After a great breakfast at our hotel the Zum Kaiser, we decided to head off to the Moonscape and Welwitchi plains. Again a recommendation from my neighbour…who has given us some great advice.

The trrrain out is quite rough on the sand roads, but the scenery is spectacular. We did a 4.5 hour excursion, heading out from Swakop on the Usakos road. As you drive, the desolation and barrenness surrounds you on all sides. There is nothing to see and it is beautiful to see the nothingness- I cant explain it. We followed the guided marker tour into the Namib -Nauklift park and saw amazing, rugged scenery. The moonscape vista is unbelievable and I am not sure that the photos do it justice.

We had a little pitstop at the Goanikontes Oasis, and continued into the park. We stopped at a 100year old South African army campsite, when the guys were sent to keep out the German invasion, during the First World War. There are still remnants lying around, mainly rusty old bully beef cans, belt buckles and other odds’n’sods. What hell that must have been, hot,dry and dusty conditions!

We had a good chuckle at the optimism of a raingage, on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. A close inspection was conducted, but not a drop in sight! We spotted many of the small lichen plants on rocks and stones – gave them some water and watched in amazement how they opened up and changed colours. Again, I hope my pics do it justice. We saw the doerite dikes in the mounains and some incredible rock formations. Finally we got to the welwichia plains where these prehistoric and ugly plants grow.

then it was back into Swakop for some r’n,r. Folowed by a walk through town and the beachfront. Swakopmund, and in fact, all of the Namibia we have seen so far, is spotlessly clean and free of litter. In particular, the town centre is well kempt, with the buildings nicely painted, roads are named and a general sense of order. The service we have encountered everywhere has been superb.

Tonights dinner was at The Wreck restaurant at the Beach Lodge, about 7km out of the old town. A beautiful restaurant, set on the beach. The food and service were outstanding and the prices very reasonable. We have eaten well on this trip.

Time for bed now….thanks for the comments….

Lichen on the rocks

Agter the water

Before the water lichen

Dad doing his Jesse James pose

At the moonscape outlook

The dollar bush or money plant

Dolrite rock ridges – the black stone

Welwichia plant

Mom checking out the welwichia

Checking for rain levels

Nope there was none

On the pier

Sunset from hotel

The Beach Lodge