Birthday!!!
Trip Start
Nov 17, 2009
1
32
73
Trip End
Dec 17, 2010
Where I stayed
Hostel International
Luderitz & Keetmanshoop, Namibia
Friday, March 26, 2010
Another early morning, this time to head off to Luderitz, which would take about 5 hours to celebrate someone getting another year older (1/3 of the way to being a hundred).
We set off on the usual gravel roads and after a few hours (where we saw absolutely nobody else) we had to pass through a game reserve. We saw the usual springbok, zebra and jackals but as we were driving along we spotted some Kudu (antelope about the size of a moose) and saw that a young one had its hoof caught in the fence.
That is when the superhero came out in Marit, who went over to the distressed little beast and with superhuman force freed it from the fence. The not-so-little fella, run away the best it could,I think the leg was a bit numb (it was in a male dog having a wee position and could have been there a long while) and hoping that its mum would come back, we left it in peace, hoping that its injuries were not too severe.
After the reserve we drove another few hours before hitting the tarmac (luxury) road to Luderitz. We pitched our tent on shark island (we didn't see any) and after watching the seabirds, seals and dolphins feeding in the harbour we went for a stroll into town and to the 'waterfront'. The waterfront consisted of a tiny harbour and about three shops and three restaurants, we decided to make the most of it though and had a drink and booked for dinner. Then we climbed up some rocks and watched the sun setting whilst sinking an ice cold beer/cider. In the evening we had a lovely seafood dinner with beers, all finished off with a waffle and ice cream complete with candles..... aaaah!!! Although Luderitz was not what you could call 'happening' I could think of many worse places to spend a birthday.
In the morning we headed off to Luderitz pennisular for a drive and to spot more seals and penguins before heading to Keetmanshoop, where we got some supplies and headed to Quiver tree forest camp (Quiver trees are the national emblem of Namibia and were used as quivers for arrows).
We had been recommended to go here by a couple of people and it was an amazing place. After we pitched the tent we headed back to the house for something special. When we first arrived Marit went to check in and was met by Pumba the tame warthog and several dogs, one of which was a three-legged pug who was sooooo cute! We headed to the campsite where we saw Meerkats, the only animal left that we desperately still wanted to see, we were already amazed by the place but the best was yet to come......
They have six cheetahs in a reserve and at around 5pm everyday they get fed. Amazing to watch, but we were allowed in with them (a little bit scary yes) to watch them eat. We were even allowed to give them a stroke on the head... not something you do every day!!!
After that it was time to feed the Meerkats, there were eleven adults and five young ones. They were fed a mixture of eggs and milk before finishing off anything the cheetahs left behind. The campsite also included entrance to the quiver tree forest where we saw some Hyrax and to the giant's playground, which is an area of huge strange shaped rock formations which you can walk around.
The only bad thing was that some dummy decided to jump into the pool with our mobile phone in the pocket of his new swim shorts.... Hopefully we can fix it when we are back in Windhoek. A couple of days there and we will be heading to South Africa and Cape Town.
Speak soon
Dave and Marit x
