Palmwag Lodge (Hb) Damaraland

... move from one home to another several times a year to seek grazing for their goats and cattle. Men, women and children wear body adornments made from iron and shell beads. A himba women spends as much as three hours a day on her toilette. First she bathes, then she anoints herself with her own individually prepared mixture not only protects her skin from the harsh desert sun, but also keeps insects away and prevents her body hair from falling out. She uses ...

Brandberg White Lady Lodge & Camping 22nd & 23rd July 2009

Drove from Cape Cross to Uis (C34 to C35), the road surface not too bad, landscape went from barren desert to rocky terrain with some vegetation. More habitation too with people at the roadside selling gemstones to anyone willing to stop. They actually stand in the road and wave you towards their stalls. We ...

We started the day by driving up the most southerly part of the skeleton coast (so called because of the number of shipwrecks and the very slim chance of survival historically) as far as Cape Cross Seal Colony. Never seen (or smelled) so many seals - the beaches and the surf were packed with them - plus the odd jackal prowling after pups. From there we headed inland to our bush campsite at Spitzkoppe, a rural area with great ...

"In the morning we visit the Himba tribe, a semi-nomadic tribe, living in scattered settlements throughout the region. They are characterised by their proud yet friendly stature and the women are noted for their unusual beauty, enhanced by intricate hairstyles and traditional dress. A few hours are spent learning more about these fascinating people. After our visit we proceed to Etosha National Park where we enjoy our first game drive." 230 km/143 miles driving Visit ...

"We drive inland through the Damaraland region with its vast and rugged terrain. Its mountain ranges are intercepted by wide gravel plains, which run into sandy, vegetated riverbeds and hot, dry valleys. We visit the Twyfelfontein area for walks to the bushmen paintings/ rock engravings as well as the Organ Pipes." 468 km/290 miles driving

... was in fact one of three baby's owned as pets by the lodge. After that he became the main nights entertainment, following anyone who walked through the bin, being picked up, stroked and thrown out of various tents. Eventually our Paulus (our camp assistant) made a little burrow for him and locked him in it, after the meercat kept jumping into the fire to warm himself. After tea a lot of the staff who worked at the lodge came to sing and dance some traditional african music ...

8th January - Brandberg White Lady Camp, Damaraland, Namibia, 21.0184S 14.6861E Alt 477m Meeting Godhirdine Keywords - Ancient paintings, Martian Landscapes, Pregnant dolls, Hike into Brandbergs, Godhirdine Garoes, Clicking language, Upgrade. The landscape of Damaraland and Brandberg Mountain range is an inspiration to me. I love this place for its arid beauty, red sand and vastness. We set off to view some ancient rock paintings in the morning cool. Here I get ...

What can we say. It felt wonderful to finally arrive at Beth's second home. The town has grown, cleaned up, and just seems better now. We met some of Beth's students in town. Two of them actually came up to her in the supermarket and said "Miss Collins?" One them was the smallest boy in school and is now Erik's height. It is amazing for Beth to see how they have grown up. Beth was able ...

After the heads had cleared from Swakop we visited the Snake Park to have a look at all the creatures that could cause us grief on our travels. Eddie wasn't too keen to get in amongst the snakes and scorpions and refused point blank to hold the harmless 3m long python (which weighed a tonne!) Pretty impressive collection of beasts and I was primarily concerned with which snakes could kill you and how long you had before you needed to get to hospital... Black Mambas and Spitting Cobras ...

The campsite at Otjitotongwe was full of interesting things. They had a pool, a tower that we climbed to watch the sunrise, lots of birds around the grounds such as red billed hornbills and white crowned sparrow weavers. The bar had some interesting trophies. A warthog butt and a stuffed elephant trunk and penis. I ended up buying a warthog tusk that had been made into a bottle opener, definitely my favourite ...