Friday, July 13, 2012

Namibia tour: Days 9-12: Agama, Sossusvlei, Namtib, Oas

En route from Swakopmund to Agama camp.

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The sunset at Agama. This was a very clean and neat camp in the desert. We especially loved the roofless bathroom – they certainly do not expect a lot of rain there!

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We drove through to Sossusvlei the next morning – not as early as our camp neighbours who aimed to catch the sunrise there. The arid landscape was pretty much the same as the day before, but then suddenly we saw the first red dunes. Gene did the 4 x4 thing and got us safely through the sand until Dead Vlei.

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Anne, Gene and Lalie hiking to Dead Vlei.

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Anne at Dead Vlei

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Jan and I scrambled up the side of the dune. Was it ever steep! And the sand was so loose that we had to scramble up the last bit on all fours!

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My red face says it all – I was exhausted, but it was well worth our while!

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Gene going back after taking beautiful pictures of the Dead Vlei

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Lalie on her way back

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Jan coming down – walking down the ridge was much, much easier than going up the side of the dune!

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At Sossusvlei itself – lovely shiny water in the middle of the desert! P1010433 - Copy_thumb

After Sossusvlei we travelled down the loveliest road in Namibia: the D707 along the Tiras mountains. We struggled to get hold of a campsite, We had hoped to sleep at Koiimasis, but they never answered their phone! When Anne finally got hold of a site called Namtib, they lady said we couldn’t possibly make it there in the afternoon – we HAD to travel the road in the daytime because it was so beautiful. As it turned out, we did arrive at the camp after dark, but could easily pitch tents in the moonlight. The only light in the bathroom was a candle, but the water in the donkey was still nice and hot.

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Jan and Gene – we did not have as many campfires and we had hoped to have: the camper was packed to capacity and there wasn’t space for wood. Sad smile

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Early the next morning Jan and I scrambled up the irresistible rocky hill. How I wished that we could stay there longer! These rocks were easier to navigate than the extra large ones at Spitskoppe. It was FUN!

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En route to Karasburg to pick up our bakkie. P1010466 - Copy_thumbP1010467 - Copy_thumb

We drove along a road that is not on most maps…

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Outside Karasburg – on our way to our last camp in Namibia and this time in our own bakkie. With the new engine, we had to drive @ 80km per hour, but seeing that we were going to drive on dirt roads, this did not really bother us.

God, please bless Kobus and his work shop and all the people of Karasburg. Thank you for the good roads of Namibia that made it possible for us to see your creation.

3 comments:

Sandra said...

Dit lyk heerlik! Was dit baie koud in die aande?

Miekie said...

Hi Sandra
Die meeste aande was nie te koud nie, maar in Windhoek was die -2 C! Vat maar lekker warm onderklere en 'n jas en gaan trek aan voor aandete. Dis nou as julle kamp? In die dag moet jy maar in lae aangetrek wees - dit word goed warm!

Unknown said...

Dear Miekie and Jan,
In 1997 we had a wonderful visit with you, and later Jan was participating in a conference in Copenhagen.
Could you please send me your contact info?
Best regards - and Happy New Year
Erik
erik@svaneborg.dk