Tuesday 2019/12/24

Epupa Falls – Opuwo – Khowarib Gorge

Astrid, Leo and Wolle set off for another walk to the waterfalls. Brigitte stays in the camp and writes the travel diary. The noise of the waterfalls was rather sleep-inducing at night. It also had thunderstorms at night, but these brought no cooling down. The mini coconuts are difficult to crack. As we learn later, the fiber is edible under the shell. However, the inner fruit eludes any attempt to open it. Only a goat seems to have nibbled a nut. Small pendants decorated with animal pictures are made and sold from the inner nuts.

Even if we already know the road to Opuwo, it is still exciting to drive back the route. Shortly before Opuwo heavy rain starts and in seconds everything is under water, including the entire petrol station. Since we drove through Opuwo several times on our first visit, looking for a restaurant, the supermarket and were returning to refuel, we know our way around. Puma gas station, OK supermarket to draw cash, Kaokoland restaurant for lunch. Then we continue towards Sesfontein. Gravel road and great landscapes. The vastness is just terrific. The road is sometimes like roller coaster, hill, valley, hill, valley ...

From a distance you can see a sandstorm in the valley near Sesfontein. Sesfontein is not exactly what we imagined. A simple hut village without a large infrastructure. It is only now that we have the idea to inquire by telephone at the Elefant Song Campsite (Henning's recommendation) whether a campsite is available. The camp site is "fully booked". So we try it at the Khowarib Lodge, which is also supposed to have campsites and go there. Great place. Campsite right on the Khowarib, a small river that turns into a raging river at night. The rain responsible for this has already reached us in Opuwo and the clouds accompanied us steadily east of our route. It is Christmas Eve and we are enjoying this wonderful place.