Leaving Swakopmund in our tracks, we made the journey to Etosha National Park in north-western Namibia. Up to this point we had only seen one of the Big 5 animals, so the group of us were very keen to see if we could find the other four while driving around and camping in the reserve.
With the undeniable beauty of Sossusvlei behind us, we were now driving towards Swakopmund and its neighboring sites. A heavily German influenced area and Namibia’s largest coastal town, Swakopmund was like nothing I had ever anticipated finding in Africa. Our time here and throughout the surrounding region, was at times exciting, full of some very high highs and some awful lows.
Leaving behind what turned out be a surprisingly great trip through the Desert Camp, we were headed north. We weren’t sure what to expect for the next day’s journey, whether it’d be wonderful or awfully boring. However, headed deeper into the desert, what we found waiting for us was simply spectacular.
After a rather uneventful trip down the Orange River, Rich and I were happy to be on the road once more. What lay ahead of us over the next two days included an experience that I doubt either of us will ever forget. We were off and headed into the desert.
After a night of fearing the doll’s dress above our bed and the haunted town outside, I was ready to get to a happy place. As Rich knows all too well, when you have a sad, scared or depressed Lis there is one surefire way to bring a smile to my face and a lasting happy demeanor: add water, big great expanses of water. Thankfully the next day would have us crossing into Namibia, and spending two days paddling our way along the calm waters of the Orange River.