Hammerstein Lodge Sesriem

... got lost during a blackout walking from our tents to the bar! (ask passers-by, the two- of us that did saved the others from walking to Cape Town again.) There is a pool available here too.<br><br>TIP: Babywipes are a godsend here as you'll go to the showers and have to walk back over sand so you'll have dirty feet again. And during the day, you'll also have sand ingrained on your face after a while, not to mention sock-tan-lines of dust/ sand.<br><br>TIP: If ...

<br><br>Our entry into Namibia, effectively marked the end of our West Africa experience...I had mixed emotions. As the excitement of our first shop in a supermarket that had western goods and meat pies readily available subdued, I realised that the challenge and excitement of traveling through underdeveloped countries would be put on hold for at least 3 months....I'm not sure whether I can cope with daily access to camp grounds with toilets ...

... some zebra loin from him. When asked where we could walk we were told &#8216;anywhere&#8217;. The river that has water all year is but a few minutes walk from the pitch and yes you can swim in it. Immo has even created a Quiver Tree Forest, and if you ask he will tell you about it and allow you to walk/drive there. Quiver trees are the Kokerboom or Mountain Aloes found throughout the area.<br><br>We spent two days there ...

... I would say!) than yesterday at Fish River. We are able to climb down to the bottom of the canyon and have a dig around there in the cool for a while before deciding to head back up. The girls take the sensible route and walk up, while the boys decide to show off and climb their way out of the gorge, Luckily we all get to the top with our limbs in tact and head back to the campsite. <br><br>At this point, we are all covered in dust and dirt ...

Up before the crack of dawn - 5am. OUCH!!  As we camped outside the conservation area we wanted to be at the gates ready and waiting for when they opened at 6am... which we were and already we were 6th in line.  Obviously a lot of others with the same idea. Mum Kate had skilfully bought tickets day before so we skipped that bit and headed straight to Dune 45 some 62km away.  Thankfully it was on sealed road so made it there in no time.  Everyone sat huddled in the truck covered in blankets ...

Woke up at 5:30am to a stunning sunrise over a massive lake which, it turns out, we camped right next to. Couldn't hear the water the night before but woke thinking "what the hell is that noise".  Suzie was half expecting a crocodile to come chomp her during the night. Went running again today - yes two times in a row!!  This time I just ran with Sarah and managed 2.6 miles before my first stop, **** I know but good for me... that's like two and half ...

... we were informed that the trucks do not run after 4pm. But, says this guy, he will do us a favour and take us through but it will cost us N$110 each to take us through to the vlei and back. A few moments of hestitation later, he offered to take us through for N$60 each and then we could walk the 4km back. Both of these offers sounded like too much of a rip off so we turned them down and told the ...

... Deadsvlei is strange looking. It looks like a dried white patch with a bunch of black leafless trees...a scene out of a kids witch story. I have some good pictures! From here we climbed another dune (not quite as big as dune 45) to look at a small pool of water that had formed from the recent rain. I did the run down the side of the dune again...I just find it fun. Our guide ended with telling us some stories about the bushmen people and their lives in the ...

... a geriatric couple in their brand new and fully equiped landrover and a German (they are everywhere in africa) people carrier bearing its crew...blonde man,blonde woman and 2.3 blonde children. The road ended for us (it continued for the 4x4's) at a small car park 5km from the most famous of the dunes, Sossusvlei. We pulled in, threw on the packs, grabbed the water and headed in on foot. Maybe if we had not cut off the oldies at the gate ...

... place where water used to be). The dead vlei had a petrified forest in it; the trees were approx 900yrs old and haven't degraded as much as they should due to the arid nature of the desert. We enjoyed taking photos amongst the trees esp since JLo had shot a movie in them, before Boesman showed us his party trick. He found a spider hole in the desert floor and using a twig opened up the spider's trap door. Instantly, the enraged spider emerged and slammed the door shut! The tour ...