Off on an adventure in Namibia! (page 8 of 9)

... A little remark—if I may—: The magnificent impalas you’ve shared in your photos are actually black-faced impalas, different from the "common" impalas. It’s easy to see how they got their name from the close-up shot 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

...

Unfortunately, no, we didn’t see any dik-diks on the namesake trail either… But we *had* spotted one two days earlier at the western entrance of Etosha. As for the impala, yeah, a wildlife-expert friend also pointed that out when he saw my photos.

April 25 – Day 15



If you came looking for your last fix of dusty landscapes and ferocious animals threatening to turn our car into a tin can, I’d better warn you right now: the show’s over. Curtains! Credits! Popcorn down! This final post won’t even chronicle our last kilometers, returning our trusty 4x4, our flights and waiting times, or even our layover night in Johannesburg. No, I’m going to use what’s left of the attention you’re still willing to give me to share the wrap-up of this trip that catapulted us to Namibia—a playground you may have discovered vicariously through our photos and words. So, what did *you* think?... Because, as you’ve gathered from our daily ramblings, saying we *loved* it would be an insult to this corner of the world! What a destination! What a rush of freedom! What an incredible portfolio of landscapes! After consulting, both the ladies and gents on this adventure are unanimous: **Intergalactic crush!**

Two weeks, five thousand two hundred kilometers—three-quarters of which were spent sacrificing our necks to Namibia’s rough tracks—sandy deserts, rocky deserts, waterfalls, tribes, animals, *more* animals, animals watching other animals, canyons, volcanoes, encounters, salt flats, mountains, ghost towns, the ocean... and *even more* animals. Green, yellow, red, brown... Seriously, this Namibia can change its face like a chameleon, giving you the illusion of visiting multiple countries in a single day! One minute it’s Mars, the next Jurassic Park, then Mad Max, before flipping to an Arte documentary...

And what about April, right after the rainy season? Perfect for the weather, perfect for landscapes enhanced by little touches of still-lush vegetation! Not *quite* as perfect for wildlife, but we knew that. "So, if you had to imagine the *perfect* Namibian adventure, what would you change?" Nothing! Not the ambitious itinerary, not the weather, not our basic travel conditions... and *especially* not my perfect co-pilot—always up for it, always enthusiastic, always in sync, always amazed, able to handle both the bumps and fords of Namibian tracks *and* my terrible puns...

So, the conclusion? As Flo would say, "They lived happily ever after and had many more adventures"? Oh, absolutely! Because so far, as an antidote to the post-trip blues, we’ve found nothing better than focusing on our next destinations. While the washing machine deals with the Namibian dust in our clothes, our brains are already planning our next departure... And don’t worry—I just checked: since you’re a premium subscriber, you’ll be the first to know...

Thanks for taking me along on a great deal (or tale?) to a country I’ll never visit. It was a pleasure following your journey.

Thanks Franck for this really great travel journal. See you!

Thanks for taking me along for a great deal (or tale?) to a country I’ll never visit. It was a pleasure following you.

Glad I could make you travel a bit with us! See you soon for more adventures! 🙂

Thanks Franck for this really great report. See you!

One travel journal ends... Another begins... 😄

I missed the start but caught up with the 4x4 😄 Namibia is the country that left the deepest impression on me, so I’m extra happy to see it through your words again 😍

Given how we roll on the road, it’s a miracle you caught up with us! 😇

Since I joined even later, I just waited for you to finish the loop to pick up the 4x4. So many amazing memories are coming back reading this travel journal (and those gorgeous photos)... I realize our Namibia trip was 16 years ago, and we had our two little ones with us! It was the start of our love for Southern Africa, which continued with Botswana (the stunning Okavango) and Tanzania—both times managing to leave the kids behind 😏

The Caprivi Strip, Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa are calling our names. Not Tanzania, though... We prefer independence, and self-drive isn’t allowed there...

The Caprivi Strip, Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa are calling our names.

Caprivi and South Africa: Haven’t visited Botswana: The best for wildlife! The country itself is like one big park. Zambia: Very rugged, very poor, not the best for animals (even though we saw a lot in the end at Luangwa), and the landscapes weren’t amazing either. But man, we got a serious reality check about our lives as Europeans.

Uganda is really the most well-rounded (wildlife + landscapes). You can easily explore it on your own. A+

The Caprivi Strip, Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa are catching our eye. Not Tanzania, though... We prefer autonomy, and self-drive isn't allowed there...

Hey Franck, Thanks again for this report. Just a small clarification—self-drive *is* actually allowed in Tanzania. Personally, the diversity of Namibian landscapes is unmatched. For wildlife, there’s no comparison, but you’ll have to break the bank a few times ;)

The Caprivi Strip, Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa are catching our eye. Tanzania, though, not so much... We prefer autonomy, and self-drive isn’t allowed there...

Hey Franck, Thanks again for this report. Just a small clarification—self-drive *is* actually allowed in Tanzania. Personally, the diversity of Namibia’s landscapes is unmatched. For wildlife, there’s no comparison, but you’ll have to break the bank a bit 😉

I just checked, and you’re right. The prices, though... 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

The Caprivi Strip, Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa are calling our names. Not Tanzania, though... We prefer autonomy, and self-drive isn't allowed there...

Hmm, weird—I saw people doing self-drive in Tanzania. Who gave you that info?

Hello,

Thanks for sharing, and so sad to hear the adventure is ending. I loved AFS: the penguins in Cape Town and the Big Five in Kruger on a self-drive trip, and I fell in love with Namibia for its landscapes and the freedom of a 4x4 with a rooftop tent (too old for the trunk now!!) last April. And next month, we’re heading back to explore Etosha outside the rainy season, and we’ll go up to Caprivi, Chobe, and end at Victoria Falls. I think it’ll be a different kind of trip, but I’m envious of those discovering this country for the first time!! Take care

Bravo and thank you for this amazing travel journal! Adventure, stunning landscapes, beautiful photos, and so much humor—I loved following your duo.

I was surprised to see you encountered so few other travelers. I thought Namibia was a much more touristy destination... The choice of season must be important.

Hello,

Thanks for sharing, and so sad to see the adventure come to an end. I loved AFS: the penguins in Cape Town and the Big Five in Kruger on a self-drive trip, and I adored Namibia for its landscapes and the freedom of a 4x4 with a rooftop tent (too old for the trunk!!) last April. And next month, we’re heading back to explore Etosha outside the rainy season, and we’ll go up to Caprivi, Chobe, and end at Victoria Falls. I think it’ll be a different trip, but I envy those discovering this country for the first time!! Take care

If you’re sad the adventure is over, just know I’ve got other travel journals in the works on VF. And I’ve still got more to publish... 😛

You’re gonna love your itinerary next month! Come on, give the trunk a try—you’ll see it’s not so bad 🤪

Bravo and thanks for this amazing travel journal! Adventure, stunning landscapes, beautiful photos, and so much humor—I loved following your duo.

I was surprised to see you didn’t run into many other travelers. I thought Namibia was a much more touristy destination... The choice of season must make a big difference.

Hello Sylvie, I didn’t go in July or August—that’s peak season—and I can’t really speak to that, but in April, there really weren’t many people around. In fact, we often had remote spots all to ourselves. That said, the country is so vast and sparsely populated that it’s not like China during Golden Week either! 😏 (the guy teasing about his trip next month... 😎) Franck

Some travel journals are so informative that sometimes you even get the GPS coordinates to locate yourself...

Then there are Franck’s travel journals, which I think perfectly capture his trips: Always wild, but what a blast!

Thanks for the report (I really love the report), I loved traveling with you even though I already knew some of the places.

Okay, but just to confirm: definitely not in the trunk! 🤪 😉

Hello,

Sincerely, a big THANK YOU for your entire travel journal. Through your photos, I was able to revisit—sometimes down to the meter—places we’ve explored during four different trips, from the canyon in the south to the Kunene in the north.

Our trips were in small groups with a driver, but the joy of being in the landscapes and wild nature of this country is the same, whether you're gazing up or behind the wheel.

What I especially loved in your journal was revisiting the stretch after the seals at Cape Cross, from the moment you turned on your right blinker. Such a strong emotion to relive this region through your photos. THANK YOU, thank you...!!

During our first two stays, we experienced the early days of "SOLITAIRE" and its founder, "Mousse," who passed away a few years ago. A tall, super-friendly guy who collected stamps and gave my wife a whole stack of them. Back then, there was only one building.

And so on...

THANKS

Safe travels and happy trails for the road ahead (as long as you can keep going).

Puma2A

...

What a great adventure that brought back so many memories!

In slightly more comfortable conditions...😏

The Caprivi Strip, Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa are calling our names.

For someone who says they don’t prioritize animals, I wouldn’t recommend Botswana. The most varied country would be South Africa—why not add Lesotho? It’s also the least expensive option, especially since the budget seems really tight (or is the trunk just for masochism?😄).

Zambia is interesting for daily life, Lake Kariba and Victoria Falls are impressive. For the rest, it’s a bit dull.

Not Tanzania, though... We prefer autonomy, and self-drive isn’t allowed there...

As mentioned by several participants, self-drive *is* allowed in Tanzania.

The issue is more about the prices... (4x4 rental + park entry fees, mainly).

There’s a way to cut costs: skip the most famous parks. 😛

Forget Ngorongoro and Serengeti.

One of them, besides being extremely expensive, also seems to suffer from overtourism...

...

Just a small detail that bothered me in your story:

Using the word "traque" for organized searches for Desert Elephants. In English, we do say "Elephant tracking," but I translate it as "Search for Elephants."

Only poachers track elephants; tourists or nature lovers go in search of them.

We were also lucky enough to see them up close several times, and even found their footprints right in front of our tent when we woke up near Purros...

Cheers.

Puma