Namibia

Windhoek

Quick visit to Windoek, the capital of Namibia. We arrived on Saturday afternoon and it was a holiday weekend so disappointingly nothing was open. Took a stroll around the gardens in front of the parliament buildings and visited Christ Church. Had dinner at Joe’s Beerhouse which is known for their selection of game. I tried oryx, springbok, kudu, zebra and alligator!

Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is a dried up salt bed and the vegetation is scarce making it a surprising place for so many animals to live. Since the waterholes are scarce, it makes them a great place to view the animals since they congregate nearby. We saw lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, springbok, oryx, hyenas, zebras, jackals and wildebeest. So amazing watching all of these creatures. At the campsite there was a waterhole that we sat around at night and saw a rhinos, elephants and giraffes. It kind of like being in a real life Jurassic Park.

Swakopmund

Swakopmund is located just south of the Skeleton coast. After being in the hot desert for so many days, the cold fog was a shock to the system. The town has a few good restaurants and cafes but it’s mostly known for in extreme sports. So when in Swakopmund, go skydiving! I went with two of the guys from the camping trip and it was the craziest adrenaline rush. I managed to keep calm in the plane despite the fact that it was only me and 4 crazy South African guys who keep laughing in Afrikaans and I had no idea what they were saying. Then the door opened and we were all out within seconds. Aside from the drop of the initial jump, I felt completely weightless careening through the air. I had to force myself to open my eyes. Such a rush! When the shoot opened, it slows you down with such force that you feel like your going backwards. Then after the shoot opened, he started spinning us. I didn’t want it to stop but I also didn’t want to puke. Then we drifted slowly to the ground and made a gentle landing. Amazing experience.

Sossusvlei Dunes

The dunes were one of the things I was most excited to see. Located in the Nambib Desert, the dunes are some of the highest in the world. We hiked to the top of Dune 45 and Big Daddy. Spectacular views from the top and crazy fun to run down the side. Best time to visit is early morning for sunrise when the light casts dramatic shadows on the edges of the dunes.

Fish River Canyon

Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world behind the Grand Canyon. Its massiveness makes you feel small standing at the edge. The day we visited, it was cloudy and the flat light muted out all the colors in the rock. It was also a bummer that they don’t allow day hikes so we were forced to stay along the rim. If you want to hike in the canyon, the only option is a multi-day backpacking trip. We stayed nearby at Ai Ais Resort that has natural hot springs, which is the perfect way to relax after a long day of driving.

The Orange River

The Orange River is on the boarder of Namibia and South Africa. We stayed at this place along the river with neat little bungalows. After a leisurely canoe trip in the afternoon, we had a braai around the campfire.