7 Feb 2025

2024 Namibia - 4th to 16th May 2024

Our original plan for visiting Africa (when we shipped the Landcruiser there from Uruguay in Feb 2020) was to spend 3 to 4 months traveling round, leave it in a storage location in Namibia for 8 to 9 months and then return for another 3 to 4 months before shipping home.

But, 2 weeks after it had been shipped and I had flown home from Uruguay the world was in lockdown. It took 7 months before it was offloaded in Cape Town, we did not know when Africa would be fit for travel again, carnet issues etc. and I was approaching 70, we decided that it was a fitting end to our travels and  shipped it home.

During lockdown we sold the Landcruiser, acquired a dog and bought a motorhome so we could all travel together, and whilst there is still plenty to do in Europe it does restrict our international to 3 weeks, when our daughter looks after Ruby.

So, how to condense 6 to 8 months into 3 weeks? After a fair bit of research we chose Namibia, and whilst we have not travelled anywhere else in Africa (yet) we are more than happy we did.

I did a bit of research myself on Namibia and then contacted Emily Button of Travel Councilors locally and between us we negotiated an excellent trip. Basically it was a fly drive using top class lodges. I felt that 3 of the travelling days were too long so we added 3 additional stops. Offset that by reducing the standard of vehicle to a Hilux (which is more than capable and the most common vehicle used) and which balanced out the cost somewhat.

Journey went like clockwork, collected our vehicle without an issue (except getting the extra spare wheel we had requested, but that was soon sorted. I had already loaded the whole of Namibia on to google maps so we could use offline and made it to Vila Violet, our first destination, a very nice B & B on the outskirts of Windhoek.  We were directed to a nearby pub for dinner and after wondering whether I would gin Jagermeister in Namibia (my favorite tiple) I found that the whole of thi extensive, multi roomed  pub was lines with empty bottles.

Next morning we set off for Agama Lodge, about a 4 hour drive near to a place called Solitaire, the first of our added stops.

our Hilux


the road

the view


Our first African animal (apart from a few apes romping through the bush as we drove from the airport) a Warthog. There were a number of Warthogs at the Agama Lodge, but this one was more like our dog, it was feeding time and he was waiting at the back door for his dinner


They also had a fabulous Infinity Pool


Chris opted for a dip, I staid on dry land and had a nice cold beer.

And then on to The Wilderness Kualala Desert Lodge and certainly was n the middle of the desert.

Chris uses binoculars to see how far it is from the restaurant to our room (one of the furthest buildings.

The restaurant was excellent, as was the rest of the Lodge and the staff all very friendly

Next day we ere taken to Sossusvlie

A tree seen on many screen savers


But not with us standing beneath it


Then we go for a 'sundowner' before dinner


To witness the sunset

At dinner a Jackal waits for food outside the restaurant (at his regular spot)


After dinner I had the last drop out of a bottle of Jagermeister. 

Next morning at breakfast the waiter showed me he had found another bottle


Next stop was The Desert Lodge, near Solitaire and opposite the Aguma Lodge (another stop we had added in), bur we would have preferred to stay there again (they also had dessert 'fat' bikes for hire at Aguma, which unfortunately was they only place that we stayed that had them.

There was plenty of wild lie around

And they provided maps of short walks you could take close by 

But the lodge itself was very busy and disorganized (it is next to a large camp site) food not particularly good and  when I asked for a cocktail that was on their specials list it was out of stock, when I asked what they had got they showed me a list of all the things that were out of stock.


We then head towards the coast and stay in a B & B at Swakopmond for a night (instead for the 4* Strand Hotel - to even out the extra nights we had added - we were there to see the scenery and animals))


Before heading up the skeleton coast infamous for its ship wrecks,

Even has a skeleton, but didn't look human!


Then on to Cape Cross Seal Colony, apparently the largest in the world, deafening noise and awful stench, littered with dead and dying seals, before staying in the Cape Cross Hotel, like an old run down English Hotel.



Next it is back into the dessert to Ozondjou Trails.


Sleeping in a very comfortable tent

Before heading out for a late afternoon drive

And saw our first elephants lurking in the shadows (hence the grainy image)

Whilst on route to visit a local school


Just as the school bus was leaving to take the local kids home- the school covered a large area so most of the kids stayed in a large dormitory you can see in the distance.

Then we head back to camp for a drink before dinner

and take in the scenery

Next day we are taken out by members of the EHRA (Elephant Human Relations Aid) who provide Education and Training to try to avoid conflict between people and elephants. One of their objectives is to provide two wells/water holes for each village. One has a high wall round it and pumps water to each home, where the other is more accessible to the elephants. But elephants can smell water and if their hole dries up they will demolish buildings to get to it.

One of the guys is a tracker (the same age as me) and he shows us how to track down a family of elephants. Just like us the girls all congregate together.

It doesn't take too long to find a large family, including young ones

And tiny ones

Plus the daddy of them all

Then this pops up!



And walks out from behind the bush

And then we find more grazing in the trees

Next to Doro Nawas, through some pretty spectacular scenery.

Where we visit some cave drawings

Visited a petrified forest and also visited a mock village where they showed ancient arts and crafts and sat round looking bored most of the time.

But saw some nice scenery on the way round

And saw a nice sunset when we stopped for our sundowner on the way back

Next stop was Ongava Lodge, on a  reserve just west of Estosha Park. We are half way through our trip and now we are in animal territory. This is our first Lodge with its own water hole and the first thing we see there is a Giraffe.


But he is soon gazumped by an elephant

We then go for an evening drive and immediately see more elephants


And then some young lions

After dinner we go down to the 'hide' by the watering hole and spot some rihnos

Next morning we are out again and find a large group of White Rhinos

N


The guide decides that it is safe to get out and walk amongst them

Another water hole where we find Koodoo


And some Giraffes, but they look spooked

We follow the direction they are looking and find a large group of Lyons lounging about

They move off, but only as far as a watering hole, not bothering the Giraffes 

On the way back we find some Wildebeest 


Next day we enter Estosha Park, where we have opted for another extra stop in the middle of the park, in order to make a few detours to some additional water holes, at the first of which we find Zebras


On the way we come across a real Zebra Crossing

A bit further on Springbok

Then an elephant striding along beside the road

Followed by Ostriches well spaced out

And a Wildebeest hanging out in the shade with some Springbok