Day 22: Alte Kalköfen (Simplon) – Lapa Lange Lodge (Mariental)

The fried meat pies from the gas station in Oranjemund sat heavy in our stomachs yesterday, but this morning we're both feeling better again.

After breakfast, we're lucky that one of the rare trains is passing by. It's curious.

Yesterday, we briefly considered driving to Burgsdorf Farm, based on the Australians' recommendation, because they also have rhinos to see there. But they're fully booked for today and don't have any camping space anyway.

First, we head to Keetmanshoop for a second coffee and an early snack at the Central Lodge with its Illy Bar. Nice spot.

Continue steadily north on the M29 to Lapa Lange Game Lodge just before Mariental.

The route is a bit monotonous; we're essentially driving through the western foothills of the Kalahari. What's exciting, though, is how much greener it is than it was five years ago. And every now and then, the whizzing across gravel is interrupted by rain puddles and mud. Becky is pretty covered in mud!

The Lapa Lange Lodge is one of the better-equipped sites, with more than a dozen bungalows, a large restaurant, a fish pond, a pool, a waterhole, grassy areas, and terraces. We're alone at the campsite for now.

And: We have good network coverage here, so we can do our "homework" again :-)