Dan's Adventure

Rain is the last thing that you would expect in the desert, but waking up in Swakopmund, Namibia, that is exactly what we thought we had.The ground was wet, the sky cloudy and a feeling of drizzle. This was enough for the majority of our group to cancel a trip out to the dunes for a spot of sandboarding, but myself and 4 others remained optimistic and headed out there to make the most of it.
As we arrived at the dunes my last words to the others rang true, “I …

As the truck door opened the stench of the seals who inhabit Cape Cross Seal Colony filled the truck. Cape Cross is a breeding ground for several thousand seals, the rocks are literally covered by them, all making very loud sheep like noises. 15 minutes is as long as we could bear to spend at Cape Cross as the smell was just so overwhelming. For the rest of the day the smell managed to linger in the truck, a treat enjoyed by all.

Namibia is a fascinating country, every 100km the landscape changes entirely. From mountains, to desert to dunes, the scenery is spectacular. One of our first stops in Namibia was at Spitzkope, one of Namibia’s most recognisable landmarks. Spitzkope rises 1728m above the dusty plains of southern Damaraland and is surrounded by formations of huge granite domes. We arrived at lunch time so had plenty of time in the afternoon to explore. Taking the opportunity to get some exercise we went climbing up some of the domes. After getting stuck half …

The video originally had Prodigy – Breathe as a soundtrack but youtube decided to remove the soundtrack when I uploaded it. I’ll try and fix it when I get a chance.

Since Etosha Nature Reserve is in its dry season, the best place to spot animals is at watering holes as animals congregate to drink. The campsite we were staying at in Etosha provided access to a floodlit watering hole at the edge of its grounds, so after dinner on the two nights we spent there we all headed down to watch the animals. On the first night a whole herd of elephants appeared, walking into view from the far side and walking right around to the side of the watering …

Until Etosha Nature Reserve in Namibia, the nearest I had got to spotting a Rhino was a disputed grey dot in the distance, which the majority of our group, including myself believed to be a buffalo. After an evening game drive in Etosha we returned to the campsite and walked down to the flood lit watering hole before dinner. Cameras flashed as a black rhino appeared followed by another. Drinking from the water before entering it. Later that night, as we sat with beers watching the activity at the watering …

At Ghanzi in the Kalahari desert of Namibia, I went on a bushman walk to learn how the indigenous people of this area survive in such a harsh environment. We learnt how different plants and roots could cure various ailments including back pain, head ache and “gentle herps”. The bushmen would go ahead and find samples for us before explaining in their language, with an interpreter translating for us. They utilise whatever they can find to survive. To maintain a store of fresh water, they use ostrich eggs as containers …

This week’s photo of the week comes from the Okavango Delta, Botswana. The sun started to set while I was out on a game walk on the island we were camping on. The absence of any form of light polution due to the remoteness of my surroundings resulted in a beautiful red and purple sky.