Off on an adventure in Namibia! (page 7 of 9)

But you're everywhere! Stop traveling, I can't keep up! Namibia is on my agenda for 2027. I can't wait to hear the rest of your adventures... at least I'm sure I won't get bored! First question: which paper guidebook do you recommend? Safe travels for the rest! !

April 23 – Day 13

Etosha story, act 2! Same crowd, same routine! "The same two hundred thousand as yesterday? Or just the same two guys stuck in their white car?" Oops... Option B... Today’s safari feels like a fishing trip where you just stare at a cork that refuses to move. We’re almost to the point of greeting with a tear of emotion the scrawniest springbok spotted in the distance. In short, the day spent crisscrossing the monotonous tracks between Okaukuejo and Halali has an EKG as flat as the Kalahari Desert. Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip... "Charge at two hundred! ... Clear the way! ... Shock!" Beep... Beep... Beep... Phew, twice, Etosha snaps back to life with the over-the-top energy of a pre-pubescent teen in heat. On two life-saving occasions, we go from clinical coma to wildlife rodeo... Want me to tell you all about it?







The first wild jolt comes courtesy of a watering hole near Okaukuejo, where a ridiculous half-barking, half-braying concert of mutant animals rises into the air. Jackal mating? Hyena courtship? Warthog fight? ... Nope! Giant zebra pool party! A watering hole as a stage where thousands—maybe tens of thousands—of zebras put on a show. Télérama would’ve headlined it "A masterful staging!" They’re braying, shoving, splashing, drinking, arriving from all sides... A black-and-white kaleidoscope that makes the whole day worth it!

Today’s safari feels like a fishing trip where you just stare at a cork that never moves.

Phew! I thought I was the only one who didn’t see much at Etosha—it’s more seasonal than other parks.

Day 13 (continued)













Because after that, an adrenaline crash, a fruitless Easter egg hunt in December... and post-lunch conversations of absolute sterility: "Franck, Franck, back up, there was a rhino right there! - ...... No, honey, it's a big rock.... - Franck, look! A rhino! - Uh... still not! This time, it's a termite mound! - Franck, a... a... a big hippo! - Oh no, sorry to contradict you again, but this time, it's definitely a rhinoceros!" Wow! A real one, flesh and horn! And we double down because it's quickly joined by its girlfriend! Hands up, don't move, don't make a sound! To set the scene, it's nightfall, and we're overlooking the Halali waterhole. They're there, both of them, playfully nudging each other's horns with tenderness... Can you believe it? Two prehistoric giants, wild and endangered, wiggling their behinds less than five or six meters away from us for a whole hour... Not behind a screen... Not in a wildlife documentary... Just right there... Without a doubt, another moment that adds to the legend of our Namibian adventure...

You're everywhere! Stop traveling, I can't keep up! Namibia is on my agenda for 2027. I can't wait to hear more about your adventures... at least I know I won't get bored.. First question: which paper guidebook do you recommend? Safe travels for the rest! !

Once this one's published, I'll start another! 😏 As for the paper guidebook...? Uh... never use paper guides... I torture the internet in every way possible...

Today’s safari feels more like a fishing trip—staring at a cork that just won’t budge.

Phew! I thought I was the only one who didn’t see much at Etosha, which is way more seasonal than other parks.

While we were there at the best time for everything before Etosha, April isn’t the greatest month to spot tons of animals in this national park! But looking back, we don’t regret a thing. When were you there?

A tad too early!

I’d never had any issues spotting animals anywhere else, so I didn’t think twice about Etosha’s quirks.

Didn’t even see an elephant! !🤪

Oh well, it was my 14th or 15th trip to Southern Africa, so it didn’t bother me.

My partner, on the other hand, who was visiting the continent for the first time, was a bit disappointed...

Hi there,

Like Attila last April, I strained my eyes at Etosha! No elephants, no giraffes... and at the waterhole, thank goodness I had my chips and my Savanna... nada. It had rained too much beforehand, and there weren’t thousands of waterholes in the park. It’s neither Thoiry nor Kruger. I’m going back next month, and this time, I’m praying:

Saint Francis of Assisi: patron saint of animals and ecology Saint Christopher: patron saint of travelers and drivers Saint Anthony of Padua: the patron saint of lost things

Hoping it works! Looking forward to the sequel 🙂, thanks in advance

Hello,

No matter the destination, you’ll always see more animals near waterholes or rivers during the dry season!! During the rainy season—or just after—there are temporary waterholes all over the place, far from trails or roads, to meet the needs and ensure the peace of thirsty animals.

But still, never forget: "A SAFARI IS UNPREDICTABLE" (nothing is ever guaranteed in terms of quality or quantity)

To create the documentaries that amaze us on TV and make us want to travel, filmmakers spend weeks during the best seasons—often over several years!!

In 4 trips to Namibia, I’ve been to ETOSHA 3 times and loved it, but always between September and November. (And always with a guide....! 😉 )

Puma2A

(But... also: When you’re driving yourself, you spend a significant amount of your attention on the road, and you can’t just become an animal-spotting expert in a few days in the country...!)

...

Don’t worry, I’d planned the trip and knew what to expect regarding the timing of our road trip. And our priority wasn’t wildlife but the landscapes. As for guides, I don’t do activities if a guide has to accompany us. Freedom and independence are worth far more than maybe spotting an animal or two from a distance... That said, I get that this way of traveling and exploring isn’t for everyone.

Hi there,

Like Attila last April, I wore my eyes out at Etosha! No elephants, no giraffes... and at the waterhole, thank goodness I had my chips and my Savanna... nada. It had rained too much beforehand, and there weren’t thousands of waterholes in the park. It’s neither Thoiry nor Kruger. I’m going back next month, and this time, I’m going to pray:

Saint Francis of Assisi: patron saint of animals and ecology Saint Christopher: patron saint of travelers and drivers Saint Anthony of Padua: the patron saint of lost things

Hoping it works! Looking forward to the update 🙂, thanks in advance

We went in April (this year) and were lucky! We saw loads of giraffes and elephants! And of course, we didn’t even count the zebras and springboks! We saw 2 lionesses from a distance and 3 rhinos, so no regrets!

I’ll pray for you! 😊

April 24 – Day 14



Even for two adults in sardine mode, the interior of our 4x4 wasn’t originally designed to double as a 4-star hotel. Or 3-star... Uh, or even 2-star... But first, I didn’t opt for the "Flo’s long legs" upgrade, and second, the nights are chilly and actively encourage cuddling up... Either way, we’ve spent every night of these past two weeks in the trunk of our car. Two weeks of nighttime contortions and wild blanket theft. But last night was the last one. Today is also our last day in Etosha Park. "That’s a lot of 'lasts' in your vocabulary... You wouldn’t be subtly hinting that the credits are about to roll on your Namibian adventure, would you?" Nope. As long as we’ve got chips and diesel, the time for tearful goodbyes and recaps hasn’t officially arrived yet! Let’s pretend we’re not thinking about it and save that for later if you don’t mind...

For now, enjoying the savanna animals is still on the agenda. Well... if they feel like letting us enjoy them, because the road between Halali and Namutoni is once again proving otherwise. It’s only once we hit the Dik Dik drive track that *Animals & Co.* and *The Secret Life of Pets* all take the stage!







And the locals we’ve come across here are far from shy! They let us snap their portraits with total ease, no modesty whatsoever. Gone are the days when we had to stalk our first skittish oryx in the depths of Damaraland... Surprisingly surprised giraffes, impassive impalas, graceful elands, snobby wildebeests, cartoonish warthogs...









A whole menagerie lining up to bid us farewell as we leave the park, wishing us safe travels to the small town of Tsumeb.

Day 14 (continued)







After racking up five thousand two hundred kilometers of rough roads—complete with stiff necks and dust-filled nostrils—we treated ourselves to a well-earned luxury: a lodge-style tent right in the middle of the pampa, complete with a private pool, barbecue, and ice-cold beers! "No, don’t even try to make us feel guilty..." And at just 30 € a night in Namibia, it’s a steal!







The rest of the day smelled like chlorine (mostly for me), hops (mostly for me), and grilled meat (again, mostly for me), all set to the soundtrack of snoring (ah, that’s Flo’s department). Nothing too exciting to report—just proof that even we can take a break every now and then. Yes, yes, it’s possible! 😏

A luxury tent lodge-style in the middle of the pampa, private little pool, barbecue, and ice-cold beers! "No, don’t even try to make us feel guilty..." Plus, at thirty bucks a night in Namibia, it’s a steal!

Aha, I knew they’d cave!!

No normal human sleeps in a trunk!! 😉😏

I vote for Zuri Camp! Did I get it right?

I vote for Zuri Camp! Am I right?

Pascale, one point for you! Well spotted! Unbeatable value for money in Namibia!

A luxury tent lodge-style in the middle of nowhere, private little pool, barbecue, and ice-cold beers! "No, don’t even try to make us feel guilty..." Plus, at thirty bucks a night in Namibia, it’s a steal!

Aha, I knew they’d cave!!

No normal person sleeps in a trunk!! 😉😏🤪

😆😆😆 We were forced!

Awesome, I’ll be staying there for one night in a month! 😊 And for the same program as you: beers, pool, barbecue, and snoring 😏

Awesome, I’ll be staying there for one night in a month 🙂 And for the same program as you: beers, pool, barbecue, and snoring😏

Great choice, you’re going to love it!

... A little remark—if I may—: The magnificent impalas you’ve shown in the pictures are black-faced impalas, different from the "common" impalas. The name makes sense when you see the close-up photo of the animal lying down. From what I’ve read, they’re found ONLY in Angola and Namibia, and their total population is tiny compared to the common impala. A truly beautiful animal!

And on the Dik-dik Drive, didn’t spot or see any… dik-diks??

Puma2A

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