Etosha

Saturday morning 07:30 Led Zeppelin … Life is good!

I am actually already up since 05:30 and I am totally excited. But let me start from the beginning. We have midterm break – again! I know …We were invited to tag along the birthday celebration weekend of a dear friend (cheers Patrick). Roman could not join us as he was on the GM’s conference in Mauritius. So Allegra and I found space in the car of Mark and Mirchaye and off we went on a long overdue trip. Etosha here we come! Since I heard that we are moving to Namibia it was my dream wish to go to Etosha and see the wildlife. That was actually the only thing I knew about Namibia when we came …It only took me 2 years and 2 month to reach here but then there are so many other things to see as well …

We leave after school and have approx. 5 hours drive in front of us. I guess I do not have to mention that it is a pretty straight forward road – straight literally. We stop in Otjiwarongo – Marks favorite town – for the obligatory stop at Spar. Yes, indeed, this brand you find all over the country …

During dusk we turn off the main tar road and witness a spectacle never seen before. It looks like fog that hovers over the fields and the road. But it seems like actually it was sand in the air that just settled and with the light it looked like fog. Beautiful! Very impressive anyway. 

 

We find our way to the lodge and enjoy a nice dinner.

  

Now it is time to get up early. We want to go and see finally the Etosha plains. I am so lucky and grateful that Sarita and Mark volunteer to look after the kids. So the rest of us jump in Patrick’s car and off we go. We need approx. 1 hour to the gate of Etosha National Park.

 I have to say compared to Masai Mara in Kenya there is just little to see but it is so nice to be out and about and look out who can spot which animal first. Patrick is really good in this and so we see quite a lot of Zebras, Springbok and other game (Kudu, Giraffe, Red Hartebeest ...).

We were lucky enough to find elephants just beside the road and one crossed the road just in front of us. As you all know I love elephants – they are my favorite animal. So I am pretty pleased and very happy already. 

 After that we stop at a waterhole and while trying to figure out what people are looking at, we realize that the three dots in the distance of the plain are in fact three lions. With the binoculars you can see them pretty good. Walking up and down and then just taking a rest and having a sunbath. The Oryx around are alarmed but it seems like the lions already had lunch. They are not interested.

Maybe the most impressive part of the day for me is the salt plain and the space that comes with it. As far as the eye can reach or see there is flat white land. Like a Namibian singer says in one of his songs: land of wide open spaces …. It gives a sense of peace.

After 8 hours we return back to the lodge. Allegra is upset with me because I have been gone so long but she learned a new game thanks to Sarita – Sharade.

My body is aching after sitting the whole day in the car but the lodge has a steam room which releases tension very nice.

The next day we have our obligatory Yoga session with Sarita – Namaste! It feels so good. And then it is time to pack our bags and head home. Of course with a stop in Otjiwarongo …

Conclusion of the weekend: too many hours in the car but totally worth it for seeing something else and enjoying the company of friends. For me always the best.   

I forgot to mention one part. It is much warmer than in Windhoek on our trip. So while the others complain and walk around in short sleeved T Shirts I am finally not cold in my long sleeves … Winter in Africa is simply too cold for me!