Namibia / South Africa - final days in Africa

Free falling our way out of Africa!!

Making our way out of Namibia's desert we visited Swakomund, returned our 4x4 camping car in Windhoek, then departed Namibia and made our way down to Cape Town, Soth Africa, for the final week of our 3 1/2 month adventure through Africa.

Throughout our time in Africa, Aurelie's 'dare devil' or 'adrenalin junky' status has been rising. Upon arriving in Swakopmund, the adventure capital of Namibia, it was time to put this to the test!

After a morning run along the Atlantic Ocean in an attempt to 'de-stress' the mind, it was time to do it, Sky diving was on!

Kitted up and ready to launch!

Greeted by perfect conditions, we kitted up and jumped in a mini plane, and quickly realised there was only one way down! 

As expected, the sky jumping crew were pretty 'loose' and did their best to calm our nerves. Shane sat in what was supposed to be the door way, but this little plane had no door! Apparently this was to ensure that there was nothing blocking the view, hmmm, just what we needed! Aurelie requested to jump first, the crew nodded in agreement.

We ascended to 10,000m. The view over the sand dunes of the desert falling into the Atlantic Ocean were spectacular. Although at the time, they were of no concern whatsoever to Aurelie tucked away in the back of the plane. Before we knew it, it was time to jump. Shane's tandem instructor threw away the script, and decided that they were jumping first. Aurelie's look as they disappeared out of sight was priceless!

Don't look down, don't look down...oops, too late!

Aurelie then shuffled up to the open doorway, determined not to be left stranded up there, and made her leap of faith exactly 10 seconds later.

Aurelie looking pretty relaxed (you should see some of the other photos!!)

The 35 second free fall was a magic feeling, waiting for the parachute to open sent the ticker into overdrive, but the soothing descent with parachute open, finally gave us a chance to enjoy the views.

Shane relieved to return to terra firma

Certainly a memorable experience, and a great way to cap off a fantastic 10 day adventure throughout some of the most isolated terrain that we've experienced. Given we knew so little about Namibia before arriving there, we left incredibly impressed. Aesthetically, it was probably our favourite country in Africa.

We arrived in Cape Town and were quickly aware that the 'true' Africa was behind us. Cape Town is a cosmopolitan city and probably the most similar to an Australian city that we've been. A bit of a combination of Perth, Melbourne and Sydney perhaps! 

Cape Town in all its glory!

Our time here went quickly, we stayed in a hotel that was almost to good to be true given some of the poverty that we've encountered and some of the places that we've experienced throughout Africa. 

Shane quenching his thirst and enjoying a little bit of luxury...tough times!

We ran for 2 1/2 hours before breakfast one day to the summit of the Lion's Head and then trekked up table mountain the following day. We probably underestimated the difficulty of this trek, while it may not have been Mt. Kili, this trek was certainly a lot harder than expected. On arrival at the summit, our efforts were certainly not in vain. The weather was perfect and the views extremely impressive.

Making our way up to the summit of Table Mountain

We then got our taste of the history of South Africa with a trip to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held for over 27 years and learnt much about the apartheid and the difficulties encountered throughout Sth Africa. Staggering to think that all this was able to occur in modern times. 

The tiny jail cell where Nelson Mandela was contained for so many years

Our final journey was to the Cape of Good Hope, the most south-western point in Africa.

Aurelie soaking up the spectacular views off the Cape of Good Hope

It definitely seemed a very fitting end to an African experience, from Kenyan to Cape Town, that has simply blown us away!

Next up, it's back to Europe where the European summer will hopefully be not too far away. 

The fun and games continue...LG!

Botswana / Namibia - Outback Adventures

You've gotta love the great outdoors!

 

Crossing Botswana, and into the remote southern region of Namibia by 4x4 has made for a very different, but extremely exciting couple of weeks! It has been a complete contrast to what we've seen throughout our African experience thus far, but it has certainly provided some incredible sights and memorable experiences!

Moving on from Victoria Falls, we entered Botswana and worked our way to Maun, the entry point for Botswana’s premier tourist attraction the Okavango Delta. The Delta is a unique ecosystem which we explored on a Mokoro (local wooden canoe), weaving our way through the wetlands, spotting a large variety of bird and animal life including hippos, zebras, baboons, warthogs and elephants. We also learnt that there is not just a big 5 for the animals of Africa. There is also a small 5! We witnessed the Rhino beetle, the lion anteater, and the red winged buffalo. The other two little creatures for the elephant and the leopard equivalents remained elusive!

 

Kicking back in the Mokoro was a pretty enjoyable experience.

Botswana’s people are some of the most friendly that we’ve encountered in Africa and we had a very enjoyable four or five days here before heading across Botswana and into Namibia, on route to the capital city, Windhoek.

With little to no public transport available to Windhoek, we hitched a ride with a very ‘unconventional’ American couple. She had spent her life in the marines as a lieutenant sergeant, had five daughters, was covered in tattoos, sported a ‘hard as nails’ Mohawk and carried a 10 inch machete, almost a carbon copy of GI Jane! He was a lifelong hippy who had seemingly spent the majority of his time smoking the good gear with local Indian tribes in desert lands of India. But somehow, they seemed to get on famously…bizarre! Either way, it was certainly an entertaining 5 or 6 hours listening to some of their stories!

A couple of days were spent in Windhoek relaxing and getting organised. Being advised that public transport around Namibia was difficult, and that our time was becoming limited, we hired a camping equipped 4x4 with intentions of navigating the southern and central coast on a 10 day adventure.

Shane lapping up the serenity of one of our remote desert campsites 

Our first destination was Fish River Canyon, the world’s second biggest canyon. We stayed in the most incredible resort at the southern end of the canyon. There were a host of activities there including a 6 hour hike through the canyon walls, some sand dune running, the ‘Olympic’ size and indoor swimming pools, hot springs and enjoying the views that the canyon offered up! Camping deluxe…This was certainly our style of camping, we could get used to this!!

As yet, we haven’t been to the Grand Canyon but if it surpasses this from an enormity and impressiveness perspective then we can’t wait to get there, as this place was truly staggering!

Shane evidently impressed by what he sees of Fish River Canyon! 

Things then became even more remote and isolated as we headed into Namibian desert territory to a place called Klein Aus Vista. 10,000 hectares of isolated and mountainous terrain that was a hikers paradise. We were in our element! Having adapted to normal camping hours of being up when the sun rises and ready for bed by the time it sets, we set off on a 5 ½ hr hike before the sun reached its peak. The climax of the hike was a climb to the summit that even gave us a few jitters due to its difficulty and steepness. Aurelie’s efforts in overcoming any sort of fear here were extremely impressive!!

 

Aurelie preparing for the next Mission Impossible movie!

We then entered the truly defined Namibian desert of the Namib-Nauklift national park to a location called Sossusvlei, Namibia’s No. 1 tourist location. Having been bemused at how a visit to the sand dunes could be so popular, we quickly realised why it is so popular. This place blew us away!

Some of the impressive landscape that surrounded our campsite in Sessriem

This place really does have to be seen and experienced to be believed. From sunrise to sunset we were in awe of the place. With temperatures exceeding 40 degrees in the shade, the dryness of the desert, surrounded by rocky mountains, sandy trails, scattered wildlife such as an foxes, gazelles and Oryx (which Shane nearly run over! They are massive these things and would have destroyed our 4x4!!), and the towering, ever present sand dunes, it was absolutely spectacular! Words and even pictures simply don’t do it justice.

Shane crossing the hot and dry sand dunes of Sossusvlei

Excited by what lay before us, we arose before first light for a view of the dunes at sunrise. Still very much in a fitness mode, while other tourists waddled there way up the dunes, we kicked off the shoes, and run straight past them!

 

Aurelie posing for the front cover of next month's Running Magazine

We also trekked across remote sandy paths of the desert to Dead Man’s Vlei, a dried up Oasis in the middle of the desert which with the extreme temperatures, we quickly understood how it got its name!

The very unique but very impressive desert valley of Dead Man's Vlei

The same afternoon, we trekked down into the base and through the 2km long Sessriem canyon.

Shane's signature headlock maneuver proved quite effective yet again! 

By the end of our two days here, we were certainly satisfied that we had consumed as much of this places natural beauty as possible. Namibia has certainly risen in our ratings as a destination of choice given before arriving here, we had barely heard of it!

From here, our 4x4 adventure continues up to Namibia’s adventure capital of Swakopmund, then it’s down to South Africa for 5 days before parting Africa for our return to France on the 23^rd April.

On the road of discovery, things just keep getting better…LG!!