We left Kulala lodge yesterday, just after 8.15am and headed south towards Luderitz. The road was in really poor condition and it took way longer than expected. But any butt soreness was overlooked because of the spectacular scenery.
Again the scenery changed from dunes to mountains, to open velda, to long long stretches of dead straight but undulating roads. We saw gemsbok aplenty (oryx), some ostrich and a few birds. We had a short detour to Helmeringhausen, in the Karas district. Quick pitstop and fuel top up. Mom and Dad chatted to a couple from Secunda who warned us that the road to Aus (en route to Luderitz), was shocking. We advised them the same about the road back to Sesriem. They were in for a shock!
The road from Helmeringhausen to Aus was way better than the previous sections we had done. We arrive in Aus quite ahead of schedule and were able to do the short detour to the viewing point for the wild horses at Aus. Fortune favours the brave (and early) and we saw a total of 6 horses and a few gemsbok. But they truly are a sorry sight, Mom wanted them to be fed!
After Aus, the road into Ludertiz is tarred and is in excellent condition. The scenery is harsh desert and then all of a sudden rugged rock. We arrived at the hotel just after 3.30pm. We are staying at the Luderitz Nest hotel…on the beach and lovely. Dinner was a blah buffet, shared with busloads.
We had another early start this morning and did the drive to Kolmanskuppe for the ghost town tour. Very interesting and sad to see how time and the elements can destroy things. A walk atound and some photo ops and then we hit the road. Next stop was the Dias cross and Grossbucht. By this time the wind was howling and it was quite chilly. We drove around town and I then took the folks to see Shark Island campsite- we would have camped here 15 years ago, but the wind was blowing so hard we couldnt open the car doors! On that occassion – with Neels and co, we checked into the Nest hotel too. We had a plain little snack lunch at the Garden Cafe in town, opposite the waterfront. Unfortunately, being a Monday the museum was not open. So we drove around to the church and through town.
Early dindins and then the repack for the last leg of our Namibian adventure, we leave tomorrow morning for the Fish River canyon for the next 3 days. I will blog if I can….otherwise see you in Uppington on Friday night!
thanks for all the comments and interest!
Leanne Maree's blog 
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