Return to Namibia

7.10.18 Sunday: Windhoek – Sesriem Km

Car pick-up at Savanna, Toyota Land Cruiser equipped with 2 rooftop tents, fridge, camping equipment. Shopping at Shoprite and off we go towards Sesriem. We take the C26 dirt road through the Gamsberg pass, reach Solitaire and then Sesriem, where we camp at the Main Gate campsite. Dinner at the Main Gate restaurant, during the night very strong gusts of wind.

8.10.18 Monday: Sesriem - Sesriem

The weather conditions with strong wind do not allow the balloon flight, so we set off for Sossusvlei. First stop at dune 45. We climb up the ridge before breakfast. We continue to Sossusvlei; from the car park it takes about 10 minutes to reach the Dead Valley. Magnificent spectacle with the series of dead trees in the pan surrounded by very tall dunes. We return to the campsite for lunch and to reconfirm the flight for the following day. We set off again for a second visit to the Sossusvlei area, which appears with different shapes and colours in the late afternoon light. Dinner at the Main Gate restaurant, night at the campsite.

9.10.18 Tuesday: Sesriem – Swakopmund

Wake-up before dawn for the balloon flight (Namib Sky). From the Main Gate a 20-minute minibus transfer to reach the take-off point. In the balloon we are 16 + 2 crew. With the 45 minutes of flight we fly over an area of desert with a view of the red dunes. Breakfast in the desert and off we go towards Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, crossing the Namib desert. Dinner at The Tug and night at SeaWind (Vineta).

10.10.18 Wednesday: Swakopmund – Outjo km

Departure at 07.00 under a light drizzle that turns the coastal road into mud. We reach Cape Cross at 08.00, but the reserve only opens at 10h00. We head to a nearby beach for breakfast surrounded by the first black-backed jackals. Huge flocks of cormorants pass skimming the water. Visit to the Cape Cross Cape Fur Seal colony, then we set off for the Skeleton Coast, which we follow as far as Torra Bay, magnificent landscapes with salt flats and sand dunes. From Torra Bay we head inland towards Khorixas and then Outjo. Dinner and overnight stay at Ijlaba Lodge, in the garden dik-dik (real) and iron pangolins.

11.10.18 Thursday Outjo – Okaukuejo (Etosha NP)

Outjo is located about 100 km from the southern entrance of Etosha. We travel the whole area between Okaukuejo and Halali Camp: lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes and thousands of antelopes and gazelles. In the evening at the Okaukuejo waterhole rhinos and a hyena. Returning to Okaukuejo we manage to find a spot in the campsite where we cook our first carbonara. Well-equipped pitch with electricity and water. 12.10.18 Friday Okaukuejo – Namutoni (Etosha NP) Day dedicated to visiting Etosha Park. Lunch at the Halali Camp restaurant. Dinner at the Namutoni Camp restaurant (spectacular fall by the waitress). No animals at the waterhole. Overnight in a tent at the campsite (no pitch because it was full).

13.10.18 Saturday: Namutoni to Mukolo Camp (Kongola)

Transfer stage in the Caprivi Strip in the direction of Botswana. We have lunch on the banks of the Kavango at the Portuguese restaurant in Rundu, refreshed by the water vapour, and for the first time we taste the don pedro (ice cream with Amarula). Overnight at Mukolo Camp on the Cuando river, really well organised and with a very pleasant atmosphere immersed in nature; you can hear the hippos in the distance. Dinner with tomato pasta.

14.10.18 Sunday: Mukolo Camp to Kasane (Chobe Safari Lodge Camp) We resume the route towards Botswana and reach the border at Ngoma Bridge; just after the border we enter the Chobe NP (River Front). Along the road we meet many elephants, we reach Kasane and have lunch at the Chobe Safari Lodge, the same one where we had camped 20 years earlier, but at the time it was only a small campsite. Boat trip on the Chobe river (3 hours), we camp at the Chobe Safari Lodge.