Gael warning in the Congo

Drumacoon Lad. · Jan 27, 2019

Our day wasn't over when we got to Namibe and found a hotel. The unique weltwitschia plant grows in the desert about 40km south of Namibe, so we headed off in search and managed to find some examples. Apparently it only grows in this desert and can be centuries old. Just being in the desert is special and I stayed behind as Simon rode off and just enjoyed the vastness and the silence and hoped the bike would start. I need not have worried and soon I was catching up on Simon with my friendly shadow beside me.

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simondippenhall · Jan 28, 2019

Namibe was a washed out sort of place as was our hotel, truly past its prime.

We dined in good company on excellent soup

although we skipped the wine and stuck to the dark Preta beer

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simondippenhall · Jan 28, 2019

It was striking that all the river beds were just deep deep sand even though this was the rainy season.

As Jim said, a lot of sand in the Namib desert and good to be travelling a deux

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simondippenhall · Jan 28, 2019

Our receptionist at the Moçamedes hotel in Namibe lives up to his name, sadly.

A couple of days ago we came across a bad crash at a narrow bridge...so bad it made the local newspapers

Fortunately as we travel at c 45 mph we have time to be cautious

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simondippenhall · Jan 28, 2019

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simondippenhall · Jan 28, 2019

Today we head South East to the Namibia Border. I am feeling a little discombobulated by this...and it’s not just the prospect of riding on the left which is causing that!

Angola has been wonderful, very friendly and helpful in my (Freq) hours of need. Its variety and huge mountain ranges have surprised us both. And there are virtually no tourists to be seen, just 3 or 4 travelers.

I expect Namibia to be very hot but less ‘out there’ than the places I have travelled through since Jim and I began this trip in September 2017.

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wanderingmerv · Jan 28, 2019

Great trip, great report. Namibia is probably my favourite African country for road tripping. Looking forward to seeing what catches your eye there.

simondippenhall · Jan 29, 2019

So a few pictures of our last full day in Angola, riding down to the border townie Santa Clara

This container houses a filling station (fortunately, as I was suffering bad range anxiety at that point as my fuel tank pretends it’s empty at 12-15 litres and dies).

Jim and I sheltered from the sun and had some coffee.

The ever present signs

Santa Clara itself was not really worthy of photos and we were hot and tired after a full day of riding. But the roads were great (apart from the absence of filling stations for 100 kms!) and almost without traffic

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patzx12 · Jan 29, 2019

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Drumacoon Lad. · Jan 29, 2019

A few photos of our ride up from Namib, through the desert and up into the mountains again. There were great views of these oases as we started to climb up and later our view was dominated by the mountains ahead. On the way up we spotted a troop of monkeys and managed to grab this shot before they disappeared.

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Drumacoon Lad. · Jan 29, 2019

As Simon mentioned the 430km from Lubango to Santa Clara was helped by the good road and starting out early. It was relatively chilly initially, as we were at altitude, and we had sleeved shirts on, under our airflow jackets for the first hour or so. We had a little bit of chasing around for fuel, but no big issue. We had a fair bit of cattle to deal with, ladies in colourful attire and a couple on a small bike wiyh the guy in a snazzy jacket.

We stopped for a cool drink as it got hot and some of the locals took the plunge in a waterhole. The little thatched huts in this are are pretty, with the pointed roof.

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Drumacoon Lad. · Jan 29, 2019

The most memorable incident on this longish ride was the roadblock we came across. We are used to police roadblocks but there were no uniforms here. In fact clothes seemed optional. We survived the experience and I'll show the sequence of photos as the situation developed. A true African experience!

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Northern jock · Jan 31, 2019

Over the border?

Lots of options in Namibia, including pointing south and staying on tarmac all the way or cutting off west and having a bit of coast. Others have suggested places to go and I'm sure you have your own ideas so I won't add lots to confuse further, just two ideas.

If you do go to Swakopmund then you can go east to Windhoek and it's worth stopping at the Spitzkoppe, impressive granite peaks with good camping. Or just a photo stop en route to Windhoek.

Or you can get east via Sossusvlei (I was attacked by hyenas when wild camping one night on this route, sleeping without a tent, my own fault) which is an impressive area.

Posh Pete · Jan 31, 2019

There's a yarn for Dent, right there Alistair!

Northern jock · Jan 31, 2019

scotboxer said:
There's a yarn for Dent, right there Alistair!

Aye, maybe if I have a wee half I'll think about it

Micky · Jan 31, 2019

scotboxer said:
There's a yarn for Dent, right there Alistair!

Northern jock said:
Aye, maybe if I have a wee half I'll think about it

I look forward to listening

simondippenhall · Jan 31, 2019

Now in Omaruru. Maybe Spitzkoppe tomorrow

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wanderingmerv · Jan 31, 2019

And looking spick and span if I might say!
Merv.

Drumacoon Lad. · Jan 31, 2019

Well exit from Angola and entry to Namibia took just over an hour good for an African border. Our first stop was at a game lodge and before dawn the next morning we were off to tour in the Etosha Pan reserve. It had rained heavily the night before, which meant the animals would have lots of puddles to drink from and not need to visit the watering holes. This may limit what we could see, but we did all right. Giraffe, various antelope, wilderbeast, zebra and a galloping warthog!

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Drumacoon Lad. · Jan 31, 2019

Then a few birds...

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Gael warning in the Congo

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