Thursday 2022/12/29

Windhoek – Omutuku

Windhoek – Okahandja – Omaruru – Erongo Mountains/Omutuku

We are both still exhausted and slept a bit restlessly. Brigitte has a headache. We have breakfast without hurry, then "set up the car" and drive off.

Over 30 degrees! On the expressway to Okahandja and then on secondary roads (the first gravel roads) to Omaruru.

Break at the nice Ongwari Cafe, buying 10 kilos of cornmeal (an order from the campsite operator for his worker) and firewood.

And on we go. In the direction of the mountains, in the direction of dark clouds, in the direction of thunderstorms. The day of the running animals: guinea fowl, baboons, kudu, weasel, anything small black with a furry tail.

We drive through the Erongo Wilderness Gate. The drive into the valley is challenging. But despite heavy thunderstorms, hardly any water stays longer and all the dry fords are easy to pass. The thunderstorm causes a brief cooling down to 18 degrees.

We have directions from Hannes, the campsite owner, but we're not sure if we're still correct. So once there, once here, there again.

After a while we arrive at the main house of Omutuku, where Thomas, Hannes' worker, is already waiting for us, giving us final instructions on the campsite. After a short drive we arrive at the magical campsite. And we have it to ourselves. Fire pits, a kind of bar (which protects us from the rain the next day), a viewing platform, a staircase here, a staircase there, a nice bathroom in a small tower room, as well as an outdoor shower and an outdoor toilet – someone has put a lot of effort into this.

After setting up the roof tent, first a sundowner on the viewing platform, then we make a fire, cook food. We are taking a shower late at night and admire the starry sky – and hear our blood rushing in the ears because it's so quiet here. Wonderful.