Cairo to Cape Town

Yes, friends, our long, arduous journey is nearing its conclusion. And with all good stories we need that final climatic moment to push us over the finish line. Or, in my case, drag me over the line. We started way back in Cairo, Egypt and will complete our mission in Cape Town, South Africa. More specifically, at the Cape of Good Hope. 

Have we learned anything along our way? Picked up any savory nuggets of wisdom? Have we grown as people, you and I? Delved into the deeper meaning of our existence while traversing the great length of Africa? Are we richer and fuller and more complex... like a fine wine or bold cup of coffee?

Are we happier?

Before we dig into those existential, monumental questions, let's first put a proper finish on this amazing, epic adventure we've been experiencing together.

We left off in Swakopmund, Namibia, our little German city on the ocean with sand dunes galore. From there we cross the Tropic of Capricorn...

Then travel into Sesriem and its 1,000 foot dunes. We make camp in the desert, then wake up before dawn to hike Dune 45 for an amazing, spectacular, awesome (insert your adjective here) sunrise. Wow, this Earth is amazing!

(It's a lot harder to climb than it looks!)

(Fortunately Joe and Emius have breakfast ready upon our descent)

We continue our journey making various stops along the way, some that remind me of the southwest and Route 66.

(Joe looking cool on an old beater)

(A quick bush fix and we're on our way!)

We drive on to Sossusvlei to see the Dead vlei pan, a strange little area of the desert where petrified trees live forever, suspended in a geological time freeze just below the dunes. 

A few of the guys (Joe, Robbie, and Stefano) even trek up to the top of Big Daddy Dune and then run to the bottom at top speed. So fun!

Next stop is Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. It even looks like the Grand Canyon! This place is breathtaking. A group of hikers is climbing down for a 5-day trek to Ai-Ais. 

We beat them to Ai-Ais in the truck and take the opportunity to swim in a giant pool fed by the hot springs from the lower canyon. Call me Ponce de Leon, because I may have just discovered the fountain of youth.

(Joy and Charley canoeing down the river)

It's time to say goodbye to Namibia. And, surprisingly, South Africa welcomes us with our fastest border stop yet. We've now entered our tenth country in Africa. Eleven if you include Egypt. We spend the night in a small winery. After two weeks in a tent, it's time for an upgrade! I'm in the Cabernet Sauvignon room. The bed is nice and the views are amazing. But let's see if we can do even better...

The following day we drive to Stellenbosch for a 2-night stay. I opt for a hotel near the edge of town called Twice Central Guesthouse. And I think I've been 'twice' rejuvenated! This place is amazing!! 

And while the rest of our group is off on a wine tour, I take the opportunity to learn a little more about this amazing town with a guided tour, learning about the history of Stellenbosch and the rich diversity of its residents. Here take a look at some of the sights:

(Check out this dude's threads!)

(Check out the Dutch East India Company seal.)

(Yeah there's even one of those here!)

(Art lovers dream here)

(So yummy!)

Our final stop is Cape Town, where we will take the opportunity to explore Table Mountain via cable car, then later that night have our final dinner as a group. It's time to say goodbye to all of our friends. We started off with 13, and while some hopped on and hopped off along the way, we are ending with the same number, 13. We've become quite the little family along the way. That quirky family, who sometimes bickers and fights, but has love for all. We are all such diverse and independent people, flung together on this crazy, epic tour. Some of us will be moving on to new adventures, while others, like myself, will be returning home if only to plan our next adventure, as we've all been bitten, rather viciously I might add, by the travel bug. And traveling certainly is our common unifying trait. But who knows, perhaps we will meet again, in some distant place and at some future time. 

But I still have one last stop: the Cape of Good Hope. I've been drawn to this spot for a good portion of my life. It has always lingered up there, rattling around in my noggin, this mysterious place of yore. Now I will set off to reach that mythical point, to put a sharp edge on this steely end of our final chapter. No, I haven't forgotten about those questions I posed at the beginning of this post. But as any good writer knows, leave your reader in suspense. Besides, I still need to fulfill my quest. Need to stay focused... 

So stick around for one final post, and perhaps we can unearth some of those answers.      

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.