Happy Birthday Kirst 🎈🎁🎉. OMG we have been made to feel so guilty for not being at home for the Big 23. We will have lots of 🍷🍷🍷later to celebrate.
After a big breakfast, we packed up and hit the road at 9 for a 340km, dirt road, drive to Sossusvlei.
As I have mentioned the roads are in a great condition. There is constant maintenance on all roads. You regularly see graders smoothing the dirt roads. The drivers live in mobile homes that they move along the vast distances with them.
After about 60 km, we headed into the Namib Biosphere Reserve, a mountainous area that has more vegetation than we have seen in days; tufts of grass, thorn trees and succulent shrubs.
After some way we were treated to the beginnings of the tall red dunes of Sossusvlei. The scenery in the park is truly spectacular and varies from yellow sandy dunes to grey jagged mountains.
On entering the Hardap region, we saw more mountains and dunes. I am awed by the vastness and remoteness of the area.
We have slowly been adding to our bird list, looking forward to having George and Sue join us on Saturday, then I know our list will increase dramatically. Today we have seen a pale chanting goshawk, we have seen many of them along the way and a new one to add to this holidays list, a Ruppell’s Korhaan. Most impressive however, were the large sociable weaver nests in the trees.
We entered a cattle farming area and passed through the intersection at Spes Bona, a farm with an impressive cactus garden. Last time big white cows littered the road, stalling our way through. This time a herd of brown cows were corralled in an enclosure. Missed the white cows. We stopped at the next farm, Betta, for chocolate milkshakes – I haven't had one in years, it was so nice.
On our previous visit to Sossies, there was a parks board- pack packer type camp site, a nice site with a pool and expensive lodges. We enjoyed our stay at the nice camp site. I can't believe how many accomodation options have since opened up and how difficult it is to get bookings. Gray managed to eventually get a booking at Quiver Tree Camp. What a find – these self catering units have only been open for 2 weeks and are modern, well designed and very comfortable. They have a pool and bar area and will supply food to your chalet.
The 340km took us about 6 hours and we arrived in temperatures of 30 degrees. It is always nice to have a decent place to stay when you are hot and tired.
Sitting on our patio, sipping G & T, watching the sun set over the desert with with the mountains of the Naukliftberge in the distance – there is a lot right in my world. Happy Birthday Kirst, thinking of you, wish all you kids were with us. Thanks Juls and Adie for playing mommy and daddy while we are away and especially tonight.
We started the braai as the final bright red ball of sun slunk behind the mountains, no camera can capture the spectacular colours of an African sunset. Much as I have enjoyed eating in restaurants, nothing beats sitting around a fire with good friends.
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