After our morning walk we had lunch at midday with instructions to be back for 4pm for tea and a game drive.
We set off in the Land Rover viewing vehicle. (I say Land Rover and later ask the owner why he uses them. Apparently they are cheaper than Toyota but three of his LRs have replacement Toyota or Isuzu engines!!)
The scenery round here is beautiful - it is ringed with mountains - and we soon spot springbok (common) and soon after a small group of Kudu with two small calves. Later we spot Zebra and then a group of 7 giraffes making their way to the river (which still has a little water left) for a drink and watch as they take it in turns to splay their front legs and bend their necks to the water. And get some good photos. There is lots of ‘evidence’ of elephant in the area but we can’t find them. The guide also tells us there were some lions here yesterday but they have gone into hiding as well!
We stop for sundowners and watch the sun slip behind the mountains lighting up the opposite hills in a deep red colour. A very peaceful moment with no sounds apart from a little wind (oops) and a few birds.
We return to camp just as the light fails and find that the bar is open! If I’m honest, the bar is always open because we can help ourselves when we like! Dinner was just us two, Dennis the owner and Bonny our guide. Tonight was beef (shepherds) pie with thick gravy and nice fresh veg followed by apple pie and custard. Very British!
Farmers’ bedtime at 9pm although we were given the remnants of the red wine bottle to take to the tent where we sat outside and looked at the incredible stars. Unforgettable and like Highlands (N&D).
It was quite windy last night and rather noisy in the tent but we had a reasonable sleep. After breakfast at 7am Bonny drove us to the top of the nearest mountain where we disembarked and proceeded to walk around it using game paths. The landscape is incredibly rocky and over many years the game have cleared tracks which makes it easier to move around. The rock is volcanic with a high metal content. As the lava cooled crystals of agate, amethyst, quartz and others were formed and many of the rocks have beautiful crystals, some in pink, green even orange but most are white.
Other guests are arriving today (10 we think) so this evening will be busier and noisier!
We have another drive this afternoon and will order elephant and lion (to be honest I think Bonny has been saving these up for our last drive) but time will tell! Then after breakfast tomorrow we leave to move on to Etosha National Park about 5 hours away.
ADO & LMA xx