Today we enjoyed a great adventure in the dunes.
Ulf, an experienced dune driver from Walvis Bay gave us a course on how to drive in the dunes. Something we definitely can’t practise at home.
We drove up and down on all kinds of different dunes, small ones, big ones, steep ones, long ones and managed to get stuck only once! Yihaaa! Sandra sure had the time of her life =)
While travelling on the Rock Arch 4×4 route we suddenly heard a loud metally “CLUNK”!! So we stopped and looked underneath the car to investigate. Apparently those few off-road kilometers were too much for one of our front stabilizers. Lucky for us: We have a spare! Finally something breaks that we are prepared for.
But…of course… it wasn’t as easy as we thought. =) We tried and tried but we just couldn’t manage to get the screws off. DAMN!
So we went to the closest garage on our route, the Toyota in Okahandja. Where we met the most unfriendly reception ever. The whole place looked like a building site and was almost deserted. When turning around in the courtyard we saw some movement at the Parts and Services counter and went in. After waiting several minutes for the reception lady to finish her private call she immediately informed us that they are all extremely busy and wont be able to help us. Oookay…
So we took our business next door to a small tyre and fitment centre.
The guys here really made an effort but the old stabilizer was completely stuck. In the end we even had to follow one of the mechanics home to get the grinder. After a few kilometers we stopped at a small workshop in the middle of one of the informal settlements. People here were definitely not used to tourist visits and we kind of stuck out.
The workshop had several old cars in the yard and an amazing collection of spares in a shack. The stabilizer was no match for an original Bosch grinder finally came off in a cloud of sparks. The new part was fixed within 5 minutes and now we are good as new again. Right on time for some dune bashing on the weekend!
Before we spoil our Patsy with some much needed repairs and maintenance in Swakopmund we went off into the bush for a last, last time.
We went to the Namib Naukluft to take a closer look at the Blutkoppie and the Rock Arch and we really liked it a lot. We enjoyed the silence and solitude of being out in another almost empty National Park. We were the only people camping at Rock Arch and enjoyed the amazing views climbing around on the various boulders. We saw some Oryx, Zebras, Springboks, Giraffes, Suricates, some cute unidentified rats and even two more snakes.
The only girl who ever managed to talk her way into our luxury rooftop suite.
Jo-Ann is a lovely little dachshund, also called sausage dog, that lives at Harmonie farm near Windhoek. She joined us immediately after our arrival at the tiny campsite and stayed at our side all evening. When the time came for us to climb up our bedroom ladder Jo-Ann swiftly disappeared in the dark and, we assumed, went home to bed.
But at 2 am we were woken by soft crying. And after investigation found little Jo-Ann shivering at the foot of our ladder. We tried ignoring her at first but as she persistently kept up the noise we realized this could be a long night and made alternative plans…
Sandra climbed down the ladder, found our fleece blanket and made a little doggy corner right up in the rooftop tent for our surprise visitor. Jo-Ann immediately snuggled down at this luxury spot. She rolled up tight and was already asleep before we could get back in our sleeping bags.
Somehow we think she might have done this before! =)
We are currently camping/parking in the courtyard of Backpakcers Unite in Windhoek and are really enjoying the basic luxuries (comfy living room sofa’s, a real kitchen and a slow but free wi-fi) on offer.
Up until this trip we both only ever stayed at backpackers during our student years and weren’t very impressed with the facilities then. But coming back with our own bedroom strapped to the car (our rooftop tent) gave us a different, more favourable impression. Especially when it rains the kitchen and living room commonly available at any backpackers add a nice comfortable living space.
Saturday nights are braai nights here at Backpackers Unite and at 7 pm a nice selection of guests gathered outside at the poolside terrace for a cosy evening. Dean, the current Backpackers Unite guy for everything (manager, receptionist, repairman and agony aunt) set up a nice big fire and before we knew it the buffet was set up with delicious chili steak ala Freddie and Angolan prawns.
A night to remember!
At lake Oanob Resort you can book campsites that set a new standard to luxury camping.
For 150N$ (~15€) pp you get a little house with a complete kitchen, an extra floor and fold down walls right at the side of the Oanob Dam. There is even a small lawn and private stairs leading down to the water. WOW!
Travelling Patsy 