Australian borders are finally
open, but first our long-awaited family holiday in Tasmania. Unfortunately,
only part of the family can participate because of Covid. Such is life.
Back in Brisbane it is
last-minute chaos before we head to the airport. A long flight, but no Covid
tests required, we simply flash our Covid vaccination certificates on our
phones.
Finally, we reach Windhoek, are collected
from the Airport and head to the Transkalahari Inn where GR2 has been stored
for over 2 years. It is with great excitement that we see her again, but she is
still stuck in the shed, her batteries are flat. John spends the afternoon
trying to recharge them. Reluctantly we overnight in a room. The next day John
heads into town for new batteries. I clean. By 3pm we drive out of the shed and
park in the camping area for the night.
Saturday morning, we head out for
a grease and oil change and general checkup. Much later we head into town for
groceries before heading back to our campspot. We plug back into power to build
up our house batteries. All seems good so we plan to head off on Sunday, but
when we return to the truck after dinner the house batteries are boiling and
look ready to explode. We won’t be
leaving town yet.
Sunday, we explore the lovely city of Windhoek.
The castles up on the hill, the lovely old German buildings and the totally
gorgeous gingerbread Church sited crazily enough right on a roundabout. Finally
on Monday we leave the Transkalahari Inn. We have a day chock full of chores.
Lithium batteries being on top of the agenda. Coffee machine second. John is
devastated his Nespresso machine has stopped working. We leave it at the shop
to be repaired and spend most of the afternoon getting the batteries installed
at Theunis’ home where he works. When his lovely wife Thelma arrives home, she
asks us to stay for dinner. A fabulous evening chatting and we sleep overnight
in their driveway. Thank you both.
Just a few more stop offs for
some necessary items and then we top up our fuel tank. YAY we are finally on the
road. We head south on the main road only stopping for lunch at the lovely Lake
Oanob resort near Rehoboth. No one is there so we find ourselves a waterfront
chalet and picnic area to use. Later we drive through the tidy town of Rehoboth
and continue south, finally stopping for the night at a magic spot overlooking
the Hardap Dam. We share our spot with a troop of baboons who sleep overnight
on the rocky cliff behind us.
In the morning we decide to drive
into the Hardap Reserve to see the lake, but decide the entry fee is too much
for a quick look at the lake. We follow back roads to the next town of
Mariental and continue south through flat, flat, flat countryside. In the
distance we can see the Brukkaros Volcano that we are heading to. We turn off
onto a gravel road and finally onto a narrow, rocky, steep track that goes right
up to the rim of the caldera. A truly amazing spot. There are the remains of a
campground here and we settle in for the night.
In the morning we set off to walk
into the caldera itself, and then up the hill to the ruins of a German
Observatory. An amazing climb. I’m pooped and of course John isn’t! Time to
head back down that disgusting track and continue along more back roads passing
through the tiny town of Berseba where the locals live in tiny huts and drive
about in mule carts. I don’t think we have seen six mules pulling a cart
before. Then miles more desert – all tinged with green as Namibia has had more
rain than usual in the past few months.
Our next stop is at the rather
lovely big town of Keetmanshoop where we fill up with diesel and water. From
here we return to the main road and head to the Naute Dam for the night. There
is an old disused campground near the dam wall where we stay for the night. Down
the road there are huge grape and date plantations, and beside them the Naute
Kristall Distillery. We stop for coffee but somehow the very friendly owner
convinces us to try some and we leave with a bottle of date brandy. We have
spent a lovely hour chatting with her about life in Namibia and results of
Covid restrictions (as you do)
Time to get on the road again and
head towards Fish River Canyon via the Gondwana National Park. After a short
stop at an old kiln we continue to the Canyon Roadhouse and have to stop as we
spy more old cars. Inside the whole pub is filled with cars and car related
“stuff”. Perfect for car buffs to wander around. We stay for lunch before
finally heading into the Ai Ais Richtersweld Transfrontier Park. We pay our
entry fees at Hobas and head to the lookouts.
What can I say? The Canyon is
breathtaking, my photos don’t do it justice. Definitely on a par with the Grand
Canyon in USA. We cannot walk down into the Canyon – day hikes are forbidden
and the long hike requires special permission. We can see why as it is very hot
with not a skerrick of shade. We spend all afternoon going to the numerous
lookouts. Early evening, we take the magical drive to the Ai Ais Campground (no
free camping allowed in National Parks). We settle in at dusk on a lovely
grassy spot – amazing in this dry wilderness. In the morning we hike along the
canyon and river for a few kilometres. When we return, we check out the lovely
hot pools here, but they are way too cool for me, so it’s time to pack up.
Today totally magic driving
through some stunning desert scenery as we head to Aussenkehr and the Orange
River that marks the boundary of Namibia & South Africa. We are stunned to
see miles of manicured vineyards along the rivers edge. And just as surprising
is the town full of shanties, all clean and tidy. We are hunting down the
Quiver Tree Forest marked on my map, but when we can’t find the road, so we turn
and head back. We plan to drive the Orange River road. Signs say it is closed,
but we have checked with the Transport & Roads Dept and they assured us we
can drive through. We also see a few trucks and numerous locals using it. Lots of roadworks and damage from flooding,
but it is in pretty good condition and yet another stunning drive. On dusk we
find a great spot in an old mining area way above the road. Another stunning
red sunset.
Today it’s a huge driving day as
we head along the river and through more desert on a lovely sealed road to the
diamond town of Oranjemund. This road has only been open for 2 years. We cannot
leave the road as the whole area, even though it is the Sperrgebiet National
Park, is reserved for diamond mining. At the beginning of the road there is a
barge that crosses to Sth Africa, and at Oranjemund there is a bridge. John
wants to cross it, and because I say we can’t he decides we must, and sweet
talks the customs lady into letting us cross, turn around and return. Then out
to the river mouth for lunch before exploring the township – all neatly set out
in a grid pattern. Followed by the drive back out. Much later we turn and head
north, all the way to Aus. We have located a nice camping place in the hills on
our app and head there, but they are full so head back to Aus to the campground
in town. It proves to be pretty good and we enjoy a meal at the local pub.
Our adventures in Lüderitz coming
soon.
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