Before we can leave the Tiger Spring, we want to get some money to pay. Here, too, the beginning of the month is a good time, because the colored workers usually collect small amounts and therefore banknotes with a low value. That is why the machines are stocked with them and large banknotes are not available. Unfortunately, you can only get 40 notes out of the machine and so we can only get very small amounts up to NAM 400 (approx. EUR 40). At the end, we can still pay, either in euros or later in Germany by bank transfer.

The journey takes us via Otavi and Otjiwarongo, where we find a geocache at the train station and then have a picnic. We continue on the tarred B1 until we turn onto a gravel track towards the Erongo Mountains. After another 40 km we reach the entrance to Mount Etjo Safari Lodge, our accommodation for the next two days. The negotiations for Namibia's independence were held on the site of the current lodge and the film "Hatari" was made here with the help of the owner. There is a small museum on the very well-kept grounds and we enjoy being alone with two Namibian families in the 54-bed lodge. There is a beautiful waterhole where we have a sundowner, a pond where the flamingos enjoy themselves, and a lapa where we all come together around the campfire and then have dinner. There is a large selection of side dishes and meat, eland sausage, roast impala and oryx steaks. Namibia is definitely not for vegetarians.

After dinner, we drive with a ranger to the lion feeding. This takes place a little outside and we sit in a kind of basement corridor with viewing slits overlooking the feeding place. A giraffe carcass has been chained up here, which is exposed after the lights in the corridor are turned off. A large family of lions with a male, three lionesses and many cubs immediately come out of the darkness to the illuminated feeding place. We watch the ritual with fascination, with fierce fighting over the best pieces. The distribution of roles and hierarchy quickly becomes apparent, as the male plays the boss, the females take turns to secure the meal from the outside, and the cubs finally fight over the remaining pieces. All of this takes place in an artificial environment, but right in front of our eyes and we can observe and photograph it up close.

Weather

Weather conditions during the stay: sunny.

Accommodation

Rating: The lodge offers every comfort you could wish for in Namibia. However, it is a large complex, so you have to expect bus groups. As an individual tourist, this can quickly become exhausting. Otherwise, you can book many activities on site and both the service and the food are very good. However, our large room smelled strongly of wood preservative and the double beds are too soft for two people: you always meet in the middle under the shared duvet.

► Continue to the next day