Ostriches in the desert...In A Black and White kind of mood today
Desert road. On the D707. According to the paperwork I received, it is considered some of the most beautiful scenery in Namibia. Although the road is pretty rough. This was the best part of the road.
Red sand dunes in the distance. The desert road D707. So isolated.
Driving through the mountains. Desert road. This is a car approaching. It was one of 3 vehicles I saw while on this road. I drove on it for probably 100km, took about 2 hours.
Lonely tree in the desert.
My home for the next 2 nights. Desert camp.
The view from my room.
Today I hit the road sort of early. About 9:30a.m. After a quick stop in the town of Aus for some gas, I started my journey to Sesriem near the Sossusvlei park and sand dunes. I'm super glad I stopped for gas this time as I was going to be out in the middle of the desert all day and only had 2 opportunities for fuel. So, a full tank, some water, and I was ready to go.
Today was a day of all gravel and sand roads. I took a main gravel road for about 20km and came to a secondary road called the D707. In the information I got from the tour company, when they dropped off my map and stuff, it said that this is one of the most beautiful drives in all of Namibia and I should consider taking it if I have the time. If I took this road it would be the same distance as staying on the main gravel road, but take an extra hour because it was a secondary road and not well maintained. Which means slower speeds. I was a bit nervous, but decided to take a chance and do it. I'm super glad that I did. I only saw 3 other vehicles while on this road. It made it's way through some dunes, into the mountains, and back down. There was one point where the sand had taken over the road and I thought for sure I was going to get stuck. But I just put old Doris (that's what I'm calling my car) into 1st gear, the 4 wheel drive started up and I powered through. It did make me a bit nervous though. After that, it was a super bumpy, but amazing drive.
I arrived in the town of Sesriem at about 3:00 and checked into my room for the night. It is a place called Desert Camp. They are concrete on the bottom and a canvas tent on the top. They have electricity and a bathroom, but otherwise very basic. It's actually pretty cool. It is a sister property to the Sossusvlei Lodge (where I am right now). The Soussusvlei Lodge is a really luxury place. I bet they have air conditioning in the rooms. I do not. I'll be eating my meals here, breakfast and dinner. I just had dinner and had Ostrich and Impala. Both tasted a bit like beef, but leaner. Really good.
I'm kind of tired tonight. It's only about 8:00, but I may just go back to my room and read for a while. I have to get up early. I want to be back at the lodge at 5:30 for a super quick breakfast, then into the Sossusvlei Park by 6:30ish. It gets dangerously hot here, so the earlier the better and the park opens at 6:00 for sunrise. An early morning. The plan is to hang out at the park tomorrow for most of the day. Then head back to the Desert Camp and chill out by the pool in the afternoon maybe. Tomorrow is my last real day in Namibia. On Monday I drive back to Windohek and turn in my car. I have an overnight on Monday night and catch a 6:35 flight to Botswana on Tuesday. So, tomorrow may be the last blog post from Namibia. Maybe I will blog on Monday. I'm not sure. If anything good happens I will....
Later...