Smelling like a seal: Cape Cross

Hello, I'm still with the story of Namibia. This time to tell you about a very interesting place near Swakopmund, Cape Cross, the paradise of the seals. We traveled by car from the Strand Hotel. It took us an hour and a half to get there. The tour was along the coast and the desert. On the way we try to pause to contemplate the sunken ship. But we couldn't even get out of the car, because immediately the crystal sellers came out of their hiding places to show us their treasures. A car in front of us was his object of attention, and we decided instead to continue the journey towards the seals. But we took nice photos from the window. 

 

The paradise of precious stones 

Namibia is famous for having precious crystals. On our way back, my daughter bought a Rose Quartz crystal. Obviously there were no vendors. Only tables exhibiting the pieces. The tourist could pay by depositing the money in a small metal box that nobody could move because it was fixed to the metal table. Good method. Although everyone can take them without paying. We arrived at the park entrance. The tourist is greeted by two metal seals. The door leading to the sanctuary. We saw few tourists on the way. We were really only two families and they were already finishing the tour of the beach. Cape Cross harbours around seals. The sanctuary is protected and you have to pay the entrance at the booth near the beach. 

 80,000 t0 100, 000 of Seals 

The first impression when seeing them is surprising. It wasn't cold but I put on a cap so the wind wouldn't ruin my hairstyle. It was a sunny day and the seals' skin shone with its natural oil. Your protection against the cold. The shock of the visit was seeing dead seals on the sand. Few adults, but many babies that did not survive their journey to predatory gulls or other adults that crushed them. But it was so nice to hear them calling their moms as they moved on the beach! On certain parts of the road, seals could get through. The fence was open, but they didn't do anything to us. 

When somebody knows were you went just by smelling  you!

Many of them were under the raised wooden path, sheltering from the sun. On leaving, right at the entrance, a group of seals had landed, making it impossible for us to cross. My husband and daughters got through with no problem, but one of them got mad at me when I ran away. But it was more his laziness to get up than the trouble I gave him. We get back in the car and find our way to the Fish Corner restaurant at Hentiesbaai. A seafood and fish restaurant. When the waitress showed us to the table, she immediately asked us: Did you visit Cape Cross, right? The smell of seal gave us away. 

Luckily our table was outside and almost all the diners had left or were paying. I ate fish cakes. My eldest daughter spaghetti, the youngest and my husband fish and chips. Back at the hotel, the first thing we did was take a shower. When we were ready, we went for a walk along the boardwalk and then had dinner at a typical tourist restaurant, nothing special. The next morning the journey would continue to Windhoek. The last station before returning to Cape Town. I will continue this story next time. Thanks for reading me!

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!

Big Daddy Dune in Namibia: Knowing my limits!

Hello, this time I am coming back to tell you about a family adventure in the Namibian desert. We were on vacation in this country during the month of September 2021.

In our way to the Big Daddy

We were staying at And Beyond Desert Lodge and on September 22 the activity of the day would be to travel to the Dune Big Daddy in Sossusvlei. We woke up very early because we had to take advantage of the fact that the heat would be less suffocating considering that we were in a desert region.

Follow our Ranger

We traveled an hour and a half from the hotel to this very touristy area of ​​Namibia. Our hotel guide, Michael, drove the jeep and we parked at the foot of the dune. We weren't the only ones in this attraction.

We followed him and of course, from the previous day he suggested we dress appropriately to withstand the heat and the sand of the desert. We started to climb. Of course it was difficult considering that the dune has a very soft surface, due to the sand.

 

My heroes

My family decided to go up but I wanted to go straight to Death Valley, famous in all the photographs in magazines and specialized books in Namibia. As we went up, other tourists and perhaps Namibians were following us, so even though our guide asked me if I wanted him to accompany me, I walked alone towards the parking lot and then towards the famous valley. I realized that that day I would not embark on the adventure of walking to the top of the dune. But my husband and my daughters were determined to live this adventure. Adrenaline rushed through their veins like good Swiss adventurers. I decided to go on the nice side of adventure and wait for them contemplating Death Valley.

With a panic of waking up the hyenas or meeting a snake or an oryx

On the top

When I was at the foot of the dune, I didn't see anyone. But he remembered the way a little. I saw the tree that showed a watermark. I remembered it from the explanation. Our guide told us that that year it had rained so much that the valley had been flooded. If to our surprise that arid land had been completely full of rain. I continued on my way but I was completely alone. No one else was approaching the dune to climb it. It seemed that they had already closed the entrance to the dune and no one else could enter to climb it.

Amazing view from Big Daddy!

I started to panic because I remembered the snakes that cross the valley and even the interior of the dune. But not only that, I was terrified of an encounter with the hyenas that live in that place. This I had already told you in my previous post. And of course, of the Orix, ruminant mammals that although they would not kill me to eat me, they would do so because they felt threatened by this intruder.

That day the feeling of panic approached me. I felt very alone in the midst of all the people, whom I could not see. I knew that my salvation was a couple of meters away, but I could not find the way. Michael was reassured when I returned alone on the road, because he knew I was carrying my bottle full of water. I knew that nothing could happen. Or is it perhaps? Well, fear grew and I already saw the first one full of her babies peeking out of the first bush. And I started screaming and running.

I was in love with this tree at
the Death Valley

Then I remembered everything I have learned on safaris. Predators chase everything that moves, a ranger had told us during one of the game drives. Stop running. I had decided to run because it was urgent for me to get to the parking lot.

I knew I had made a bad choice, I did not climb to the top of the dune, I returned halfway. But it was too late. It was no time to regret it. Fear kept taking hold of me and I started screaming. Help!

My swiss people, happy after reach the top!

Nothing, no one answered me nor did I find anyone. Then the image of the mother hyena came back to my mind, angry because she woke up her cubs. This is something I also learned in one of our game drives. Hyenas sleep during the day, during the mild heat of the African savannah, in this case, the desert.

More about this beautiful and quiet place

So be quiet. Suddenly I started praying. Please don't find me a snake and less hyenas. Suddenly I stopped being afraid of the Orix.

Drink water and I came up with the idea of ​​climbing a hill or mini dune. I thought, well, maybe I will find the snake but I need to look in that direction and look for the parking lot. And yes, I did. I had already found my address.

Can you believe it? Sometimes rains
in this part of the world

Walk to the place and ask a guide for the way to the valley. When I got to him, what I found was the best image I have of Sossuvlei.

I can't believe the rain has flooded this arid region. The scattered dry tree trunks were the perfect setting for taking selfies or group photos. It didn't take long for my family to come down. They had the best experience sliding down the valley once they reached the top. There were my Swiss goats. They were not the alps, but they were in the heights. His spirit was fueled by adventure and risk.

Our ranger preparing the lunch

We took the photos and returned to the jeep. The adventure was not over and we continued under wild terrain.

The tick that bit my daughter

Even if I didn't climb the dune, I was dead. I think the psychological stress and of course, the heat, had defeated me that day. I climbed the jeep as best I could and Michael took us to a place near the dune ideal for a picnic. We sat comfortably at one of the tables of the place and our guide dazzled us with the food that the hotel had prepared for us.

Back to And Beyond Sossusvlei
Desert Lodge

Suddenly I felt like a mosquito and shook my foot. Anyway, we regain strength and before we leave, my daughter shows us a picket on her ankle. And it wasn't just that, I found the tick nesting in his sock.

Yes, this bug bit it. Luckily my daughter was able to shake the animal. The tour guide explained to us that probably an Orix was lying under that tree and the ticks had attacked him. That explained why we had found one on our picnic table. The ranger took a disinfecting spray from his wound bag. The picket was not at all delicate.

Well, it was not snakes or hyenas that we encountered on this excursion to Sossusvlei, but a tick of an Orix !!!!

Back at the hotel, we leaned back in our seats and rested from this adventure. The sun hugged the road and our vehicle, but our guide had provided us with our third can of cold drinks.

Sunset at the Lodge

At the hotel, our hosts were waiting for us with the famous wet towels to refresh our face and hands. We had a few hours to relax and sunbathe by the pool before going to dinner placidly under the stars of the Namibian sky.

My paparazzo

The adventure continued. The following morning the alarm clock would ring very early, before dawn for the next adventure: a balloon ride through the sky of Sossusvlei. This I will tell you in the next post. Thanks for reading me!