Namibia 2024: Dances with Wolves

Namibia 2024: Dances with Wolves

Today we head to the Namib Desert!

Our accommodation is located directly in the NamibRand Nature Reserve.

Today we have to demolish about 310 kilometers.

The first 60 kilometers will be asphalted, after which it will continue on gravel roads.

But first we have a leisurely breakfast and once again enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of the Red Dune Lodge.

We really enjoyed it here.

Then it's time to saddle up the chickens...or the Toyota.

We refill our car fridge with drinks and a good portion of ice cubes.

At checkout, somehow each of us had the feeling that Cinderella was in love with him, she was winking at us so much with her beautiful eyes🫣🤔😉

Then at 10:30 a.m. it was: Ladies, please start your engine.

Kristina has taken over the helm and Susi is wearing the co-pilot's hat today.

In Mariental we refueled with diesel.

Note:

Never wait until you have to fill up,

but fill up when you can.

By the way, a liter of diesel costs the equivalent of 1.10€ here.

In Maltahöhe we continued on solid, undulating gravel roads.

At times we could only drive at a maximum of 60 km/h, otherwise all the fillings and bridges in our teeth would have fallen out.

Kristina had a lot to do at the wheel and it was not an easy job to get us to the gate of Wolwedans Lodge.

We arrived at the gate at around 1:30 p.m. The Namib Desert begins almost directly behind it!

Here our Toyota was in its element.

10 kilometers on deep, soft sand, that's what makes off-road fun!

Now we arrived in a village that didn't look like our accommodation at all🤔

But we were greeted with waves from far away, so we couldn't have been completely wrong.

The solution to the mystery was that it was the Center Village of Wolwedans, where check-in takes place and where everything is prepared for the 3 small camps on the dunes.

Wolwedans means “he who dances with the wolf”

This used to be farmland for cattle, which were regularly killed by hyenas (African wolves).

When this became unprofitable, the idea of returning the land to nature arose and it became a nature reserve.

Any tourism that takes place here must be in harmony with nature and this is obviously working very well.

From here we were no longer allowed to continue on our own; we and our luggage were loaded onto an open Toyota Landcruiser, which took us to the top of the red sand dune.

Here, 8 tent huts awaited us, 2 of which were reserved for us.

Unbelievable, what a location, what a view.

I think I speak for all four of us here, we were a little taken aback...we hadn't expected it to be so "cool".

Rose greeted us in the main tent with wet cold towels to refresh our faces from the red desert dust.

She also had a cold drink in her bag. Then she explained to us how everything works here.

Now just arrive, take a deep breath and enjoy.

At 5:30 p.m. we were picked up for a sundowner.

On the plateau of a red sand dune, drinks and snacks were prepared for us so that we could bid farewell to the sun for the day!

But there was another surprise. Just in time for sunset, a French family joined us on the lodge's own horses!

The enthusiasm among our ladies was huge, because they … Warning: Spoiler alert

for tomorrow, this very ride through the Namib Desert

had planned for sunset.

Now Horse Guide Uli, Kristina, Susi, the daughters of the French family and the horses got a little closer.

The two French girls then galloped off into the sunset. What a fantastic sight. Better than any Hanni and Nanni, or was it Betty and Whatsda, film😂👍

But the event wasn't over yet.

Now that everyone knew each other so well, the girls from the newly founded Namibian Immenhof decided to ride off into the sunset together with the horse guide the next day.

On the way to our tents, the two French girls absolutely wanted to ride on the roof of our Landcruiser.

Since the road was very bumpy, we asked from time to time whether they were still there or whether they had already involuntarily left the vehicle. It was pitch black.

In order not to keep asking, I suggested that they should sing a song so we could be sure that they were still on board 😂

They started singing the French national anthem at the top of their lungs.

Due to a lack of language skills, we swayed along to the beat 😂

But now the French request for a counter-offensive came... we were supposed to perform German songs.

WTF … Susi simply started with: High up on the yellow car …

But we only knew the lyrics up to one verse, which once again only got us one point from France at the ESC.

So now let’s start again…

What can we perform for 3:18 minutes without forgetting the lyrics???

Yes, of course... On the Reeperbahn at half past midnight... now resounds, in an international line-up, through the innocent Namibian desert!!😂😂👍

This brought us the hoped-for 10 points from France💪

And now, as always, wash your hands, comb your hair and go eat dinner.

Before dinner, an aperitif was served around the campfire🍹😍

Afterwards we went to the table and were served a fantastic dinner!

One more glass of wine to say goodbye, but then we have to go to bed! Our alarm goes off at 3:20 am tomorrow morning!!!🤦‍♂️

If you're wondering why, you'll find out tomorrow!

Good night Africa!!