Scrambled Eggs in Swakopmund

Are here we are, one week into the safari and all is going well. We have done a ton of driving over the last 6 days, with people rotating around the truck to have their turn on the bumpy back seat. We are travelling around in a huge green beast, laden with windows throughout the top, and camping equipment and everyones bags underneath. One of my duties each night and morning is to unload/reload the bags so i’m well aware of how much this thing is carrying.

The first week was pretty cruisy, basically being on the move each day seeing the ever changing and sci-fi like terrain of Namibia. Massive plains surrounded by deserts and mountains of rocks which look like they have been piled up by another force. Along the way we have spotted a few herds of animals, and each night having a few drinks we everyone else on the trip and getting to know them all. We have ended up with a cool group of people, who only go through to Victoria Falls then 5 of us continue with a new group.

The real trip will begin this week as we visit Cheetah parks, Estona National Park, and end up in Muan, Botswana visiting Crocodile parks while some of the others do an excursion out into the Delta. Even though each day isn’t yet filled with massive amounts of highlights and endless adventure, i’m really enjoying it. This will be a pleasently long 6 weeks of camping, bus rides and getting to know a few more people around the world. The nothingness of Namibia is really cool to see. Endless hours of strange landscapes and minimal signs of life. It’s like nothing i’ve seen before. Away from all civilisation.

Yesterday was filled with a trip out to the dunes for some sandboarding. It was great fun being in the middle of the desert, strapping a snowboard to my feet and plumeting down the dunes. It’s a lot like snowboarding but you have to go fast to have control. At the bottom though, there is no lift – just a big hike up the dunes back to the top. Very eco-friendly.

Swakopmund is a nice little town, colonised by germans and still has a strange mix of African climite and appearance with lots of german culture. The highlight is getting a room for a few days to sleep in after many early starts and prepare for the busy week ahead.

Amber has survived her first 6 nights camping, ever. We have a routine down and can be packed up in a good 20 minutes. All the food is cooked by one of the crew and is truely amazing what he makes. Different things each night ranging from game steaks with chips to roast pork & potatoes with gravy, to chicken curry. Being in the middle of Africa with limited options it would be difficult to be vegetarian on this trip.

Tommorrow we are bush camping, should be fun.