Namibia 2022
27th December 2022 - 10th January 2023
The trip begins at Frankfurt airport.
On arrival in Windhoek we collected the Land Cruiser and then spent the day getting supplies and lapping up the Southern African cuisine (the Spur!).
The following day we set off from Windhoek and drove to Sesriem via the Spreetshoogte Pass and the remote settlement of Soltaire. This was a spectacular 300km drive on (very corrugated!) gravel roads. We arrived at Soussus Dune Lodge in time for a quick dip, a cold Savanna and a short drive to Elim Dune.
After a night of limited sleep (no AC), we had a 4am start. We drove deeper into the dunes (including some 4x4 off roading in the sand) and then had a short walk to catch the sunrise at Deadvlei. After a few hours of watching the shadows change over the dunes, we moved on to explore Soussesvlei and then took a leisurely drive back to our lodge.
New Years Eve begins with another 4am start, but this time for a hot air balloon ride over the Namib Desert, followed by breakfast in the dunes. We flew with Namib Sky who organised everything with military precision. John helped the ground team bring the balloon back to the road (whilst it was still slightly floating with Emily and many others in it cheering him on!). The flight was an incredible experience.
We then took a stunning drive to Swakopmund through the Namib-Naukluft National Park (another 300km on gravel roads), arriving in time for a wonderful NYE dinner of tiger prawns and springbok steak at the Hansa Hotel where we spent the night.
Happy New Year! We had a wonderful breakfast in the Hansa Hotel garden and then we headed North to Etosha. After many days of gravel roads, we decided we were due a break and took the tarmac road option, arriving in Etosha village in time for a sundowner.
We had five days to explore Etosha National Park. We spent the first two nights at Etosha Village, which is next to Anderson’s Gate on on the central southern end of the park. We then travelled across to the eastern side of the park and spent three glorious nights at Mushara Lodge, which is next to Von Lindequist Gate.
Mushara Lodge was perfection. It was such a wonderful place that we swapped out game viewing for relaxing by the pool on a couple of afternoons.
Our final weekend was spent at Ongava Lodge. Ongava is a private reserve specialising in rhino conservation and borders Etosha. We had three game drives and a trip to the Research Centre with our guide Anton and two other visiting couples. After dinner each night we had an armed escort to our room (protection from leopards!).
Here is a selection of John’s game photos from our sightings in Etosha and Ongava. (The massive lens was worth it!)
On Sunday it was time for our drive back to Windhoek, (with the compulsory stop off at Wimpy!) before an overnight stay at de Weinburg and flight home.
Two wonderful weeks. We’ll be back again!
