Going West: Sossusvlei to Swakopmund

Going West: Sossusvlei to Swakopmund

Day 2: 18 December

At 'A little Sossus lodge' we had a strengthening breakfast. From our bungalows towards the dining room of the lodge we saw tracks of Springbok and Kudu. Some guests reported seeing a Kudu in the night, feeding on the bushes next to the bungalows. As the tracks were next to the lodges pool as well, I suspect, that the animals came to drink there too.
Fresh fruit salad and little crumpets were the highlights of this well rounded breakfast buffet.

We left at 7:00 on the dusty and very corrugated road, passing through the Namib Naukluft Park. There were plenty of oryx, springbok, ostriches as well as a small jackal and pale chanting goshawk.
The landscape is savannah with soft yellows changing into light greens and the soft grey mountain ridges at the back. Then it changes to interesting rock formations. Some Mountain Zebra posed calmly for all the tourists to have enough time for pictures. 
We had a quick tanking stop in Solitaire and bought some of the world renowned apple pie.
Further on we passed the Kuiseb Canyon. 

Dry riverbed: Kuiseb canyon

And admired the landscape of the Dorob National Park, with its winding rock formations and arid soil. A highlight was the Martial eagle perched on a dry tree.

Shortly thereafter we entered Walvisbay and drove to admire the pelican at the lagoon. There we also saw the endangered rock swift, gulls, and seals.

From Walvisbay to Swakopmund we saw plenty of anglers and holiday makers. 

Swakopmund lighthouse

Grey-headed gull @ Swakopmund

After a short round in this picturesque town we came to our lovely guest house accommodation. We settled in and then went to town to have some lunch, a stroll, a shopping spree, take pictures and enjoy the ocean breeze. Others took a short nap. In the evening we met at the seafront restaurant 'The Tug', which offers a wide variety of delicious seafood, but also other dishes. Driving back to the accommodation we admired the Christmas lights lining the streets.

Inquisitive giraffe in the bushes

On 19. December we left Sea-breeze guest house after a hearty breakfast, at 7:30. Travelled through the little towns of Usakos, Karibib, Omaruru, visited an orphanage at Kalkveld, passed Otjiwarongo and stopped for lunch in Outjo, at a little bakery.
At 35º outside temperature, it was wonderful to see big white fluffy clouds gather together....

Our accommodation for the night was the Etosha Safari lodge. 
Shortly after arrival we took a guided walk through the lodge park, seeing several giraffe, a bush baby and leopard tortoise.
Dinner was at 19:00 in the restaurant which is styled as local shebeen. 

Background music @ the shebeen

Dinner started with a tuna cocktail, the main course consisted of a buffet of kudu roulade, eland medallions, beetroot & green salads, baked garlic potatoes and basmati rice. With live african guitar music and singing in the background we thoroughly enjoyed the good food and warm summer evening.

A heavy storm brewed close to us and we heard thunder and saw the lightning in the distance, and I even heard some rain in the night.