Overland Tour Update - Namibia

Okay, I realize that I have not updated this blog in about a week. I haven't had internet until now! This is what happens when you're on a "roughing" it trip. I'm in Swakopmund, Namibia now - it's the 2nd biggest city in the country behind Windhoek - I will be there in about 5 days, so expect another update then. Anyways, let's do a quick recap, shall we:

Day 1: There are 23 of us on the tour, with 2 guides, originally from Kenya - Sam and Letaloy (sp?). The first day, we went did a township tour in Capetown - essentially townships are where blacks and coloreds were "exiled" during the apartheid era in South Africa. There are different "neighborhoods" in these townships - some for the middle class (who are doctors, etc), there are hostel type areas for migrant workers, and then there are the shanties - which are essentially tin shacks for the poor - it was actually quite somber and you see that those who live in the shanties just grin and bear it. I have pictures, but the connection in Namibia isn't great, so those will be uploaded at a separate time. It also rained all day and made the bus ride/tour/overnight camping not as exciting.

Day 2: We drove to the border of Southy Africa and Namibia - at the Orange River and camped out there. Camping isn't that bad - I must say I did buy a really warm sleeping bag which was potentially the best thing I did. That and my headlight - two best purchases I made for this trip so far. We just putzed around there, it was nice and relaxing. We ate steaks and potatoes for dinner.

Day 3: We went to Fish River Canyon - the 2nd biggest canyon after the Grand Canyon. Honestly, it was pretty and all, but the Grand Canyon is so much better with the different colors and scenery. We camped in Namibia and it was super freezing out. It actually reached freezing temperatures at night and I woke up to some frost in my tent. Seriously! But my sleeping bag rocks!

Day 4: We are in the deserts of Namibia now! We took a desert walk through some sand dunes and the dunes in Namibia are amazing, especially when they change color in the sun. Apparently, the wind only blows East/West so the dunes are always shaped the same way. But the heights of the dunes vary, some up to 100 meters tall - I think, I could be making that up. We camped out in the desert and it was super windy, so there was sand blowing everywhere and our tents were threatening to blow away. Not a good sleep night.

Day 5: We got up at 4:40AM to see the sunrise over Dune 45 - which is apparently the most famous dune in Namibia. I don't know. It was pretty awesome, I was tuckered out, so I didn't climb to the top, I made it about 2/3 to the top - it was super windy and a little narrow, so I got nervous and ran back down. Then we drove to Swakopmund - which is a German influenced town and we're staying here for 3 nights in dormitory type hostels - yay! real beds!

Day 6: Today I am here, updating my blog, and I think I am going quad biking through the dunes later this afternoon. It's nice to be in some place for more than one night, and the weather is great! I'm in shorts, it's not super hot, but a good day. We're on the coast so there's a beach too. Oh, we drove by where Brad and Angelina stayed when they came here to have baby Shiloh. Sweet.

After we leave Swakopmund in a few days, we're going to Etosha National Park - and I think we're going to see some big animals! I'm excited to do some game drives. Honestly, I might be a little scenery'd out and need some animals - lions, rhinos, hippos, anything really bigger than a penguin or ostrich really.

As for the other people on the tour - it's mostly Aussies and Brits - as usual. Besides the three of us, there are 2 other Americans. About 4 or 5 couples on the trip, two sisters, and the rest are solo travellers and then me, Mina and Ann. It's a good group of travelers - a lot of different accents. We drive around in this huge bus/truck that we essentially live in, I'm a little sick of it, it needs a little sprucing up, so hopefully the 3 days we're here in Swakopmund will do us all some good!

Until next time!