Month: May 2019

On Shark Island in Lüderitz we woke up today with a sunrise from the window of our roof tent. After breakfast we drove to the ghost town of Kolmanskop, a former German diamond mining town. In places the sand is knee-deep in the houses, which have been abandoned since 1956, but are otherwise still in surprisingly good “shape”. A museum has been set up in the main building, an inn with a bowling alley. There is a former hospital, a bakery, an ice factory ( Linde ‘s ice machines), and the railroad ran as far as Lüderitz.

After that, we spent some time looking at the inhabited and very pretty port town of Lüderitz. If it weren’t for the sand and palm trees, it could be a place in Germany. There is a Vogelsangstrasse, a Bergstrasse, a Kirchweg, … . The houses are called Haus Grünewald, Haus Eberlanz, zur Waterkant, … . From the rock church we have seen dolphins in the sea. Without further ado we jumped into the car and drove there. They were cavorting just off the coast. Reiner took the opportunity and went swimming to them. Several times a dolphin passed him by and when Reiner “clapped” in the water, the dolphins responded with a clap.

Then we drove to Diaz Point, a headland with a lighthouse about 20 km from Lüderitz. There was also an abandoned camping site there. On the way we passed a shipwreck and many flamingos. Finally we drove about 2 h inland to “Aus”, where we camped today on a very comfortable campsite. Every place has its own bathroom! We cooked a vegetable stew and had a nice evening.

Silke

At 6:30 am we spontaneously decided to drive to the Fish River Canyon for sunrise. Some neighbor campers had already left and so we quickly rolled up everything, did a “cat wash” and drove off. It was definitely worth it.

A short walk led from the main overlook to the entry point for the multi-day hiking trail. A few groups set out on the trail. We drove our Toyota to the cliff edge and had a great breakfast with beautiful scenery. A bee came out of nowhere. She liked our jam. We talked to some tourists, about 80 percent of whom were German. At the Roadhouse, a nice rest stop with gas station, very imaginative interior (vintage cars, license plates, …) we stopped briefly and sent a WhatsApp home. Our way led us further towards the coast. Past different desert landscapes. We saw giraffes and antelopes. But also wild horses grazed at the roadside. Whereby one came curiously to us and was probably not so “wild”.

Unfortunately, there is not much fresh grass growing there. The landscape always looks fascinating. Sand dunes, termite piles, rocks, isolated trees ( including quiver trees) and dry shrubs. Partly the horizon “flickers” from the dust and the sun. Shortly after six we reached our today’s destination Lüderitz – Camp Shark Island. We sat down to eat (noodle soup with schakalaka) in the car, because the wind is quite fresh. Day 25 degrees, night 13 degrees, sunrise 7:37, sunset 18:13.

( Achim day 19 degrees, night 13 degrees, sunrise 5:05, sunset 21:34)

Silke

In bright sunshine with fleecy clouds we are “on the road” again. An ostrich said goodbye to us.

The roads go dead straight through sand and dust and far and wide not a house in sight. Fascinating how many different colors sand can have. At a dam we had to drive briefly through water. About 30 percent of our today’s 430 km long route led over unpaved roads. Our Toyota Hilux 4×4 drives but very quiet and safe.

At our destination, a camp near Keetmanshoop, in the Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park, we then unfolded our roof tent for the first time. Very comfortable! The second roof tent will stay packed soon. The car is actually designed for 4 people. Finally we had a nice barbecue.

Silke

We bought two shopping carts of food for our camper and then headed south to the Kalahari – Desert.

Great red dunes and a small waterhole awaited us at Bagatelle Game Ranch. Unfortunately, the campsites were all occupied, so we ended up in a room with half board. Unfortunately, because we wanted to test our roof tent of course. But the room is very nice, with a four-poster bed. We still went through the red sand to the viewpoint. The sunset there was worth seeing. Antelopes and a donkey family quenched their thirst at the waterhole.

The food in the open air restaurant was very tasty, buffet with appetizer, various grilled meats, cauliflower, rice, zucchini and salad. There was a choice of two desserts. A fire bowl provided “Africa Feeling”.

Silke