Namibia

For the last couple of months Namibia has had alot of unseasonal rain, and so for our first few days in Namibia I saw what most people never see in Namibia - and that was grass. It did mean that we saw fewer wild animals because they have enough drinking water and so are not concentrated around the natural watering holes as they usually are. Saying that I did see hundreds upon hundreds of Springbok especially in the Etosha National Park, Springboks bounce when they run - they do look like tigger - they are so comical. After Etosha we moved along the skeleton coast, here it was pure desert. Not a blade of grass to be seen anywhere. Spitzkoppe is the large redish mountain which is called the Materhorn of namibia. We camped alongside it and I actually slept on the side of the rock under the stars!
Whilst in the desert I also climbed dune 45, this dune is famous has it is the most photographed in Namibia and often features in National Geographic. It is over 100metres high and is an absolute swine to climb. I climbed it late evening and watched the sunset from the top. I was absolutely knackered but not half as knackered as Louise who gave birth to baby Dylan the same day - Congratulations guys!
From the desert we moved to Swakopmund also known as the adrenaline capital. I went out on a two hour quad bike ride across the dunes.
this was not a nice genteel ride but quite an adventure climbing up and down the dunes. At one point we all had to come to a complete stop as we went over the edge of one dune at a 180 degree angle - it was a straight drop down. i went incredibly slowly with my heart in my mouth at all times but I did make it and without injury. Apart from the pockets of sheer terror it was a really fun afternoon. It wasn't all adrenaline though, I also went on a dolphin cruise where we followed a pod of dolphins for a while. They really are graceful animals. We also saw plenty of seals, at one point one seal actually jumped into the back of the boat. They have gotten so used to the boats that they jump inside and demand to be fed. The nine of us onboard didn't know this at first, so we all jumped six feet in the air when this seal first appeared. they are so large in the flesh. At least a metre and a half long and very wide. Its not many days you get to ruffle a seals fur - it was an unexpected treat. To celebrate our success with both seals and dolphins, the skipper brought out champagne and oysters. This was the first time I have had oysters and surprisingly I enjoyed them, so much so I had 4 - they helped the half bottle of champagne so down nicely!
For those celeb buffs amongst you, Swakopmund is also where Brad and Angelina had a house for a while and where she gave birth to their first baby. My final stop in Namibia was the Fish River Canyon - this geographical wonder rivals the Grand Canyon in its beauty and scope. I took a gentle stroll along the top - not the five day hike it takes to cover the whole canyon. From the canyon it was literally a short hop and a drive to the South African border - my final country.