A Photo Diary in Namibia

The name ‘Namib’ translates as “vast place”, which is apparently given that Namibia is one of the least crowded places on this planet. In Chinese it is “纳米比亚”, it doesn’t sound like anything on earth for me. The disconnection from outside world is one of the reasons why we love it so much. There are no words can describe its beauty. I hope this photo diary inspires you to visit this stunning country one day.  

Matamata border

We entered  Namibia through Matamata border, it is the boundary between  south Africa and Namibia in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, a NP famous for big cats. We encountered many lions, 4 cheetah brothers, and two leopards, a mother and an almost adult cub.

We saw these two leopards nearby their territory: Auchterlonie Museum, the mother had a kill, but she left it next to the museum. We had waited about 3 hours in the late afternoon for them to show up and take the kill. But all we saw was they hided themselves very well, sometimes we could see their ears.

Before sunset, we finally decided to drive back to our campsite, these two beautiful leopards walked down to the waterhole. We had luck to see them from far. It was such a magnificent moment. They walk like they are the masters of this land, and they truly are.

“The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa – for he has so much to look forward to”
– Richard Mullin

Quiver tree

The first resting place for us in Namibia was in Quivertree Forest Rest Camp, it is 16km from Keetmanshoop, a very famous place to see the quiver trees.

It is beautiful and luxury camp to rest, and you can see the special trees of course. But if you want to take some night photos you have to pay extra money, otherwise the host will not switch off the very dazzling lights, we found it was a bit ridiculous. Besides you need to pay, the lights shine whole night is unnecessary and unfriendly for the trees.

Later we encountered another place, Garas Park Rest Camp, less luxury, but well-spaced and loosely demarcated, decorated with many figurines made of old machinery, very special. The lady was very friendly, we were the only guests on that day, she boiled water to let us have warm shower. It was not warm enough but we were still very happy. Gunther loved this place so much because he could take as many photo’s as he wanted during the night, of course without any light pollution.  

Ghost town

Kolmanskop, the sand-filled buildings of a former diamond mining town.

Here is a nice article about kolmanskop if you want to know more details about it. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/africa/namibia/eerie-fascinating-pictures-kolmanskop-desert-diamond-ghost-town/

Gunther is obsessed with abandoned places, for him it is a mutilated and extreme beauty. My feeling of Kolmanskop is sandy, surreal, silent and sentimental. Fortunately because of tourists it is not forgotten entirely.

Along the Coast 

Cape cross seal colony, desert-adapted wildlife, shipwrecks, sand surfing, skydiving,  harsh environment, what else do you expect more along the coast of Namibia? No matter in Lüderitz or the old German colonial town Swakopmund , or even in ‘the end of the world’- skeleton coast, Namibian coast has so much to offer. Even after so many years, we still can smell her salty ocean, feel the massive sand dunes and dream about the lonely flamingo and ocean sunsets.

Susossvlei

The endless dunes, nobody should miss that. Sunrises, sunsets, red dunes, 900-year-old fossilized trees, white clay pan of Deadvlei, so wild and so epic.  There are three places that you won’t miss, Dune 45 , Deadvlei and Big Daddy.

Etosha national park

Etosha, one of Africa’s most popular wildlife parks. We found it very easy to do safari by yourselves, in the evening you can just sit chill around the water holes and wait animals to come.  The huge bull elephants, elusive leopards and black rhinos, massive salty pan will never disappoint you. 

The tip to spot wildlife is no secret, wake up as early as you can, go back to the camp as late as possible, burn enough gasoline.  Our travel period was in November, the highlight was definitely lions mating. 

“You know you are truly alive when you’re living among lions.”
― Isak Dinesen, Out of Africa

Massive landscape

As I wrote before, in Namibia, the disconnection from outside world is something special for us. When we camped in Spitzkoppe, there was nobody else. If you are a geologist, a hiker, a rock hunter, or a star gazer, here is like Eden. It is much less popular than other attractions in Namibia, but worth a visit if you have time.

Fish river canyon was our last destination in Namibia, and it was impressive. It is known as  the second largest canyon worldwide. Due to November is too warm to do the Canyon hike, this is one of our regrets, so we will keep the hiking until next time.

…Did we find the Himba woman? Stay tuned to our Travel Blog for more high quality photo´s…Gunther is very stingy of sharing his photo’s with me…

Story to be continued…