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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Wreck of the Zeila |
A bleak stretch of sandy beach, with the occasional shipwreck to break the monotony.
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| 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.
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| Volcanic intrusion |
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| 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.
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| Reputed to be 1200 years old |
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| 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.
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| Desert sunset |
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