A loop around Namibia

Status
Not open for further replies.
so I got my photos back, now to finish this TR off. The photos I am using are low res or I'd blow the upload limit. So we had three days in Swakopmund. Its a seaside town that is bit of a holiday hotspot. I'd seriously live here for a few months each year. It had changed so much.

DSC06896.jpg
This is the low cost housing, quite a good idea

DSC06914.jpg
The Strand Hotel is being ripped down and rebuilt, no OHS here.
DSC06919.jpg
Lighthouse, many a good time was had here previously.
DSC06933.jpg
Gembok steak, very nice and decent wine.
DSC06934.jpg
When they say its a big burger, it is!
 
Sponsored Post

Struggling to use your Frequent Flyer Points?

Frequent Flyer Concierge takes the hard work out of finding award availability and redeeming your frequent flyer or credit card points for flights.

Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, the Frequent Flyer Concierge team at Frequent Flyer Concierge will help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

We spent most of the three days chilling out and catching up. Most of the places we use to frequent were still there.


DSC06966.jpg

We ate lunch at The Stand Café each day as Mr Now9 decided he liked their chicken snitties. He decided he was going to find the best schnitzel in Africa.



DSC06984.jpg

This is the Swakopmund Lighthouse
DSC06997.jpg

One for you Mrs drron, yes considerable samples were taken.
DSC07010.jpg


DSC07020.jpg
 
Thanks for the updates and photos. Will be in Namibia (including Swakopmund) in June. Cannot wait!
 
So this was my home for a year and there were a few favourites...

DSC07021.jpg
There is a great coffee shop here and one of the shops that sell the amazing rugs and other hand crafts

Authentically Namibian - Travel News Namibia
DSC07026.jpg

This is the German supermarket and bottle shop, great nibbles....mmmm cheese.

DSC07033.jpg

On our way back, see the fog....it sits over the town most days. In the afternoons you can see it roll in from the Atlantic. The middle one is carrying his souvenir, a potjie pot, its an African cooking pot, like a camp oven.
DSC07034.jpg

Hotel Europahof...eat here and at The Tug

DSC07035.jpg

SO the place we stayed at wasn't the best, mouldy bathrooms and run by a grumpy German family who screeched like a banshee at the staff and her husband.... but the staff we great and had fun placing Brown Bear and our new Mr Fluffy the Wild Dog in positions each day.
 
Day 3 in Swakop

It was overcast and drizzling, which is a rarity. So we decided to head off to the local aquarium. Its bit of a surprise that there is one here but there is a pretty big fishing industry and significant support from the Scandinavian countries, including a research institute. It is small and off course outside it are the market sellers.

I think it cost us about $10 for the family. It is small and there isn't a great deal of displays but you do get a good overview of the Atlantic and the local fishing industry. Try not to drool over the tanks of the lobsters.

DSC07103.jpg


DSC07131.jpg

Yes, its the windscreen wiper, it was cold and windy but the kids wanted a run around and collected mussels from the beach.

So then we drove back down to Walvis Bay. Its the industrial sister of Swakopmund but starting to come into its own. The cruise ships dock here. We went for a drive along the beachfront to see the flamingos and the salt works.

P7100118.jpg

Along with pink flamingos....pink jellyfish.

P7100132.jpg

So time for something to eat.
 

Attachments

  • DSC07070.jpg
    DSC07070.jpg
    89 KB · Views: 73
One last flamingo pic....

P7100133.jpg

Then it was off to the lighthouse for oysters and a mussel pot. mmmmmmm

P7110142.jpg
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

From here we headed south to Sossusvlei via Sesriem and Solitaire. There is a cannon at Solitaire that's worth a look. Lunch was at Moose McGregors bakery at Sesrium. Unfortunately Moose passed away but his bakery is still a national legend. Best cheesecake in a desert that I've had!

The lodge was very disappointing and even had open sewer work going on. Its pretty obvious when there is a large green patch.

We went into the park the next day, best time is early morning or late afternoon, we were there mid morning so not the best lighting but still very impressive.

So here are the photos of the dunes

DSC07280.jpgDSC07304.jpg
DSC07309.jpgDSC07349.jpg

The last part of the track is 4 WD only but the park run access vehicles in. Very easy to get stuck if you don't know what you are doing.
 
Next stop Luderitz.

On the way, near AUS you can find the wild horses. First off it was a stop for fuel and a look at the war graves. There has been quite a bit of work preserving these in recent time.

DSC07403.jpgDSC07406.jpgDSC07404.jpg

Then it was off to Garub where the waterhole is. A man made water point was established to help with the survival of these horses, which are now a recognised breed. As you'd expect they are not in the best condition given there had been a drought and they live in the Namib Desert.

DSC07421.jpgDSC07430.jpg

Saw a couple of oryx making use of the waterhole. There is a view point that provides some nice shade and some of the horses were wandering around it.

Namibia Wild Horses Foundation
 
We spent two nights in Luderitz. Stayed at the Ludeitz Nest, LÜDERITZ NEST HOTEL Best oysters ever at the restaurant

It was established as a harbour town but due to the shallow bay, didn't have a great deal of success. It is mostly fishing (a couple of fish canning factories) and tourism now.

View attachment 50646View attachment 50647View attachment 50648View attachment 50649

The second day we organised our permit for Kolmanskop, an abandoned diamond mining town, just outside Luderitz. This was one of the bucket list places on this trip.

Early in the 1900's diamonds were found (there is still an active diamond area around Luderitz and you can drive off road etc). The population exploded and a town quickly sprung up. It had a bowling alley, hospital with the first x-ray machine in the southern hemisphere (used mostly to find out if workers were smuggling diamonds), school etc. There was even a little tram system that went around the houses delivering ice and also used by the ladies to get to each others houses. The boom was short lived and after WWI declined when bigger and more diamonds were found at the mouth of the Orange River, so people just walked out. Some families stayed until the 1950's. They run tours here which were really informative and then you can wander around.

Some of the better photos....




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolmanskop
 
DSC07529.jpg
see another bath tub!


DSC07563.jpg



I loved the frailness of the buildings

DSC07589.jpg

Back to town for a late lunch and a few cold ales down at the waterfront. Shame you could smell the fish canning factories. Blugh!


DSC07592.jpg

Good advice not to drive your car into the bay.


P7150155.jpg

mmm fresh fish
 
Okay now its off to the Fish River Canyon. But first lunch at Canon Roadhouse. This place is awesome. Its full of old car wrecks, history really good food, cold beer and friendly staff who sat and had a chat with us after the lunch rush.

P7160176.jpg

Kids loved this sign and had to Skype their Auntie to tell her. I thought it was good to.

P7160194.jpg

Quiver trees

P7160195.jpg

P7160201.jpg

P7160190.jpg

It would have been better to take a flight over this and get a better view.
 
P7160179.jpg

Game schnitzel Mr 9 ate it all, except the salad.

P7160186.jpg

African wild cat that adopted the place, looks pretty much like a moggie to me.

P7160188.jpg

Amarula cheesecake - even the guide books mention this. it was good.

P7170202.jpg

P7170204.jpg

Stayed at Canon Village. Very nice, the chef was a gem. She came out and spoke to everyone and even went and rustled up some extras for the kiddos.
 
Some more of the Fish River area

DSC07601.jpg

DSC07608.jpg

DSC07621.jpg

Next place was on the banks of the Orange River in South Africa

DSC07626.jpg
 
DSC07634.jpg

Boarder crossing photo. We had to park the car and go first to the Namibian office then to the building across the road to the South African one. All pretty easy, the Namibian guys were more interested in talking rugby.

DSC07637.jpg

Must have really fast sheep here! Then it was on to Springbok or a farm about 20 min outside it. We had two nights here and it was just a chill out couple of days.

DSC07639.jpg


DSC07642.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Enhance your AFF viewing experience!!

From just $6 we'll remove all advertisements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and uninterupted viewing experience.

And you'll be supporting us so that we can continue to provide this valuable resource :)


Sample AFF with no advertisements? More..
Back
Top