After taking over the car in Kasane we continued on to discover a bit more of the Caprivi strip. It is a beautiful area and there are so many big rivers around. We had several campsites along rivers but the one called Ngepi Camp was a highlight. Already the way there proofed to be worth the journey:
I felt down the beginning of last week. I was struggling with travel blues I guess and I also got pissed off about the rental car. It is really only a pickup truck with some boxes stuffed with camping gear and a tent on the roof. Half of the trunk we cannot use since no access on the side is available. My German background does not like the unorganization it sees.
And of course, I saw others and they had what I wanted. So, I had to deal with “spending a lot of money on a car and still not having what I want”. I am more OK with it now and finally the car is gettin the color it should have anyway 😉
Also, Susana and I were struggling internally and in Etosha it looked like we will go our own ways. Immediately fear (and other emotions) came up. Probably fear of being alone, traveling alone etc. It was not good and at the end of that day I was exhausted. Sooner or later I will have to face these fears as I will travel for real by myself. For now, we are still enjoying this trip together.
Anyway! From Ngepi camp we drove all the way to the Waterberg Plateau (don’t ever go to Rundu!). I don’t think I would go there again as it was also quite a detour instead of going to Etosha directly and except for the hike we didn’t see much.
Etosha hosted us for 3 nights (going from the eastern camp westwards). The rainy season proofs not to be the best time for Etosha as the animals have plenty of hiding possibilities and water is not as sparse as during summer. You can go to a waterhole and wait but the chances are nothing is coming.
However, we saw several rhinos and the sighting was an awesome one. We also saw many other species and just the landscape was breathtaking.
When we left Etosha going northwest was when I think we saw it in a different light. There the vegetation is more sparse and we could see herds of zebras, antelopes and wildbeests from afar and near.
In the last camp in Etosha we had to make a decision. Either head south in direction of Twyfelfontein and the main tourist route or north to Opuwo. I asked myself what Rob would do and I was sure he would head north off the beaten track. Additionally, if not there why having an 4×4 anyway? When I am alone I might have not the possibility/flexibility/guts. And guess what the decision was? 😀 Right! We are in Opuwo right now and this afternoon go see some Himba (or Herero?) people. Yes, it is touristic nevertheless but on a different scale. And I think I want to go even further north…
But for now I let you envy me with a picture from my current location 😉
And as promised in the last blog, here the places been so far.
I hope this post finds you well, at least that is what I wish for. I understand that the fear and panic is quite high, especially in Europe.
I have been asked by several people how Corona is affecting me and my travels and what I will do. So, I will write a bit about it in this post even that I think enough media attention (aka fear) is already on this subject.
I think the measures taken by the governments in several European countries are OK, the panic isn’t. As I understand it (and I am open to criticism and correction), it is to flatten the infection curve so that the health systems can handle them.
Anyway, back to me and my plans. I guess I have several options:
A) Fly back to Germany
B) Stay where I am (Namibia)
C) Go on as “planned”
D)…
While A) sounds like a reasonable thing to do, it isn’t for me. I just don’t see the panic yet, even that I also have fears and worries. However, I try to work with them and not be ruled by them (they are not the answer…maybe they can point us in a direction). Going back to Germany makes no sense for me since I assume it would be difficult to get flight tickets and/or I might get stuck in an airport in some transit country. Plus, going through the airports puts me exactly through the virus hotspots just to end up in a country that is becoming a high risk in itself (although with better healtcare). And where should I stay? I have my RV in Portugal and even going there it doesn’t seem that I would be able to live in my “house”. And I might just be another virus host spreading the bad stuff.
My plan of action is to continue on as planned. Which means traveling through the southern and eastern African states. This might become impossible soon as also here measures are getting more drastic. For example, Namibia just reported 2 confirmed cases and South Africa has declared emergency. Today we filled up gas in Opuwo and for the first time I saw people with masks and the fear was touchable.
So it might become impossible to go to Botsuana and Mozambique next. Which would really suck because in the worst case I was hoping to be stuck on a nice beach in Mozambique 😉 I hope that the gas will be enough to bring me/us to a nice Namibian beach and there we will wait and see if it passes or if I die there.
I have taken the precautions that I could think of and the embassy knows where I am and can inform me if there is anything to be informed about. Other than that, I plan on enjoying this trip, go into love and hope that this crisis will bring something good. Maybe we realize some things while being in quarantine and that could help make this world a better place. I do not have the answer what this could be…but maybe you have if you go within. That leaves me with that picture:
With all my love,
Matthias
PS: In times like these a meditation once in a while helps. Can be also a walk in the park/forest.