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Namibia - October 2009
We set off for a dunes trip which was unfortunately cancelled on the last minute.
The trip started at Red Sands on 11 October 2009 where we always enjoy the first night of our trip when we go to Namibia or the Kalagadi Transfrontier Park. The distance from home is just right for a relaxing day's drive.
We got permission from Jakob Kaufmann at Red Sands to drive around the game farm and the dark clouds were forming as I took this snap of one of the lovely trees in the area. We did see game but the light was poor and therefore I did not take any pictures of the animals.
The next day we headed north for Askham and saw some camels in the bush.
We also saw a lovely old farm house which could be restored and made really beautiful. It was attractive even in its derelict state.
Then we came across trucks, lots and lots of them, waiting on the road to pick up loads from United Manganese of Kalahari.
Also we saw leguaans twice crossing the road and I managed to get a picture of this one.
The next night we spent at the guest house at Askham with Hannetjie and Pietie van der Westhuizen - this is also a lovely stopover point.
Then on we headed through the border at Rietfontein. The Garmin GPS map of South Africa in this area shows the roads incorrectly but when I tried to give Garmin the details I noticed that the procedures were far too cumbersome - but no fear - Tracks4Africa shows the route correctly.
At Aroab we bought our Road Tax Certificate.
We then headed up north via the C11. At S26.19505 E19.58440 there is a turnoff east onto the D502 if you believe Tracks4Africa or the D503 according to Gamin Streeetmaps. But no matter this is a lovely route that runs north parallel to the Kalagadi Transfrontier Park.
In some parts there are two separate roads - one track for north bound traffic and the other for the south bound.
This lovely sand track comes out onto the C15 at S25.51184 E19.60266. We then turned west towards Mariental. There we stayed at the Koha Guest House where we enjoyed a lovely braai (barbecue). Here Sylvia is with Jaco and Johanna Meyer.
On the way back the light was not wonderful for pictures although the scenery was beautiful as always.
On arrival at Ais Ais we noticed that we were almost completely alone. Here Sylvia is beside the Fish River.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Malpitte
Datura stramonium, also called Jimson Weed, Gypsum Weed, Stink Weed, Loco Weed, Jamestown Weed, Thorn Apple, Angel's Trumpet, Devil's Trumpet, Devil's Snare, Mad Hatter, Crazy Tea, Malpitte, Beelzebub's Twinkie and Zombie's Cucumber is a common weed in the Nightshade Family. It contains tropane alkaloids that are sometimes used as a hallucinogen. The active ingredients are atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine which are classified as deliriants, or anticholinergics. Due to extremely high risk of overdose, many deaths and hospitalizations are reported from recreational use.
A Dassie Rat - they were lovely and have made their homes in the rocks placed there as barrriers against the next floods.
Ais Ais showing a visitor.
Pretty little lamps.
The new indoor pools.
The outside pool.
Sylvia climbed the mountain while I partook of the waters below. Sylvia's pictures show the resort from on high and some views of the Fish River in the Canyon.
The spot in the pool below is me.
Ais Ais had the ambiance of a good morgue. Camping cost R100 per site and R100 per person per night. The cheapest chalets were R500 per person per night. We camped in our pop-up tent and used our bedrolls.