Today we have to set an alarm clock, because Heinz von Sandwich Harbour 4×4 picks us up promptly at 8 a.m. for our tour to Bogenfels. Bogenfels is both the name of a striking rock formation and a former town in the diamond restricted area. This area stretches more or less along the entire Namibian coast from the south to Swakopmund and may not be entered without prior permission and the early submission of passport copies. You can only travel to this area, where diamonds have been mined since the early 20th century, with a permit and certified tour guides.

What is special about the restricted area are the numerous (around 12) former diamond prospectors' towns, which are slowly but surely decaying and being reclaimed by the desert. These small towns provide the workers with the infrastructure they need to carry out their strenuous but very lucrative work. Everything was made available in the middle of the Namib Desert: a hospital, barracks, a bakery, the manager's house, condensers for producing fresh water from salt water and even the odd bowling alley.

All of this was abandoned after the diamonds were "harvested" and not mined. Today, you can visit the small towns and admire the dilapidated railway lines between them. A wonderful photo opportunity that documents the power of nature.

It was not until late afternoon that we returned to Lüderitz, dishevelled by the wind and covered in plenty of sand. After a shower, we went out to eat and Tina created a delicious dessert with the ladies from the restaurant. Mealtime a new dessert: Africano al caffè. This is based on the Italian Coffee affogato, but with a dash of Amarula, the local liqueur based on the fruit of the Marula tree. Let's see if the new creation really makes it onto the restaurant's menu.