After finishing our hunt at Wolfgang Faulks beautiful farm we spent six days on out own exploring Namibia. We left Otavi and headed down to Swakopmund where we spent three nights and two full days.

We stayed at the Strand Hotel, any of the places to stay in town are within walking distance of all of the shop and resturants.



From our balcony towards the ocean.

From the ocean back to town, the Lighthouse Resturant is in the pic. Excellent food and drink.

On day one we took in the street vendors and all of the shops in the downtown area.Those who like shopping will enjoy this.


Kate browsing the wares.

Got to go now be back soon.

Keith

Nice pics. We don't get to see too many of the coastal areas of Nambia. Thanks for sharing. Any more?

George

The ladies!


The cats!


We had wanted to stop at Okahandja to see the carvers but due to late starts in traveling we could not stop. Both Vaughan and Wolfgang said the Okahandja curio area was not real pleasant due to the vendors hounding you to the point of harrasment. The open market area of Swakopmund was pleasent and fun, no harrasing just friendly bantering back and forth. Once they found out I was not buying(the girls had all the money) I was able to just look and talk. The second day I sat with one vendor and helped him try to sell to the other guys, I don't think they ever experienced that. Most every one had to come and see the tourist make a fool of himself.

If in Swakop you must go Quad Biking, just let the hotel make the arrangements. They come and pick you up adn take you back when finished.

The family quad biking, dress warm.It was a damn cold two hrs.


The wind was blowing so hard the whole surface of the sand looked like it was moving!

The next day we went for a three hour plane ride, right back over Tsiseb. Did not see the camp but saw several landmarks that were very familiar.
The Namib Rock.

The ever present Brandberg Moutains.


Futher north to some tabletop mountains.


Further north to Palmwag and then the Hoanab River. Amazing the green river and the desolate land around it!



Out to sea and down the Skeleton Coast, past shipwrecks.


The seals at 130kts.


Hey fly boys, how high are we?





We used the Bradt Travel Guide to Namibia to help plan our six days on our own. we also booked some portions of the six days with Cardboard Box Travel.
http://www.namibian.org/

Learn from our mistakes, the company that we went on the plane with did not provide headsets, bad move. It really sucked to ride three hours with that noise. We found out later that Bushbird Flights were the only one(at that time) who did.
No need to rent your car until you are leaving Swakop, you walk every where. Having a car is a waste of money.
Unless you are going off road in Damaraland or somewhere similar rent a Toyota Condor, no need for a pickup and dustproof caps are not!!!

Ykae lots of small bills shopping for curios, they say they do not have change for $100 Namibian.

Back with more soon.

Dulcinea

The next morning we left Swakop for the Namib-Naukluft Park. A lot of research went into this part of the trip. Our main objective was to go to the Soussevlei area and see the dunes and vleis. We stayed at the Zebra River Lodge. I spent some time figuring out where to stay because you have many choices. It turns out we made an excellent choice. Although Zebra River is about 90k from Soussesvlei when we got close to there all of the other moderatly priced lodges were right on the very dusty main road.

Zebra river is 15ks back there own driveway. Rob Fields(owner) loves the soussesvlei area and takes you on a very personal tour to the vleis. an accomplished photographer he takes the extra effort to show you how to get good pics.

We booked with Zebra River ourselves, we would stay there again!
http://www.zebrariver.com/

It is a six hour drive from Swakop to Zebra River. Long lonely gravel roads with beautiful sights all the way.

Soon after entering the Namib-Naukluft park we find this family.



Never expected these guys.


Solitare is a big dot on the map. the only thing there is a gas station small store. When you travel in this part of the country you can not pass this gas pump!

If you do you will end up like this.


That's it until Tuesday. Feel free to comment or ask questions!1

Dulcinea

Great photos! I wish I had done some traveling around the country last year.

great stuff Dulcinea. I sent you a PM about stopping in to visit.

Leaving Solitare we finished what would be a total of 6.5 hours of steady driving to get to Zebra River Lodge.


As I said before Zebra River is 15k back a track, relaxation is the game here. Being a former overgrazed sheep ranch wildlife has a hard time here. No hunting here but they are not anti hunting. There were other guests who did not feel hunting was proper, during a dinner discussion this came up. One of the other guests was an american who worked for USAID, he was able to explain the benefits to the community and wildlife much better than I ever could.
Zebra River is located in the Tsaris Mountains, this next view is from my favorite spot in our two trips to Africa!

Then you look from another angle and see this!

You can relax or go hiking, we chose to go to the spring, 5k in 4wd/lo and then a 2k walk. Along the way we see the baboons.

Then the Klipspringers, our first sighting of Klippys in Africa!

Finally the spring, this was the water source for the sheep ranch. The water was gravity fed 7k to the old ranch house.

The next day we are going to Soussesvlei,this is where the Namib Dune Sea swallows the Tsauchab River, it take the dunes about 10k but finally the river(which flows only during heavy rains) ends in salt pans.

Look for the Soussuvlie installment on Friday.

Dulcinea

Because Soussesvlei is 90k from Zebra River you leave at 9am and stay for the sunset(vs getting there for the sunrise).
On the way we stopped for several geographic or flora/fauna lessons.

This pic is of the seismic formed Naukluft Mountains are being pushed over the older sedimentary Tsarsis Mountains.


As we entered the Namib Dune Sea we stopped for some pictures.

This is a dune lark, apparently very rare and we were very lucky to have this fellow visit for a few minutes.




After the dune lark left we had a lesson on how the Namib Dune Sea is formed.


When we got to Soussesvlei we had lunch before exploring, within seconds of Rob pouring water for washing the birds came to try to get some.


The end of the line for the river, Soussesvlei is 40k's rfom the ocean.

500 years ago the river changed course leaving this vlei high and dry. No moisture, no rot!!
The Dead Vlei

As you leave the dunes in the evening the low light makes for some incredible views.

I think this Oryx lives here just to pose for tourists!


Dune 45, named because it is 45k's from the park entrance.

Good stuff. Excellent photography as well.
Thanks for sharing.

This sight was bittersweet,it is our last night in Namibia. We do hope do return someday!!



We took about 4000 pictures during our time here these are just a few.
If you have any questions just ask..

Keith

Fantastic photos, Keith. Thanks for posting them. Your posts make for a great Namibian travelogue.

Yeah, i really enjoyed those. some very good shots.

Dulcinea,

Did you ever post a hunting report about your hunt with Vaughan? I'm interested in possibly hunting with Vaughan and in the process of making contacts with potential safari companies.

Excellent pictures. Some of the pictures reminded of scenes you would see on a postcard or tourist brochure. Excellent picture of the lone gemsbok and jackal, loved it!!!

Great photos!

Thank you for the phone call and time you spent telling me about your hunt last July. My family and I are departing for Namibia in 102 days.

When are you going back to Africa?

Greybird, here it is.

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6321043/m/690102696

Keith

quote:

Originally posted by Dulcinea:
Greybird, here it is.

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6321043/m/690102696

Keith

Thanks for the link!!

Awsome pics, I hope I will have as many in about 2 months.

Great pics! I am hunting w/ Vaughan in the Caprivi for buffalo late Sept. I hope to take alot fo photos, hopefully some will turn out as nice as yours.

Keith- loved your report! Trust me though, you did not miss anything by not going to the market at Okahandja. There are some really neat carvings but the begging for your business is horrendous.

We ate at the Lighthouse restaraunt in Swakopmund also- it was very good!!

Thanks and well done!

John

Great pictures and comments. Thanks for sharing.