Day 15 … oh the wonders of the natural world

October 3, 2024

After a wonderful sleep in a super comfortable bed, beneath the mosquito net canopy, we woke to head out to catch the sunrise.

We wandered down to the pool area ...  not for the pool but for the location. Sitting on some rocks, looking back to the lodge, we waited as the sun slowly rose, casting an orange glow over the rocks. Ian quickly worked out that once you saw the sun rise, you could move, and the sun would be hidden again, so you could watch another sunrise!

We headed back to our gorgeous room to shower in our cave-like shower, using beautiful lemon grass scented products. Then we headed to breakfast where we met Shan our wait staff from last night. Again we chose to sit outside, and after gathering some food we sat back in the crisp mountain air to enjoy. We had some friends join us for breakfast (and I saw one of the biggest beetles I’ve ever seen!).

Breakfast done we again returned to our room ... this time to pack our cases and head out for the day. Two staff members were waiting outside to take our cases to the car for us ... so once loaded up, and the account settled we were on the road.

Our first destination was Fish River Canyon, about a 25 minute drive away. Ian took the wheel ... and we travelled our D road to the town of Hobas where you pay the park fee to enter. Then off to the lookouts ... first, the main lookout, then the hikers lookout and finally sunset peak. Driving along it was flat land beside us. We passed a lone Oryx (Yes, wild creatures roam free), but otherwise we were on our own.

And then ... you arrive at the lookouts ... climb out of the car and walk to the top ... and before you is the most incredible Canyon. The ground just drops away! There are layers to the Canyon... the rim, the first layer, then a second and finally the river below. Even though we have seen the Grand Canyon nothing can prepare you for the sight. The Canyon is vast, it is deep, it is wide, and it has varied colours and textures. It is magnificent.

Saying goodbye to the Canyon we headed back to Hobas to sign out (having spent almost 2 hrs there). It was time to head towards Keetmanshoop ... but along the way we would make a few stops.

First stop... the Canyon Roadhouse.  The only word to describe this place is eclectic. An old style Roadhouse filled with old cars, trucks, motorcycles and farm equipment. The walls were covered in number plates, advertising signage and old tools. There was an Ad Lab there which we completed as well as a traditional geocache located at one of the trucks. We stopped to visit the toilets, grabbed a cold drink and then away we went again.

The drive then took us on first a D road, then a C and eventually a B! We passed an old rail bridge at Holoog, vast open plains, crossed railway lines, and saw lots of cars along the way. We also passed farmland ... grapes, dates, and mangoes. We wondered how on earth they managed to make them grow in the dry arid land. And then we encountered Naute Dam!

The dam was built in 1972 and apparently is underused. The water was an odd blue/green. There were also lots of rocky islands that had clearly been a favourite spot for the birds!

Driving on to Keetmanshoop where we were staying the night. We arrived before we could check in so we had time for a drive around town, time to visit the local shops (love wandering a local mall - although the hanging of Christmas decorations in Aisle 4 was a bit much on 3 October) and time for a sundae from the Hungry Lion (Choc Mint for Ian and Fruit Sundae for me).

Then on to the Quiver Tree Inn ... a wonderful little boutique hotel. We had a chance to take a break, enjoy the breeze in the garden and attempt to blog. (All was going well ... until blogger crashed and we lost the entire day!). So abandoning the blogging we headed back out for the last adventures of the day.

We were headed to the Quiver Tree Forest and the Giants Playground ... about a 25 minute drive out of Keetmanshoop. Ian took the wheel again (only when he is tired do I get a go!) and away we went. First stop was at the Quiver Tree Rest Stop where you purchase your park entry. Some people on TripAdvisor and Google had complained about the price ($220 NAD ... about $20 Aussie Dollars for 2 people) ... but we think it was worth more!

Having paid our fee we first headed a further 5 km down the road to the Giant's Playground  ... a geological marvel! Huge boulders stacked on top of each other ... and not just one  ... thousands! There was a marked path that the woman had told us would be a 20 minute walk  ... but an hour later we emerged. Incredible rock formations ... fissures in the rocks, small rocks holding up big rocks, flat rocks and round rocks. Amazing!

And then to the Quiver Tree Forest. The trees are so named because the warriors would take the inner part of the tree to make the Quiver to carry their arrows. The trees are weird and yet wonderful. The juvenile trees grow as a single trunk but at maturity they develop spidery branches that end in waxy, spiny leaves.

Nestled into the rocks the trees provide a quintessential "african" landscape. We spent another hour wandering the forest and as the sun began to set, we saw the tree trunks take on a golden hue and the dassies (rock hyrax) emerge to feed. We spent another half hour watching the sun descend ... the trees looking gorgeous against the orange sky.

And then back to Keetmanshoop ... a stop to fill up petrol, wash the windscreen (although there are not as many bugs in Namibia) and get some dinner. A visit to the Hungry Lion (Namibian KFC) quickly filled the bellies before we headed back to the hotel to settle in for the night as we have an early start tomorrow!

Tomorrow we head to the dunes  ... oh my!