We leave Swakopmund in brilliant sunshine and wonder why it didn't shine yesterday. However, the weather is typical for July/August and we can't complain. Klaus gives us a few tips for the journey and off we go.

Shortly after the town we stop at "Martin Luther", an old steam engine that had been brought to the desert by the Germans. It was designed to transport loads from Swakopmund to Windhoek and was equipped with a powerful motor and thick iron wheels. However, the steam engine consumed two valuable and heavy resources, namely water and fuel. Both were scarce and so heavy that hardly any payload could be carried. In addition, the machine was not really suitable for the desert and got stuck on the first trip just behind Swakopmund. True to Luther's motto "Here I stand now and can do no other", the machine now stands at the beginning of the desert, now protected by a shed and a small museum.

Our journey takes us along a very good tarmac road to Usakos, where we head towards Ameib Ranch Continue on a gravel road. Here we stop to see the Phillips Cave with the famous petroglyphs (White Elephant) and Bull's Party with the huge stone balls. We reach the cave after some scrambling over hill and dale and admire the ancient drawings of wild animals. These are freely accessible and we hope that they will remain preserved for a long time and not be destroyed by careless tourists.

We also take a break at Bull's Party and enjoy the solitude in this unusual mountainous region. Sturdy hiking boots are recommended here, as there are hardly any paths and if you want to get close to the balls or the cave, you need to be sure-footed.

After we have reached Usakos again via the Pad, the rest of the way continues on tarmac roads via Karibib to the Onduruqueja guest farm at the foot of the Erongo Mountains just before Omaruru. Here we are greeted warmly ("I don't know which rooms you have, but what would you like to drink?") and enjoy the sundowner, gin and tonic, with a view of the savannah. The farm has bungalows in which we can sleep and even have a view of the waterhole, which is illuminated at night. The residents of the thatched roof do cause a little excitement in the evening, but palm-sized spiders are not everyone's cup of tea. However, this is compensated for by the round around the campfire, where the eland steaks are roasted, which we then eat on the veranda of the main house along with many other delicacies. Another quick look at the hustle and bustle at the waterhole and we go to bed early.

Weather

Weather conditions during the stay: sunny, a shower on the morning of departure!

Accommodation

Rating: The farm offers cozy bungalows (so-called rondavels) in African style with a view of an artificial waterhole. All kinds of wild animals gather here in the evenings and mornings, so you can get your first impressions as soon as you get up. The service is good and many activities are offered directly on site. The food offers local game specialties, which are mostly shot on the farm grounds.

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