwurst for dinner. Then, the following day, we go wild, sand boarding and quad biking in the most incredible dunes in the world. And we are not doing the beginner stuff either. No, we are going hard core, jumping off ramps, and zipping up and down dunes like quad racing pros. 

Yes, Swakop, as the locals call it, is definitely full of thrills. We pack in as much fun as we can, knowing our trip through Africa is coming to and end. We have just over a week left before we arrive in Cape Town, our final destination. Although, I personally feel my final destination is the Cape of Good Hope, where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic and where sailors from around the world risked it all to venture beyond the known world, sailing into the most treacherous waters on our planet. 

Travelers. Roamers. Adventurers. Regular people... just like you and me.