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Friday, April 8, 2016

Namibia - Namib/Nauklauf desert

Desert mirage

A permit is to leave the main roads in the Namib/Nauklauf desert. Accordingly we went to Swarkopmund on the coast to obtain the necessary.
Poles - and more poles
After crossing a long stretch of desert, complete with mirages and endless rows of telephone poles we hit the salt road coming down from the Skeleton Coast.
Wreck of the Zeila
A bleak stretch of sandy beach, with the occasional shipwreck to break the monotony.

Moonscape
Next day, permit in hand, it was off on the Welwitchia Drive leading to the 1500 year old welwitchia plants.
The drive, well waymarked, passes a number of interesting features. In the middle of an arid landscape, known as the "moonscape" a side turning leads to an oasis, with campsite, restaurant and wandering llamas(!) and turkeys.
Through further moonscape, evidence of the ancient volcanic nature of the area is provided by a line of igneous intrusion.
Volcanic intrusion
Goanikontes Oasis
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Female welwitchia
Finally the plants – looking half dead they are scattered across the desert. Gender indicatore show that they come in male and female varieties. The final one, reputed to be 1500/ years old is protected by a fence, with a viewing platform.
Reputed to be 1200 years old
Gonab campsite
Leaving the Drive we headed to our most remote campsite for the night, Gonab, right out in the desert. With trees for shade, a braai (BBQ) location and a long-drop toilet 50 m away it was well-equipped. Animal tracks passed close to the site and some zebra and springbok were sighted during the evening, but our night was undisturbed.



Desert sunset



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