We are up and in the Compass Rose when they open as we have a meeting time of 8:45AM for our tour, “Treasures of the Namib Desert by Off-Road Vehicle.” It is a Regent choice excursion. We get tickets for Jeep #2 and are called right on time at 8:45AM. The transportation turns out to be nearly new, 9-passenger jeeps adapted for desert driving. The seating is two in the first row with a door, two in the second row no door and four across the back with a door. This part of the jeep has high steps to enter so Carolyn rides in the front passenger seat since the driver is the guide. There are only six passengers in each of the four jeeps so everyone has enough room. It is a great tour, well worth the extra charge. The day starts out with the usual heavy sea fog but turns beautiful, the jeeps are comfortable, our guide is good and the scenery is stunning!
We start out driving to the Walvis Bay Lagoon and tidal flood plains for our second look at this ever changing area. We actually stop a little farther out from our stop yesterday and see more birds. Plus a whole flock come winging in and land right in front of us.
Then we go along the coastal drive towards Swakopmund, turning east at Swakopmund to the Namib-Naukluft Park. We then drive about 30 KM inland to the park turn off. Here we leave any semblance of a road and civilization!
The Namib is the oldest desert in the world, home to the world's highest, shifting sand dunes and adorned with a kaleidoscope of vivid colors. We explore the unique plant life and terrain and see some of the animals of this arid region.
First we drive through the Swakop River Valley and on to the Moon Landscape that has been created by the winds that have reduced mountains to spectacular rock formations and sand, this vastly-eroded valley has an appearance similar to that of the moon's surface. We spend over two hours driving through this beautiful barren looking landscape. We make our first desert stop for a fabulous view out over the landscape.
We then head farther into the desert, seeing a small herd of springboks along the way, to see some lichen plants that help support the wildlife of the area. Our guide shows how a little moisture will make the plants come alive. The moisture mainly comes from the morning sea fog that spreads inland 200 days a year. The average rain fall is only 100mm a year and they had not had rain for 6 years until one day last week.
Mellon plant that provides moisture for the wildlife
Greening up after rain
Unusual rock formation
From here, we proceed to Welwitschia Valley. Along the way we see a troop of baboons up in the rocks. This is an area where thousands of Welwitschia plants are scattered about. We stop at a large grouping and have a lesson and photo opportunity of these neat plants. The one that our guide talks about is 600 to 800 years old.
Before we leave the Namib, we have a nice rest stop with mimosas and trays of snacks in a pleasant picnic area.
We return to the ship by way of the dune belt to Dune 7. The area is empty today and about half the group climb to the top along the knife edge and then run down the slope.
Dunes along the Dune Belt (Dune 7 is part of this group)
Dune 7
Back at the ship on time about 3PM we go through immigration since all a board is 5:30PM and we have spent all our South African Rand. Once the ship has our duly stamped passports we spend the rest of the afternoon working on the pictures from the last two days along with the blog.
At 5:30PM the Captain comes on the PA system and tells us all are aboard and we will sail as soon as we have a pilot. He also says at this point there are gale force winds ahead of us, but he will keep us informed. We cast off at 5:45PM while we are in Galileo Lounge visiting with one of the speakers, Don Walsh, and his wife. Walsh is retired USN and was on the Trieste submersible when it descended to the bottom of the Marianas
Trench in 1960. He has been on submersible expeditions to the Titanic and the Bismark.
It has been another great day. The ship is gently rocking and the sun is going down! We are tired and hungry by 6:30PM so head to the Compass Rose and get our favorite table. Good food and good wine do us in and we are off to a horizontal position. We have 10 days ahead of us with only one possible port day. But, it is like the Falklands and is usually a miss due to weather and tendering. So we will see.
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