NAMIBIA, Orange River

Orange River

January 20, 2013

After Fish River we drove to a beautiful campsite on the Orange River at the border of Namibia and South Africa. We did a 2.5 hr canoe trip down the river. It was very beautiful and we saw several fish eagles. About half way down the river we stopped on a sandbar for a swim.

NAMIBIA, Fish River Canyon

Fish River Canyon

January 19, 2013

The Fish River Canyon is supposedly the 2nd largest canyon in the world at 160 km (100 miles) long and a depth up to 550 meters (1700 feet) deep. Nice but not the Grand Canyon. We watched until sunset. 

NAMIBIA, Sossusvlei Sand Dunes

Sossusvlei Sand Dunes

January 18, 2013

Camped at Sesriem, gateway to the sand dunes. After putting up the tents we went the 6 miles to the sand pan that is located between several large sand dunes up to 960 feet tall (96 stories). About once every 3 years the sand pan is flooded and creates a beautiful lake in the midst of the sand dunes. The sand dunes are Namibia's #1 tourist attraction and cover 32,000 square kilometers (20,000 square miles). The dunes reach as high as 325 meters (1000 feet). It was amazing to stand in the middle of the salt pan while surrounded by the sand dunes.

Afterwards we went to Dune 45 (called that because it is 45 kilometers from campsite) and climbed to the top of it and watched the sunset.   

 

 

 

 

 

NAMIBIA, Himba Tribe and Village

Himba Tribe and Village

January 2013

Tour to visit the Himba Tribe in Namibia. The women only bathe once in their life, at birth. The rest of the time they use a small tepee fire to cause them to sweat which is their bathing. This is due to scarcity of water. The women also cover their bodies and hair in a red clay.

 

NAMIBIA, Swakopmund

Swakopmund, Namibia

January 15-18th

A welcome break on our safari (journey) in the German town of Swakopmund. Namibia was first claimed by Bismarck and the Germans in the 1890's. There are still many Germans living in Namibia and Swakopmund has been called more German than Germany. The town has between 25,000 and 30,000 residents with a large contingency of Germans visiting during the German winter to take advantage of the more favorable weather in Namibia's summer.There is a really nice beach, though the water is cold, and Swakopmund has been promoted to one of the adventure and adrenalin capitals of Africa along with Cape Town. Lots of sky diving, sand boarding on the sand dunes, quad biking (4-wheelers) and go karting on fast track. 4 of the girls went sky diving the 1st day and had quite a time. Sand boarding was the choice of the day on the 2nd day. I am enjoying my "down time" and ability to use free internet to catch up with uploading of pictures and blogging.