Mike:

Trip Day 14: Ghanzi - Windhoek, Namibia

We left trailblazers camp at 6:30am and headed for the border of out last new country of our entire world tour, Namibia. Again, no problems at the boarder, in fact it was very easy. Practically no queues and again, the staff were very friendly. At the actual immigration office I saw a rhino bettle (another one of the little 5 - elephant shrew, rhino bettle, leopard tortoise, lion ant and buffalo weaver bird) along with a lot of other huger (mainly dead) beatles.

After a few hours drive we stopped off at the capital of Namibia called Windhoek (they are also very proud of their beer of the same name) for 2.5 hours. Alicia and I went souvenir shopping, looked for SD cards as ours were full again and saw an outdoor display os meteorites from the worlds largest ever recorded meteor show. We rounded off our exploring with some essential groucery shopping. I also managed to pick up 24 cans of windhoek larger for 155 Namibian dollars, about £10. Not cheap, but the whole of Africa was more expensive than we'd expected. At least Namibian $ and S.African Rand were 1-1 so they were interchangeable in Namibia.

Just off the road on the outskirts of Windhoek was our campsite for the night. I got to shower, finally! Walking around in the dusty desert in flipflops meant my feet for black. We got ready for a night out on the town and took a fun minibus journey over to a restaurant. Everyone was drinking, the taxidriver was blaring out western tunes (even getting me to stand up and do Gangnam Style) and was flicking the internal lights on and off in time with the music.

For dinner he headed over the a place called "Joes Beerhouse and Restaurant", we all sat on a long wooden table in amongst pleasant scenery (and a few stuff animals). I had an epic mixed platter of game meat with some strange crisps (the sames as the "French Fires" crisps in the UK) and had a shot of local liqour set on fire in the middle of the plate. I worked my way through 3 different kinds of steak, springbock, ostrich and oryrix (another anytelope). Alicia had a massive beef steak, and infact everyones steaks were so huge that they couldn't eat them. Great for me, as when I had finished mine, I got to try others, so I have a bit of zebra (my favourite), a large amount of kudu and some beef - red meat overload!

After the meal we stayed in the restaurant for a few more drinks before settling the bill and getting back onto the party minibus to try and find some clubs. The first place we tried wanted to charge the guys to get in despite it being a Tuesday so we left and the taxi driver recommended another place. We went it an it was pretty much a working mens club with a shockingly bad DJ, but they were so happy to have us there they plied us with free shots and we made the most of it, we all had a dance (particuarly Rob and Heather who seemed to have some sort of routine worked out), chatted and had a good laugh. We left at 1:30am and party taxi'd back to our tents for what seemed like no sleep at all before getting up again.

Alicia:

Trip Day 15: Windhoek - Etosha National Park
Distance travelled: +/‐ 450Km

Lots of traveling.

Broke down not to far from Winhoek and had to wait at service station for a replacement bus. Arrived at Etosha before 6pm and saw a few griaffe.

Trip Day 16:

Game drive all day in the truck. Saw lots of animals - elephants, spotted - face hyena, lapet - face vulture, giraffe "it's a giraffe!"), oryx, (yum!), springbok, Burchill Zebra, then two male lions (0one at a distance and one eating a zebra carcass!), jackalls (surrounding the zebra) another male, lion (under a tree), maribu stork, kudu, blue wilderbeest, guinea fowl, four femal lions in a bush (near the salt pan), warthog, red hartebeest, black faced impala, lilac-breasted roller, secretary birds, a KORI BUSTARD!, osterich (male= black, female=brown; males are on eggg night security, and females on day secuirty), korkaan bird, blacksmith plaver, and the southern yellow-billed hornbill! Muchos animales.

In the evening we went on a night game drive with Heather and Rob. Was brilliant! Saw the lion still guarding the zebra, and when we went to the water hole saw a rare black rhino and calf. We also saw the most Lion King moment - the mood rose from the horizon into the sky but it was massive! Like huge. Was super cool. We then heard a lion roaring (it was so loud). I turned round, looked down on my side of the truck and was speechless - it was sitting on the road 5 metres from us in the jeep!

On the way back to camp we drank all the savanna ciders as no one else was drinking, but Mike needed the loo pretty badly. We had to stop while he peed in the road lit by the rangers red like, everyones eyes averted but was pretty scary. I genuinely thought of the lion spotting Mike out of the car. Thankfully, all was good and we got back in the truck, saw some bush rabbits/ "Scrub Hares" and many sprngbok. Back at camp we went to the waterhole, saw zebra and rhino at the waterhole.

Trip Day 17: Etosha National Park - Otjitotongwe Cheetah Park

Morning game drive then travelled to the Cheetah Park. At the house they had some cheetahs living amongst their dogs! We saw a 9 month old and 3 older cheetahs. We got to feed them meat, and got to pet them in the garden. The "baby" jumped on me while it bit Mike's ankles. We then got to walk round the reserve and see the rescued cheetah out in the reserve waiting to be released.

Trip Day 18: Otjitotongwe Cheetah Park ‐ Spitzkoppe

Travelled further into the Namib Desert to Spitzkoppe Mountain. Very beautiful. Brief bush walk to see the cave paintings then up on to the rocks to watch the sunset. While we were eating there was some commotion around a bush. Something about "Janet". I saw nothing and hadn't a clue Janet was so I ran into the truck for safety. Turns out "Janet" was Genet - some sort of wild cat. Who knew. We had set up our tents earlier, but briefly one blew away and we could see the scorpions scuttle away. After that, it was a restless night and we did our tent checks and swiftly went to bed.

Trip Day 19: Spitzkoppe ‐ Swakopmund

4th March 2013 - in my diary as a day to remember!

Travelled to Swakopmund. On the bus Darlington said if we wanted to do the skydive we should do it today! So we got supplies and booked on for 2pm. Checked into the dorm (very comfy after all the camping) and I was bricking it. Me, Mike, Jasmin, Chelsea and Kyle were jumping and Annina, Dee and Sheldon came to cheer us on and take photos. On arrival we were chosen to go first together. Mike was paired with "Jack-Ass" and I was with Dries. We got into the tiny little black and white spotted plane with the pilot at the front left side, Dries with his back at the front right and me in front, with Mike and his guy just behind the pilot. There was no door and I freaked out a little as we pulled away - really strange flying backwards with NO DOOR AND NO SEATBELT! They could tell I was nervous. Couldn't imagine why I'd decided to do this at that moment. We gradually ascended above the clouds - you could make out Walvis Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, and see the desert below. Then they gave us the go ahead. I swa Mike and his guy swivel round and suddenly fall out of the plane. Felt a moment of panic seeing Mike fall out the plane, like my worst fears realised. Then it was my turn to shuffle over, tuck my feet under the plane, titl my head back and drop out the plane. Difficult to focus or remember what happened during the free-fall. I remember the wind pushing against my face, Dries kicking my feet back and indicating to bring my hands above my head. Then as we decelerated he released teh parachute. Suddenly we jerked up and he loosed the straps so we were vertical. He asked if I liked rollercoasters then pulled on the straps to do some spins. I could see Mike nearly about to land, but we were just coasting above looking out at landmarks - Spitzkoppe (our camp last night), Brandberg Mountain (Highest mountain in Namibia) and Walvis Bay (where Brad and Angelina has their baby). Before I knew it we touched down. Would do it all over again. We then sat watching the others jump while drinking savannas. We then went out for dinner and had a massive calzone - mike had a springbok calzone, then when to a local pub.

Trip Day 20:

Free day in Swakopmund. Visited the post office, craft market and beach - very course sand with a couple of dead seals :( Windy but relaxing. Walked along the beach and saw flamingoes at the lagoon. Very chilled out day.

Trip Day 21: Swakopmund to Sesriem

Long drive through the desert to the Dead Vlei, Soususveli and Dune 45 - not the largest dune in the world, or even Nambia, but has been photographed a lot we were assured). Apparantly a "vlei" is like a dry swamp with lots of dead trees. Didn't climb Dune 45 but Mike did - took ages and looked like hard work.

Trip Day 22: Fish River Canyon

Long driving day - played lots of "a*******" (card game) with Rob, Sheldon, Heather and Dee. Wore a crown (President), Flowers (Vice president) and a bag strap (for a*******). Writing this I can't remember the rules of the game but remember it was lots of fun. Set up tents and went for a swim the drove to Fish River Canyon. Amazing views and sunset. Truck ride back drinking and dancing - Mike showed of his Gangnam style on the party truck. Really fun evening drinking, dancing and star-gazing.

Trip Day 23: Orange River, South Africa

Crossed the border to South Africa. At the camp there was a part where you could swim across the river to Namibia and back which Mike a few people did. Had a massive feast of springbok steak, kebabs, potato daupinoise and dessert with a fire-dancing show.

Trip Day 24: Highlanders, Cedeberg Region

The penultimate day of the trip near the Olifants River. We set up camp and got straight on the wine tasting which was delicious. Had the best fortified wine ever - Roobois infused fortified wine. We brought a bottle after, sat around and drank that and a bottle to take home. Brilliant last night. Got back to the tents and found Rob laying across several camp chairs - not sure what happened.

Trip Day 25: Cape Town

Amazing views on the drive into Cape Town of Table Mountain. Said our goodbyes to the guides as we checked into Ashanti Lodge (Greenpoint). Walked along the beach and headed out for dinner with the rest of the group near to Long Street then onto an Irish Pub.