Asterix goes to Namibia

[asterixsg]

wow ..quite good sightings of wildlife there..

I was quite lucky to see so many animals in Etosha. I didn't have time to go to the third major waterhole - Namutoni - and the campsite around it... Some people I met during my trip and with whom I am in touch, sent me some photos of leopard and cubs that they spotted at one of the waterholes near Namutoni. Those were some amazing photos...

I ever watched an episode on Natgeo wild that the lioness team like to lay ambush at the water hole and you see the way they deploy the positions super tactical one, literally 天罗地网 formation. Very impressive.

I can only say that it was probably a training session for the cubs and the lions were probably not interested in the hunt...

Wow Asterix, fantastic series as always. I can't forget your Iceland trip thread and this is even more amazing, not just landscape but your captures on the wild life & the people there are simply :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: :heart: Big thanks for sharing...

Thanks asthio for your comments...

Extremely beautiful pictures.

Thanks...

 

[asterixsg]

46. Sossusvlei in flood

Due to exceptionally heavy rainfall in Namibia, the claypan of Sossusvlei was filled with water. Many travellers whom I met who were on their 2nd and 3rd and nth visits to Namibia and Sossusvlei shared their experience with me during their previous visits and how lucky they felt that they got to witness this scene...

I believe I was infinitely blessed too.

47. It takes two to Tango...

Deadvlei will always hold a special place in my heart. There is something magical about it. I went there two (very early) mornings in a row. One morning I had perfect weather, blue skies, brightly lit dunes. The other morning, I had clouds, mist and gloomy weather...

In cloudy conditions, the red sanddunes take on a soft pastel shade...

I guess one has to be very lucky to get bad weather in Namibia :bsmilie:

 

[Darcy.Zhou]

you are the man!!!

 

[leonardt8]

Bro...bro...bro....you have lived! Great shots...and a wonderful story

 

[asterixsg]

you are the man!!!

ha ha ha. Thanks.

Bro...bro...bro....you have lived! Great shots...and a wonderful story

Bro, where have you been ? I went back to Indonesia during National Day long weekend to celebrate my one year anniversary with Gunung Rinjani... He he he. No lah, didn't have the courage to climb Gunung Rinjani again... Now, I am a beach bum

We need to catch up. Funny writing to you on clubsnap...

 

[asterixsg]

48. Catch that !!!

I had to break my drive from Opuwo in the far north to Etosha, so my travel agent suggested that I camp one night at the Otjitotongwe Cheetah Farm. Initially I had thought of staying at Kavita Lion Lodge run by the Africat foundation which is dedicated to the conservation and protection of the wild lion in Namibia. But when my travel agent recommended the Cheetah Farm, I just went with that...

The Otjitotongwe Cheetah Farm offers good photographic opportunities at scheduled cheetah feedings, and also offers guided game drives to view wild cheetah..

It was quite a thing to see wild cheetah flighting for meat thrown towards them, while we were herded in the back of a trailer

That day at the campsite, I met a wonderful couple - Anna and Julio from Spain who spend 5 weeks every year in a new country - and they have been doing it for God knows how many years... This time they were travelling in Namibia and Botswana... We cooked dinner together and chatted under the zillions of stars. Can't forget it... Felt like long lost family...

I could only sigh with envy when they sent me pictures of a leopard with her cubs at a waterhole near Namutoni in Etosha...

 

[DinoSG]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: nice pictures

 

[HighTone]

Astonishing pictures... all these are great..

 

[asterixsg]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: nice pictures

Astonishing pictures... all these are great..

Thanks folks. I am now digging through my photos to find something different that I haven't posted before... think not much left now...

 

[asterixsg]

49. As seen by a Welwitschia...

Lots of Welwitschia plants can be found on the Welwitschia drive near Swakopmund.

50. Welwitschia from above

Earlier that morning, I drove from the Rooiklip Guest farm to Swakopmund and took a detour via Gobabeb mine. You need a special permit to go on that section...

The main reason to do that was because the lady who runs the Rooiklip guestfarm had recommended it. She had told me that everyone goes on the Welwitschia drive near Swakop, but very few go on this drive and that I would find Welwitschia plants in abundance...

It was indeed an awesome drive and for a few hours that morning, I was all by myself - not a single car had passed me. In hindsight, it might've been a really foolish decision to have taken that route...

 

[wonglp]

Now that's inspirational stuff, it's money well spent if I can take such pictures!

 

[Will03]

Thanks folks. I am now digging through my photos to find something different that I haven't posted before... think not much left now...

hey. i m sure there are more !!! similar ones also can post

 

[asterixsg]

Now that's inspirational stuff, it's money well spent if I can take such pictures!

Thanks for your kind words...

hey. i m sure there are more !!! similar ones also can post

Thanks William. Repetition can be quite boring, my intention is to share the diversity of Namibia

Still have lots, I just have to be selective

 

[asterixsg]

I trudge along...

51. Matterhorn of Namibia

Spitzkoppe, situated between Swakopmund and Usakos, is often referred to as the Matterhorn of Namibia. However, the similarity ends there...

I had left Swakopmund in total darkness, just so that I could make it to this place in the early morning light. I had stopped on the empty gravel road, don't think anyone travels there that early. Out of nowhere, an old woman materialized with a plate of "precious" stones, asking me to buy them as souvenirs... I explained to her that I had no use for them. She said that she needed money to buy bread. Ah, I just gave her 5 Namibian dollars and moved on...

52. The arch

The best way to experience Spitzkoppe is to camp there. There are campsites with no water, no electricity, no toilets, nothing... If I ever make it to Namibia again, I will definitely spend one of my nights here...
They do charge an entrance fee to the area though...

One of the couples I had met earlier in my journey had told me of this place and that helped me make up my mind whether I wanted to see this place or go further north along the coast to Cape Cross seal colony...
As I was driving inside the dusty paths looking for this arch, I met a few workers who took care of the campsites. One of them "volunteered" to show me around, for a small fee of course

Since I was short of time, I agreed. He quickly brought me to this place and showed me some rock art and also a natural swimming pool that gets formed only when it rains...

 

[sweeper]

superb images as usual !
you seems to be traveling all year round ?

 

[asterixsg]

superb images as usual !
you seems to be traveling all year round ?

Thanks for your comments...

 

[asterixsg]

53. Souvenir ?

The woman who can be seen in #51...

 

[asterixsg]

54. Ominous II

Another one from the Otjitotongwe cheetah park that I kinda like even though the Cheetah wasn't quite looking in my direction...

55. Hide n seek

I was told by Marius who runs Camp Aussicht in Kaokoland to watch out for the huge baobab trees enroute to Opuwo...

56. Desert elephants, Damaraland

I spent a couple of hours tracking Desert Elephants in Damaraland. It was interesting to know how the guides look at footprints, the "freshness" of the dung etc. to figure out in which direction the herd might've moved overnight...

A good writeup about desert elephants can be found here.

57. Rock art

If there was one place that I felt was a tourist trap in Namibia, it was Damaraland.

Agreed that the engravings on the rocks is from the San artists from the Stone Age, but the way one is treated at the Twyfelfontein visitor centre is very unplesant.

I had no intention to see the rock engravings, I just stopped at the visitor's centre to ask them if they had a map of the area and how I could go to the Organ Pipes and the Burnt Mountain (later I figured out I had missed a turn...) The person there was extremely rude and instead of giving me directions to these places, she demanded that I pay the entrance fees for the enclosure where the rock engravings is seen. I was in no mood to argue, so I just went with the flow.

Other travellers I met had similar experiences, some were disappointed with the high prices too.

Organ Pipes and the Burnt Mountain didn't appeal to me either...

The problem is that if you are going to Epupa, there is no choice but to break your journey at couple of places. Khorixas has a bit of rough side to it, so I had avoided that, probably I should've stayed at Palmwag which is an hour or so away from Twyfelfontein.

 

[wonglp]

54. Ominous II

Another one from the Otjitotongwe cheetah park that I kinda like even though the Cheetah wasn't quite looking in my direction...

Lovely shot! perfect if looking your way. Keep it coming!

 

[Zichar]

Loving the series so far, a few questions:
What was the woman trying to sell as a souvenir anyway? Looks like a quartz crystal ... or rock sugar?
Tracked the elephants on foot? If so, stayed a distance away? (and watch out there on the ground? must be huge! )
They do/can get aggressive don't they? I laughed at the description of the guides, reminded me of spaghetti Western native american trackers and guides
Was language ever a problem?
Found myself going hey kitty kitty at 54. What ominous, it's sooo cute! :bsmilie: