• Southern Namibia x2 (Oct 2018)

    Here is a snapshot of the trip filmed along the way, enjoy! 

  • And to finish the trip, what is better then a few days in Walvis, enjoying amazing seafood and shore birds??

    Walvis Bay birdlife

    Swift tern (Thalasseus berg) diving in over resting greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus)

    Walvis Bay birdlife

    Common tern (Sterna hirundo) landing

    Walvis Bay birdlife

    Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

    Walvis Bay birdlife

    Walvis Bay birdlife

    A crowd of Lesser flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor)


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  • The Namib-Naukluft NP is quite large and has several sections. The one in the North is called the Swakop section and is the one you cross when driving from Windhoek to Walvis Bay. To leave the main roads you need a permit as you do to be allowed to camp in the park (at designated sites). The permit can be obtained at MET offices in Windhoek, Seriem, Swakop and Naukluft Moutain NP.

    Only the campsite of Ganab has a waterhole nearby. But the most beautiful area (in my opinion) is the one north of the C28 in the Blutkope and Tinkas area. Campsites there are stunning and the landscape breathtaking.

    Namib-Naukluft, Swakop section

    The rock arch

    Namib-Naukluft, Swakop section

    Namib-Naukluft, Swakop section

    View on Blutkope with rocks shaped by wind and sand

    Namib-Naukluft, Swakop section

    Sleeping under the arch...

     

    Yes, the following picture of of a Buthidae scorpion (and a bad one) down in the long drop toilet at the rock arch campsite... In Africa, you learn quickly to check down the toilet before going about your business as snakes are known for loving to curl themselves inside or around the bowl... So I kept my reflex and looked down the hole..

    Namib-Naukluft, Swakop section


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  • The canyon formed by the Sesriem river is quite impressive and not expected! It is located 5km from Sesriem rest camp and their are paths to walk all the way along the canyon at the top of the cliffs and then down the gorge. At the very tip of the gore you might be lucky to find some water left by the last flood.

    The river flowed down the canyon in October 2018 following strong storms in the region.

    Sesriem Canyon

    Sesriem Canyon

    Sesriem Canyon

    Sesriem Canyon

    Sesriem Canyon


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  •  I don't think there is a need to introduce Sosussvlei anymore. It is famous for the Dead Vlei littered with dead trees that grew back the the Tsauchab river still reached the Ocean. Now the dunes are in the cay, and the trees died. Once in a while however, the river flows again, following violent storms in the mountains, and the water reaches the dunes through the Sesriem canyon.

    You can reach the Dead Vlei  from Sesriem via a beautifully new tarred road (~65km) and 5km of sandy track at the end. Drivers not used to and driving should restrain from going all the way though...

     

    Sosussvlei & Sesriem Canyon

    Sosussvlei & Sesriem Canyon

    Sosussvlei & Sesriem Canyon

    Sosussvlei & Sesriem Canyon

    Sosussvlei & Sesriem Canyon

    Sosussvlei & Sesriem Canyon

    Sosussvlei & Sesriem Canyon


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  • Along the road between Aus and Sesriem, you should spend a night at the Namtib Biosphere Reserve. The campsite is nested in the mountains with a stunning view on the plains below and the Namib desert in the background. 

    No light pollution here, which makes for an ideal location for night photography...

    Milky Way over Namtib

    Milky Way over Namtib

    Can you spot the Southern Cross in there??


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