Swakopmund, the German Beach that appears Out of Nowhere

From Sossusvlei to Swakopmund

Hello, back to continue with the story of Namibia. The trip that we started through this country in the month of September 2021.

A little bit of scenery. But most of the time
 the way was dunes!

We leave the Sossusvlei region to continue the journey to the city of Swakopmund, which is on the sea. It is a city with German heritage. Let us remember that Namibia was a colony of this country.

Solitaire Gas Station!

Time to eat a German pie just below the Tropic of Capricorn

Time stops here!

The first stop was at Solitaire, a gas station in the middle of the desert. In this place the clock stopped as in the 60's. The gas station works with all possible modernity, but they have left the dispensing tanks of yesteryear. You can also see the remains of vehicles on the desert, which gives it a touch of abandoned place.

The most famous German Apple Cake

But it is not so abandoned, because the visitor has the option of sleeping in two hotels. It is a mandatory stop for tourists, considering that Solitaire is just below the Tropic of Capricorn.

Looking like an abandoned place, but with 2 hotels!

We did not fill gas but we arrived at this station to try the famous German cake of Mc Gregor's Bakery.

From the desert to the beach

From the dessert to the beach!

The journey to Swakopmund continued along a deserted road, in the dunes. If you have ever wondered what our civilization might look like in ruins, then this road will give you an idea. That was what happened to me. I felt lost, far from everything. As if Planet Earth were in extinction.

Promenade

This feeling was deepened by the installation of a pipeline across the road. At some points it was under construction, and at others it was already installed.

But the smell of the sea reached our car, we were approaching the coastal city of Swakopmund, founded by German settlers in 1892.

Someone was very happy at the Strand Hotel

Suddenly, the desert weather changed and we started to get cold. The sea breeze greeted us as we stepped out of our vehicle to check into the Strand Hotel Swakomund.

We leave the shorts to dress with pants and jackets. That night we dined at the hotel's German restaurant, Brewer and Butcher. Obviously my husband couldn't resist looking at the menu and ordered the famous Eisbein German-style beef.

South African tourists, Germans, a convention plus the locals having breakfast

The next morning, patience would be the first thing we would have to practice. The hotel restaurant was packed. We were very lucky the night before at the German brewery. It was also packed with hotel guests.

A typical German Market

Apparently the South Africans had visited the Namibian beach during the holiday, Heritage Day. We also noticed that German tourists had returned to this country. In addition, in the hotel there was a group of guests from a company in a meeting. After waiting a long time, we got our table.

More German Architecture

We finally walked through a city again

The morning was to finally be able to walk at our leisure. Along the boardwalk where we saw a dolphin, and of course, through the city, with a very German architecture. We also got into a courtyard where a famous flea market had been set up.

Anker Platz

We arrived at the Ice and Spice restaurant to savour delicious ice cream sundaes. We also visited in this square, Anker Platz, souvenir shops and a local Earthnique jewelry store. We walked even further through the city until we reached the Kristall Gallery, but it was closed. Afterwards we walked back to the hotel. It was a pleasure!

The night would continue with more walking this time from the hotel to the authentic Fish and Seafood restaurant The Tug. Not with tourists, but with many locals.

Are we in Germany?

More German Influence!

The next morning a great adventure awaited us: Cape Cross, the seal sanctuary.

The Tug

I will tell you this next time. Thanks for reading me!

Hot Air Balloon Ride to the Dunes of Sossusvlei, Namibia

Hello, I am back to tell you about the most impressive adventure of 2021, a balloon trip to contemplate the entire landscape of the Sossusvlei region in Namibia.

That day, September 23rd, we got up at four in the morning. We left the hotel to travel at four thirty. A company employee picked us up at the hotel reception. We waited about 15 minutes because one of the guests forgot his mask. We drove about 45 minutes from the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge to the Namib Sky Balloon Safaris Camp.

 

We arrived and there was already a group of more than 30 tourists. Once again the activity was slowed down because we were waiting for two tourists who did not arrive. Finally we drove in four vehicles to meet at the Namib Sky area where the air balloons were being prepared.

The adventure started by filling the balloons with hot air.

The owner, Eric Hesemans, directed his employees in several languages ​​to fill two balloons with air. We heard him speaking to his employees in Afrikaans and in English. And probably in other African languages. Later we realized that he is a polyglot.

The Assembling of the balloon

Assembling a balloon is not easy. They are made with fabrics manufactured in Spain.

But they are beautiful! The basket is made of wicker. The colours of the balloon are those of the Belgian flag. Eric is from this country, although he was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

When the two balloons were ready, Eric called us all to form two groups. We were the first to climb up the basket, because for security reasons it did not have a door. And so the journey began.

After listening to all the safety instructions we began the journey through the Namibian sky.

Dawn and currents: We don't feel the speed in the air.

The first impression of the trip was to contemplate the earlier rays of the sun. These hot air balloon rides are scheduled to watch the sunrise. We hardly saw it because of the tourists who were late.

Eric explained many things to us about the desert, especially his adventures in the Dunes. Before they flew directly to the Big Daddy Dune. They landed on it once and were unable to get it back to the Namib Sky facility. They left the balloon there overnight. The next morning, they found the balloon carp destroyed by the hyenas. These animals eat everything! Eric told us.

But we flew very close to the dunes. On this trip we learned that there are different air currents. Obviously Eric is a specialist in recognizing them and taking advantage of them for each maneuver in his balloon.

Speed ​​is not felt. It is incredible. Air and balloon merge into a single element. They are a unity. Really with a specialist, you can't be afraid of being at that point.

We obviously saw some animals. Some Oryx and a rabbit. For Eric the animal adventure on the balloon has been Zambia. Safaris by air. That is my dream, to see from the heights the Big Five of Africa.

The journey was about to end. We listened to the recommendations of the landing and the culmination of the trip was to witness the perfection of the landing, since the basket landed right in the vehicle that would transport it to the Namib Sky Lodge. The owner is an expert in this maneuver. Definitely the best decision to have traveled in a balloon through the Sossusvlei desert.

The Breakfast in the desert

Then the vehicles took us to a special area in Sossusvlei. There the company had prepared a brunch for us. Around nine tables were waiting for tourists from all over the world: Brazil, the United States, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, and of course, Mexico.

During lunch we had the opportunity to speak with Eric. He told us about all his adventures around the world. He loves Latin America, especially Costa Rica, where he lives part of the year. He has also traveled through Mexico. His Spanish is perfect. His son is married to a Brazilian girl. What an international family!

The food was excellent. The show of opening the champagne with the machete was part of it. Time was up and we returned to the hotel. We will always remember those hours in the Namibian sky. We waited several days to do it because the wind conditions were not appropriate. Luckily our trip was confirmed for one day before traveling to Swakopmund. That was our next adventure through this desert country. Thanks for joining me and until the next adventure!