Le Mirage Desert Lodge & Spa Namib Desert Sesriem

... have any thought for your hair, bring a spray bottle of leave in conditioner, or if you really love your hair, a repair conditioner to use in your normal washing routine. Even the oiliest hair will become seriously dry and brittle. We all ended up with birdsnest by the end of each day and you could hear everyone (even the guys with short hair) trying tocomb the knots out. I found tying it back in either a bun or a pony-tail plait where the best options. <br><br ...

... and even bar facilities. I will miss the colorful, traditional clothes, the unique culture and enthusiasm of the people, the frontier traveling challenges and the bush camps in weird and wonderful places.<br><br>Our first stop in Namibia was Etosha National Park - where our first major exposure to Africa's animals caused much excitement and wonder within the truck. We had a wonderful couple of days driving through the park, viewing a ...

... could have spent more, and given the chance would return there. There are only 8 pitches and there are great views from each pitch and it feels as if you are part of the wilderness. A campfire discussion with Immo brought home the point that there is much more to Namibia than you first realize or hear about, or what is marketed. Yes there are the dunes, Etosha, Skeleton Coast and Caprivi but there is so much more that ...

... is so dry and dusty that it's impossible to stay clean, so while the boys head off for a dip in the swimming pool, the girls head off to get showered and cleaned up, It feels so good to be dirt free, even if only for a matter of minutes!! Dinner tonight is chicken curry with rice and it goes down a treat. As I've been coming down with a cold today (had the sniffles since this morning), I decide to have an early night so I'm in bed by 9:30pm.

... sleeping bags and fleeces.  Even with the tarps down it was cold.  The drive to Dune 45 was very scenic with red dunes on either side getting soaked in a golden glow as the sun rose.  A few people were already there when we arrived so we followed suit and trudged up the ridge.  At 150m high it's not the biggest dune but the most easily accessible.  Big Daddy is the largest at 350-400m high but also an 11km walk to the top!  No thanks! Walking up was slightly frustrating at times having ...

... better than yesterday!  Will be up to 10 miles before I know it. Once again was a really beautiful run along dirt track with plains of yellow grass and red rocks on either side.  Great way to start the day.  Even Oliver went out walking. Not long after we were picked up (basically we leave camp half an hour before the truck does and just run until it catches up) Jay slammed on the breaks and reversed to show us none other than a yellow African Cobra ...

... we'd be back the next day instead. As he drove off Peter and Bernard already had started deflating our bakkie's wheels. We were going to undertake the risky 4km stretch in our 2x4 bakkie. I opted to sit in the back in the canopy (thinking it the safer option), Peter took to the wheel and Bernard slid in beside him as his co-driver. And we were off... If you've ever watched the Dakar or any of the car ...

... Sometimes when there was food shortages, they were forced to leave their children or the older people behind in the desert. The bushmen say that the best thing to do is keep walking and not look back. They say westerners don't understand that life in the desert is hard and sometimes this is the only way to survive. I can't imagine having to make that choice! We headed back to our campsite to pack up and eat lunch. Then back on the road. Its only 1:30 and I am ...

... would've given us a ride. The sun began to rise above the mountain range of red sand that encircled us. the light grey of dawn turned pink, then red and orange in a mesmerising colour show. we climbed one of the dunes and sat silently watching natures own real time painting unfold before us. before it began to get too hot, we pushed on and made for deadvlei. this is a pan (place where water collects if it does rain) white in colour and ...

... with Boesman capturing a lizard and telling us how the Bushmen were hunted by white people and kept as pets up until the early 20th Century. It had been a full day already and it was only 11am. We headed back to Sesriem for lunch and to pack up camp, before setting off to Kon Keip. Much to our delight Big W had upgraded all of us that evening to cabins instead of the normal tent. It was my teams turn for cooking so I borrowed my kiwi bbq skills (thanks Mike) and did kebabs on an open fire.